Chapter 14 RUNO
RUNO
I ignored the other alters, mumbling ‘fucking asshole’ several times as I drove a jagged piece of wood into Brent’s heart without any remorse.
The fucker had threatened to turn me or at the very least dangle my livelihood in front of the precinct.
That had been a dumb move but to then say that Samael would just be part of the equation? Yeah, I couldn’t have that.
Which is why I also let Brent know that his plan wouldn’t have worked because my fucking dad, the chief of police, was already in charge of cleaning up my mess. He would have done everything in vain and then had to suffer the consequences.
Maybe I should have waited.
Killian: No. You should not have. We’re already playing with fire.
I sighed and discarded the piece of wood before stomping up the stairs, blood splattered across my shirt.
My feet took me toward the kitchen, voices from my men hitting my ears.
Anger burned in my chest because Samael had left me hanging down there.
I needed more, needed them to see me, not just the chaos I brought.
A step into the kitchen and Samael just sighed before reaching for the hemline of my shirt and ripping it over my head.
In the next second, I was surrounded by a shirt that smelled just like him, Samael balling up the bloody one and tossing it a small bin tucked in one of the cabinets. “What’s the next step?”
I bit my bottom lip, warring with the need to keep this from him because he denied me or tell him because he asked.
I’ll make him wait, I told myself before focusing on my other two men who were bent over a large pepperoni pizza.
I glared at the branded box from a few streets over as I slid into a chair, confused that Aeron was housing down his own slice.
“Please tell me there’s people in that.”
Aeron laughed, the man shaking his head. “Just good old-fashioned pepperoni. Is Brent dead?”
I nodded as I forced a grin. “Yeah, he’s gone.
” My gaze dropped back to the pizza and then to Aeron before giving in and snatching a slice.
It wasn’t like I needed a person to chew on and grabbing some part of Brent for Aeron to dish up seemed in poor taste.
Getting rid of the body was already going to be a chore.
“I’ll guess I’ll settle for cheese rather than cock.
” No one laughed at my words but I glared at Samael anyway who just threw me the middle finger.
I almost quipped back when a knock on the door cut through the moment, and one of the guards entered the kitchen. “There’s a detective at the door. A… Tyrone, I believe.”
Samael’s jaw tightened as he shook his head. “Tell him I’m busy.”
“He said he needs to talk to Killian, who he knows is here.”
Of course, he did. I should have just taken the bus but no, I just had to have the luxury of a car. “I really don’t like how up in my business he is.”
Slash and Aeron started to stand, but the guard held up a hand. “It appears the detective at the door is aware that all of you are here, and he specifically said there was no reason to vacate on his account.”
Samael cursed under his breath, his voice filled with enough venom to send a chill down my spine. “Fuck, let him in.”
Tyrone sauntered into the kitchen a few moments later, a smug grin plastered on his face. “I just keep getting surprised. This is absolutely wonderful. I was looking for Samael, but then I found your car in the driveway—or, better yet, your father’s. That being said, I have some questions.”
I crossed my arms, my new set of stitches stinging a bit. There was absolutely no reason for this fucker to be here right now. “It’s dinner time.”
Tyrone plopped into a chair across from me, spreading his thighs like he owned the damn place. I knew the only reason he wasn’t being removed was because we didn’t know how much he knew. “Great, then we can eat together. I didn’t want to drag you into the station.”
Killian: Why wouldn’t he?
Finn: Is he hiding something from your father or the precinct as a whole?
“You already questioned me at my job. What is going on?”
Tyrone’s eyes flicked between the four of us. “I was hoping you would tell me that.”
Daemon: Someone is persistent.
Killian: Just lie. Like you always do.
Tell him you were fucking Slash.
Finn: Or just shut up and let Runo handle it so we’re not all fucked.
I gritted my teeth as I held back a response, knowing that doing so would only cause Tyrone to question me further.
I attempted to shove them down and failed, miserably, just as Samael took hold of the conversation.
“It’s very disrespectful to show up without even a call.
What could you possibly need to know that couldn’t wait until tomorrow? ”
Tyrone snorted as he folded his hands onto the table.
“I’m curious how Killian here dated all of you, and now you’re all in some weird throuple?
Foursome? How does that even work between all of your jobs?
Well, only two of you are working right now, considering Ryker quit and Phoenix stopped opening his truck.
The people of Primrose have been asking why, but you’ve all but disappeared off the face of the earth. What don’t I know?”
I sighed, making sure that it was overly exaggerated before glaring at him. “Things change, people change. Not everything stays the same. Why does it matter why they quit?”
“Oh, I know,” Tyrone teased, “but ever since you started hanging with them again, it’s like they’ve all given up on their entire life’s work. Either you derailed everything, or there’s something else.”
Slash shifted in his chair, pulling that blank expression I knew him so well for. “Hey, maybe we’re just humans who have decided different paths trying to eat dinner and have a nice little evening. Which has been destroyed by your sorry ass by the way.”
Tyrone’s eyes narrowed at him, his smirk turning cold.
“Your timing between quitting and Niles’ death is suspicious.
Everything about you four is fucking suspicious.
A few months ago, Primrose was relatively quiet except for the occasional murder by the Skinner or the Cannibal.
The King had its place here, but this was no Gotham.
As of late, though, the bodies are piling up, and so are the questions. Where were the four of you last night?”
The kitchen fell silent, no one jumping to answer his question until Slash burst out laughing. “I told you that we were having sex.”
Tyrone swallowed, his smirk faltering as he looked at each of us. “You four were all having sex?”
I leaned forward, mirroring Tyrone’s position. “Well, me and Sla—Ryker were having sex, but the other two kind of watched. I told you we’re into some kinky shit.”
Tyrone glanced between us again. “And you told me you weren’t really a thing. Ryker also mentioned that he wasn’t fucking you, Killian.”
I shrugged. “It’s not official, and we haven’t really had the conversation so I guess he was protecting my honor or some shit. So no, we’re not dating. We’ve only officially been on one date, and that was last night. I’ve never been fucked so good.”
Tyrone’s smirk returned. “He takes as well as he gives.”
Samael’s voice sliced through the conversation. “And… that was uncalled for. Your interrogation can wait until tomorrow and I’ll be letting the chief know that maybe he needs to set some fucking rules.”
Tyrone opened his mouth, but Aeron cut in as well.
“I get that you’re worried about Primrose, and I love that, but you also have to understand, the rest of us are surviving out here.
Call Merchant or whatever you need to do to work on the case, but involving the rest of us is weird.
As for my truck, I originally opened it to find my long-lost love.
I was in my own little movie, hoping my little desserts would bring Killian back to me.
It did. And so I’m happy and no longer need to cook for the public. It was never for them.”
I snorted, knowing that was a whole-ass lie, but kept my mouth shut, waiting for Tyrone to take the hint.
“Fine. I’ll follow up tomorrow.” He stood and headed out into the hallway without so much as a word before we heard the front door open and close, leaving us in a bout of silence once again.
Samael let out a heavy sigh, his gaze traveling between the three of us before landing on me. “As much as I want to keep all this shit together and in one place, I think we might need to play it a little safer.”
I took a large bite of a slice of pizza and chewed, thinking through all of the ‘safe’ plans I had stored up.
There was only one, which meant that Samael knew and was suggesting exactly that.
“Fuck, I don’t want to go back home with dear old dad.
He fucking sucks.” Playing it ‘safe’ meant laying low and pretending to need my dad’s love and affection despite the fact that he was literally the last person I wanted to be around.
Samael nodded. “Oh, I know he does, but if we’re going to get Tyrone to back off a little bit…”
I sighed and then took another bite, chewing meticulously to piss my men off. They waited for my response as I swallowed and then chucked the crust back into the box. “Fine.” I turned to Aeron. “I need the keys to your house to get my shit. Leave Brent down there. I’ll come back to deal with him.”
Samael raised an eyebrow, confusion taking over his expression. “What’s the plan?”
“When I have one, I’ll tell you but I’ll let you know, you’re not going to like it.”
“Why?” Aeron asked as he sat forward, searching my face.
“Because when I have to deal with my dad, I get antsy. And when I get antsy, bad things happen. It’s not going to be pretty. That’s all I know. Now, keys please? I have to go play nice with Dad.” This might actually be fun, though. I could enjoy a very different type of sweet torture. For him.