23. Chapter 23
I scrambled to wipe his cum off my face. “One second, please.”
I tried to dress, but my legs were jelly, and I fell onto the bed when the big muscles of my thighs gave up. So I settled for underwear and an extra-large shirt. My heart was in my throat when I opened the door, stumbling into the frame. “Yes, sir. How can I help you?”
It was still dark outside, with only the faintest hint of light coming from the horizon. I estimated it to be somewhere between six and seven in the morning.
The officer blushed slightly under his serious demeanor, like he hadn’t expected someone to answer. “I was checking on you.”
Oh goddess.
I’d been screaming like a banshee, hadn’t I?
“I’m fine.” The words stuttered out. What lie did I say? That I had the best sex toy money couldn’t buy. There wasn't a man here to grin and take the credit.
“I apologize, ma’am, but you need to evacuate the premises.”
My entire body grew uncomfortably warm as his words sank in. “Did I get a complaint?”
“No,” he answered, shifting back and forth on his feet. Like he was the one who was uncomfortable. “It’s for your safety.”
He was probably right about that, but how could he know?
“Ma’am, get out.” His teeth grounded together.
“Okay.” My voice sounded numb. “Let me get dressed.”
I grabbed my bag and phone, but before I could grab anything else, the cop had a tight grab on my arm and dragged me out of the room.
Hot anger filled the space, and I knew I had seconds to get this situation under control, assuming I could.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Every ounce of fight refilled me, and I dug my heels into the now black carpet. “I said I was leaving.”
Did I want to mess with the hassle of killing a cop? Probably not. But the hassle of Abiel taking care of it would be worse.
I reached to my hip, but only found my underwear band. Right, my pants were tossed aside somewhere.
Each forceful step sparked with static electricity.
Shit!
“Unhand me. I know my rights.” I broke free of his grasp just as he got us onto the concrete of the parking lot. Damn it, I was too late.
I turned back to the motel room, expecting to see Abiel fuming in my shadow.
But something in the corner of my eye made every hunter instinct inside me wake up in alarm, dragging my gaze up instead of to the ground. What I saw left me breathless and frozen in place.
The three-story building was coated in black decay and sagged like it couldn’t handle its own weight anymore. My room was the only place that looked semi decent, as if it were wrapped in a bubble. The upper levels were slowly sinking in.
“Shit!” The hair on the back of my neck stood up. I’d felt so safe inside, that I’d never considered Abiel might have demolished the place.
Wait.
Where were the screams? Why was no one escaping?
My breathing stuttered. There was only one good answer for that, and I had to swallow twice to get the truth to settle in my gut.
Because no one was alive to try.
My eyes scanned the still full parking lot as my heart pounded. Shit.
The officer grabbed my arms again, and this time I followed his direction. To where a cluster of cop cars, EMS and fire trucks were flashing their lights from the main road. Yellow tape was in the process of going up.
Metal shrieked loudly, making everyone stop and look at the motel. I held my breath waiting for what I knew was coming.
A loud snap cracked through the air, the place starting to collapse as if its own weight was simply too much to bear. The cop used his body as a shield around mine. His hand settled on the back of my neck to protect me from shrapnel.
The thundering sound of metal twisting hurt my ears and a big waft of air blew past us, as a force I couldn’t fathom hit the ground with a shake that threatened to knock me off my feet.
That wasn’t nearly as bad as the smothering silence. As if the entire world had stopped spinning to watch the fallout.
We turned together to see what had become of the building, and the first thing I noticed was a leg rolling from the top of the rubble. The lack of blood confirming what I already suspected.
Everyone was dead long before the building was.
Nausea clenched my stomach tight.
Last night I insisted on knowing more about Margaret, even though I knew it would trigger him.
Tears made my eyes cloudy.
Something inside my chest cracked painfully, and it hurt deep enough I suspected it was essential to who I was.
I sacrificed them for a night of comfort and answers, even though I knew what the price was.
“I’m sorry.” The cop swallowed loudly and let out a shaky breath. “I didn’t want you to panic.”
“I get it.” My voice broke.
My shadow morphed into Abiel, and I could see his toe tapping. His rage hung heavily in the air. Or maybe it was the soot.
Fear clogged my throat as I realized the man who’d saved my life would probably pay the ultimate price for it. “Please let me go.”
The officer released me without hesitation and pointed to the yellow tape that was already being put up a few feet away. Caution.
“Leave him be,” I mumbled under my breath as I ducked under the tape.
“You were fine. I’d never let anything harm you,” Abiel hissed in my ear.
I gritted my teeth. “Well he doesn’t know there’s a shadow monster following me. He risked his life to help.”
“Indeed,” he grumbled. A deep growl vibrated my back. “He should focus on his woman, not mine.”
“It’s his job to serve the people.” I didn’t bother refuting that I was his woman. Something told me that it would end in another round of him turning me into his personal cock-sleeve again.
“Then he knew the risk he was taking then.” There was no sign of him standing down.
Frustration of knowing I couldn’t stop him made my brain throb at my temple. I couldn’t handle anymore blood on my hands today.
“Kill him. I dare you.” Or what? I didn’t know, but I’d find some way to make him miserable.
I guess he figured the same and scoffed, taking a step forward. When I narrowed and locked my gaze on his form, heat seared between us as we stared each other down.
I wasn’t standing down.
Not this time.
He sighed, crossing his arms in my shadow with annoyed defeat. His chest heaving as if he was taking big calming breaths. The edges of my shadow crawling as if it was barely holding its shape.
“I’ll give mercy this one time.” His deep voice radiated a warning. “Don’t expect it again.”
A small victory, but it made the power imbalance between us shift a tiny bit in my direction. Even if it was only because the cop was really only helping me.
I focused on the obliterated building in front of me. The cheap modern plaster didn’t stand a chance.
“What about the other people inside?” I asked the cop, needing to confirm my suspicions.
His mouth went into a tight line that didn’t have a single good thing to say on the matter. I pressed my lips together to keep them from trembling.
More deaths on my hands.
He was only here because of me.
It would be stupid to expect a shadow of ruin to be anything but what he was.