CHAPTER SIXTEEN
– FOSCA –
My eyes are burning and I definitely need to pee for the millionth time today. Not gonna happen, though. I’m almost done with my autopsy report and instead of doing all of this tomorrow morning, I decided to do the autopsy of both bodies right away.
With the two other medical examiners, along with Dave, missing, my vacation days have been pulled.
They are bringing in another medical examiner from out of town, but he won’t be here until tomorrow afternoon.
I’m not waiting for more bodies to pile up, and it’s why I’m working late.
Typing out the final words, I save the file and shut down my computer.
“All done?” Sevrin asks.
He’s been sitting in a chair in the corner, patiently and without so much as a sound to let me work.
“Yes. Thank you for keeping me company,” I tell him as I stand and turn to grab my coat.
We both know he wasn’t keeping me company for funsies. He told me he wouldn’t leave my side until we talked some more about our trust issues. Right. My need to dive into work might have been due to an alternative motive; dodging talking to Sevrin.
Truth be told? What’s there to talk about?
We have a long way to go when it comes to becoming friends, let alone parents, or whatever relationship we might be able to muster.
Fated mates only grants you perfect chemistry, the right attraction to have sex and ensure children to carry on the legacy we’re all a part of.
Sevrin nods and pulls his phone from his pocket when he gets a notification.
He thumbs the screen, probably answering the text message he received, and asks, “Hungry?”
My thoughts go to the sweet treats Zara promised to bring by, but due to me canceling on her, I totally missed out.
My mood takes another nosedive. “I just want a hot shower and my bed.”
Preferably my own bed, but I know it’s not an option; back to the clubhouse we go. Sadly, no ride on the back of Sevrin’s bike. He’s become obsessed with my safety, which means he’s behind the wheel of a bulletproof SUV.
It might seem as if I’m giving him the silent treatment, but inside my head it’s a rambling mess. Such a bad time to be pregnant with hormones screaming through my veins, heightening my damn emotions.
Life would have been much easier if I was born into a different family. Then I wouldn’t be here with Sevrin, no life or death situation, no complicated relationship with my mate, and for sure as shit not pregnant.
“Hold on,” Sevrin snaps and there’s no time to react when he hits the brakes, throwing my body into the safety belt.
My hand flies out to the door, the other on the seat to brace myself as Sevrin takes a sharp turn.
“What the hell are you doing?” I hiss.
“Truck, behind us.” His eyes bounce from the road in front of us to the rearview mirror and back.
Throwing a glance over my shoulder, I now notice the truck coming around the corner. Paranoid much?
I have no clue what’s gotten into him. “It’s just a truck. Slow down.”
“It’s not just a goddamn truck. My sister was beheaded by a truck carrying the same load of iron plates.”
The reminder of his words makes me do a double take and then I notice the way the truck is driving: full speed. “My oldest brother died the same way, remember?”
Sevrin releases a string of curses and I can feel the panic building inside me.
“Should I call someone? What can I do?” I ask.
Sevrin checks the rearview mirror and grits, “I’m not about to put others at risk. We just need to shake the fucker off long enough to get to the compound.”
Tires screech again when Sevrin takes another sharp turn. He drives straight through a gate and a small alley. Once we’re back on the normal road there’s no sign of the truck.
“Have we lost him?” I keep my gaze locked on the rear window.
“Darlin’.” His eyes stay focused on the road ahead of us. “I’m not going to answer your question until I have you safe inside the clubhouse.”
I shouldn’t feel warmth spreading my chest by his fierce protectiveness when it comes to my life. Maybe he’s doing it because I’m pregnant. Still, it’s nice to think he cares.
It’s why I snap, “Along with your annoying ass. We still have issues to talk about.”
“Issues to talk about,” Sevrin mutters. “I’d rather fuck them out of you, it will resolve a lot of boiled up emotions. More effective, and definitely more pleasurable for both of us.”
Within this moment sex does sound like a great solution, knowing how amazing it was the last time. It’s definitely a stress relief, and who knows...we might actually have a moment not to be frustrated. Pillow talk is a wistful option afterward, who knows?
With no one following us, I turn to face the road in front of us. “Well, I did mention something about a hot shower and a bed.”
Sevrin swings his head in my direction for a heartbeat and shoots me a sexy grin. The tension in his body seems to fade, and the little sexual innuendo gave us both the control we needed in this tense situation.
“I do wish we had the driver, though. Do you think it was my brother? Did you get a glimpse of who was behind the wheel?” I ask, knowing I’m steering the discussion right back, upping the tension again.
This time he glances at me with narrowed eyes. “What? You want to go back and see if we can find the fucker? Then...what? Ram him with our vehicle?”
Sevrin hits a button on the dash to make the gate in front of us slide open.
Clearly I haven’t thought my suggestion through. “I’m just sick and tired of running around in circles while it seems as if my brother can lash out and hit us at every turn. Is it so damn bad I want to kill and torture?”
“Kill and torture,” Sevrin repeats as he brings the SUV to a stop right next to a row of bikes.
“Yes,” I grit. “Killing my brother is on the top of my list. Yet, I would like some damn answers. Why he started all of this for one. Fighting a bond is one thing, choosing to step into the darkness isn’t a spur of the moment decision.”
I have no clue why I’m bringing this up. In the end it doesn’t matter anyway. “Never mind.”
Sevrin reaches out again, like he did back in the office after I saw the bodies. His warm hand cups the side of my face while he gently strokes my cheek with his thumb. What’s with the gentle touches between the harsh words, or say nothing at all and ignoring me for days?
“Some questions will never get answers, and if they do? They might not be what you’d like to hear anyway.
We’re living in a crazy world where unexplained things will sometimes remain a mystery for a reason.
Now, the part where you want to torture and kill?
That’s definitely something I can arrange.
” He leans in and feathers his lips against mine.
My eyes fall closed and for a mere moment I let myself enjoy how the soft touch of our mouths ignites a tingle of pleasure.
The kiss ends too soon. “First, you’re getting your hot shower, then we’ll spend some time in bed. Those two were high on your to-do list. Then, when tomorrow comes, I’ll have someone we can interrogate.”
“Someone? As in you’re just going to put someone in a chair for my entertainment?” I wonder.
Sevrin snorts. “No. Not just someone. I received a text earlier from Karev. He’s managed to capture the genie.”
I can feel my eyes go wide. “I’m not going to torture or kill the daughter of my former neighbor.”
“Not even if she helped to kill Holton and wouldn’t so much as fuckin’ blink to help kill you?” Sevrin grits.
Okay, when he puts it like that? Yeah, I have to agree. Sevrin gives me another angry look before he gets out of the vehicle.
I do the same and follow him as we head for the clubhouse while I snap, “Fine. You’re right. But I won’t be a part of torturing or killing her.”
He comes to an abrupt stop and turns to tower over me.
Before he can so much as throw words at me, I add, “Watching will be sufficient. Preferably in the room where the torture takes place so she can see me shoot angry glares at her stupid ass.”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “We’ll see.”
He places his hand on my lower back and guides me into the clubhouse.
The warmth of his touch seeps through my clothes and makes my skin tingle underneath.
Dammit. I’m already pregnant. Why doesn’t the chemistry between us stop?
I mean, we still bump heads at every turn and bumping pelvises will only complicate stuff.
Yet, bumping pelvises sounds exactly what both of us need right now.