Chapter 12
Chapter twelve
Golden rule, don’t fuck were you plan to hunt.
Karma
Why does it feel like I’m fifteen drinks deep into the morning-after hangover?
My head pounds like I’m at a rock concert.
The groan I let out makes me sound like I'm a hundred years old as I try to force my eyelids to open. Every so slowly my body starts to respond to my commands. I frown to myself as I search my mind for the last clear moment. There’s a blank space where memory should be at the moment.
Causing a scrape of fear to curl low in my stomach as I replay fragments that don’t quite connect, the alley, my target, being interrupted.
Them. Then pain and darkness before a brief sense of being carried against a strong, firm chest. My fingers curl into the sheets, grounding me in the texture, the reality of the bed I’m now lying on, and the fact that I’m here and not dead. Wherever here is.
The first thing I truly register is the bed beneath me.
Too firm to be my pillowy-soft top at home.
The sheets are cool against my exposed arms and legs, pulled tight like they haven’t been slept in before.
I don’t move right away. I just lie there, listening, waiting for something familiar to anchor me. To no avail.
When I finally find the strength, I reach up and touch my sore forehead only to feel something wet against my fingers.
Opening my eyes, all I see is red against my pale skin before my eyes focus past that, and then it’s pink.
Walls, smooth and empty, stretching out in every direction.
No pictures. No windows. Just the color pink and nothing else.
Closing my eyes for a second, I take a deep breath, calming myself before remembering now is not the time to be calm and cool because I’m pissed.
Growling out into the empty space, I curse those asshole Alphas.
“What the fuck did those assholes do to me?”
Needing to take in my surroundings better, I try to sit up, only for the room to tilt slightly, like my body hasn’t caught up to the fact that I’m awake. “Fucking alphaholes,” I grumble as I take in even more pink walls and nothing else.
Is this supposed to be a jail cell or something?
Or a way to make a person talk? Stick them in an overly pink room with nothing else to look at…
Because honestly, pink is my favorite color, so this is pretty cool.
My walls in my own room are bubblegum pink as well, but I added glitter because why not. Glitter makes everything better.
My eyes narrow on the door as I study it. Listening for a moment on the other side when I could almost slap myself in my own face. Because I hear noise, but it’s not from the other side of the door; no, it’s coming from the corner beside me. Shit.
Every so slowly I turn towards the noise. A soft, purr-like sound. The room is terribly lighted, this corner especially, but as I take a deep inhale, the scent of sandalwood and something deeply earthly fills my senses, causing a shiver to race down my spine. Theo.
Immediately I curl into myself, slipping into my helpless, afraid Beta act.
I practically throw myself off the bed and against the wall, like I’m scared to death of the man.
Even though I know I can take him. Probably.
Maybe. I would at least put up one hell of a fight if it came to that, but sometimes being a meek little female works best.
You know sweet honey catches more flies and all that bullshit.
Before my back can even touch the wall and the mask of fear can paint my face, Theo's voice echoes around the barren space. "Now, now, you don’t have to put on that little act for me. I know exactly who you are.” My entire body locks up tight.
I’m practically a living statue right now as I wait for him to continue, hoping his words aren’t true.
I’m sure they did a thorough search for weapons, but I doubt they found the thin knife that sits between the stitching of my corset.
It might be small, but boy will it get the job done.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you, Grim.
” The breath I’ve been holding whooshes out of me.
Grim. Not Karma.
In the next second, Theo moves out of the shadows and steps towards the bed.
I stare at him for a long minute. Admiring the scars that line his face.
The man is just as hot as before. His expression is all interest. No, it's worse than that. It’s hunger.
Like the man has been starved, and I’m the first real meal he has seen.
Not that I would argue if he wanted a certain kind of snack right now.
Fuck. NO! Bad Karma. Clean thoughts. You were just found above a dead body and were then kidnapped. Now is not the time.
There’s something about his eyes that makes me want to break my own ‘no seconds’ rule.
Steady, watchful, the kind of eyes that see too much and never forget it.
His words from moments ago finally connect.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you. " I had a few missed calls from X, but I was in hunting mode and haven’t had time to respond.
Has Theo really been looking for me? But why?
“Why have you been looking for me?” I ask as my gaze drifts lower before I can stop myself, catching on the skull tattoo at his throat.
The memories of our first night playing together surface.
He was covered in tattoos from what I remember, and I wanted to trace my tongue along each one before we had to end things too soon.
His cock was also covered in ink. Just the thought of that monster has slickly dampening my spirits. Fuck.
Theo's entire body freezes. His muscles go taut as he takes a deep inhale before a low, deep groan escapes his throat. The fabric between his legs becomes tight as the outline of his said cock forms. DOUBLE FUCK.
He doesn’t move much. He doesn’t need to. Even standing still, he radiates a quiet threat, the kind that doesn’t bark or posture. The kind that acts when it’s necessary and sleeps just fine afterward.
His next words had my panties going from damp to soaked. “Oh, Little Reaper, we never got to finish what you started. But that’s not why I was searching.” I move to sit on my butt on the wall. Not willing to move closer just because we spent some time together.
When he doesn’t explain more, a sign escapes me. Fine, I’ll play his little game. “Then why were you really looking for me? It was only one little night.” The look that overtakes his face is something I can’t describe in words.
“I know how this might sound. I’ve replayed it in my head a hundred times, trying to make it sound less… unhinged. One night isn’t supposed to do this to a man, but the moment I saw you was something else. A smile tips his lips up like he is remembering the very night before, and he continues.
“The second you walked away, something in me went psychotic. Feral like. And all I could think was that wasn’t supposed to end yet.
So I told myself I just wanted to fix what we started.
Then I told myself I wanted to get a glance at you at the club.
Then I stopped lying to myself as the days went on.
After one night, I knew this much: I wasn’t done with you.
I couldn’t be. You got under my skin without asking permission, and I don’t know how to ignore something once it’s there.
Your scent was a calling that called to my soul.
Which is confusing in and of itself. So, I looked for you after one night because I knew if I didn’t, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.
Because you felt like the beginning of something dangerous and real, and I’ve never been good at walking away from either one.
I know that sounds crazy, but I’d rather tell you the truth than pretend even now that you aren’t already mine.
” His blue eyes burn against my skin as I take in his words.
Does Theo sound absolutely batshit crazy?
One hundred percent. I mean, who tries to find the chick that gave you a single, although mind-blowing, blowjob from a strip club?
We spent like a whole hour together, and now he's saying he can’t live without me.
That I’m his, which I will address at some point.
Am I attracted to slightly insane men who have monster cocks, tattoos, scars, and probably a bad attitude? Also, yes. But I didn’t go looking for this Alpha. If I did, it would be because he was on my list, which wouldn’t end so well for him.
I would be lying if I said I hadn't rubbed one off to the thought of Theo a few times over the last few days. Hell, even his yummy little friend starred in a daydream of being double-teamed once or twice. Was I ever planning on making these little fantasies come true? No, of course not.
Golden rule, don’t fuck were you plan to hunt.
“Wait, what the hell do you mean my scent called to your soul?” Panic starts to flare, but I don’t let it show.
Not yet. Are my suppressants failing somehow?
No, I would know, but now that I think about my predicament, I need to start planning my escape, or I’m going to be in big trouble.
I’ve only ever missed one dose of my suppressants, and I notice the scent change pretty quickly.
“You smell like a typical Beta female, but it’s also wrong. There is something sweeter underneath. At first I thought it was perfume maybe, but it’s not, is it? It’s you.” Theo hasn’t moved from his spot at the bed, but his eyes haven’t once left me. I narrow my eyes at him.
“So you think I stink?” I question.
He snorts. “You smell divine, Little Reaper, but I don’t think you are a Beta like you claim.”
Not liking this conversation anymore, I change the topic. “What are you guys going to do with me?” Theo’s eye twitches, but he doesn’t push the topic anymore.
“Rome will want answers. Miguel, the man we found you with, has a very powerful father. We were supposed to protect him.” I snort at that, this time making Theo cock an eyebrow at me.
“Some bodyguards," I chuckle. “All I had to do was flash a little smile, show a little skin, and act drunk, and Miguel Cruz wanted me. I knew he liked to take drunk, helpless women into the alley where he would fuck and sometimes beat them. I did my homework.” I know I should probably keep my mouth shut, but Theo already knows I like blades.
Plus, lying to him feels wrong for some reason.
“So, it was you?” I shrug in answer. “And the cuts on his chest?” I shrug again. “What were you writing?”
Before I can shrug in answer again, the door slams open, and a frantic Harrison rushes in.
He doesn’t notice me awake as he focuses on Theo.
“Dude, I had the clean-up crew take a picture of Miguel’s chest, you know, the lines we saw.
Well, I figure it had to be a message, right?
They already killed him; why cut into his chest?
O, that crazy fucking serial killer, the one they call the Karma Killer, did it, man.
This chick might have been the first person to ever see this guy's face. The carving wasn’t done, but compared to all the other bodies that have been found, it matches.
This guy is crazy for fucking with the Cruz family.
He’s been taking down Alphas left and right.
” The rambling finally comes to a stop when Theo's lips take on a full smile. Like the man is excited about this news. Well, I guess Harrison just sort of confirmed I’m a serial killer who goes around killing Alphas.
Damn. Guess I’m going to have to kill my way out of this mess.
“O, dude, why are you smiling like that?” It’s then that Harrison finally looks around the room to see the empty bed, then to me, still sitting against the room, a glare directed at the grinning psychopath beside me. But damn, what a hot psychopath Theo is.
“Oh. Shit. Why didn’t you tell me she was awake?
” Harrison turns fully to me now, raising his hands like I’m sitting over here because I’m afraid or something.
“Hi, look, I know this looks bad on us. A bunch of Alphas are sort of kidnapping you, but I promise we aren’t going to hurt you.
We just want to talk and get your side of the story.
” I cock an eyebrow at him while taking him in fully.
I didn’t get to study this Alpha like I did his friend.
Messy blond hair curls out from under a backward cap, soft enough to make him look approachable yet dangerous enough to make me curious.
His green eyes are bright and far too observant for someone playing the role of the soft, carefree guy.
They linger just a second too long, like he’s cataloging reactions instead of chasing them.
He’s dressed simply in a hoodie, dark pants, and worn sneakers, but it works because it feels natural on him.
No effort. No costume. Like this is who he is when no one’s watching…
which somehow makes it worse when I realize he’s very much watching me.
Shit, the last time he saw me, I was a screaming scared mess.
“Well, I guess the gig is up. Before I tell you anything, I need a shower and I’m starving.” Theo bursts out in laughter, the sound loud and deep. His eyes widen like he can’t believe that sound came from him. All the while, Harrison is now sporting a very confused expression.
Oh, this is going to be fun.