Chapter 34
ERYX
When I went to drop off some papers back at the lab room, the last thing I was expecting was to find her, locked in a fucking closet.
How long had she been there waiting to be rescued?
How long would she have stayed in there if I hadn’t shown up?
It killed me to find her like that, to see her so broken.
There’s some clear past trauma there, a reason she was so affected.
I’m going to make sure no one can hurt her like that again.
I’m going to make sure she never feels broken again.
She’s so much stronger than she realizes.
But first I’m going to fucking kill Jason.
She’s currently passed out in the passenger seat, my girl is exhausted. She’s staying with me tonight, not on campus though. I’m bring her to my apartment. It’s where I come when I need some quiet, and that’s what she needs right now.
Her head is resting agains’t the window, her nose dipped into the collar of the hoodie I placed her in. She looks so peaceful like this, eyes closed, and body relaxed. Unlike the Demons I see swimming in her eyes, tormenting her mind.
Twenty-minutes later I’m pulling up to my spot in the parking garage. My apartment is situated downtown, close to the little cafe Roman dropped her off at a few weeks ago. She’s still oblivious to the fact that I know about that.
I have the whole top floor to myself. Although spacious, I’ve made the place feel comfortable, the way a home should feel.
Exposed brick accents the East wall, floor to ceiling windows across the front side, stretching across the living and dining area.
The place illuminated with the two below.
The space then curves into the master bedroom, guest rooms, my office I share with Caine and all his tech stuff, and lastly a library.
I have my first edition classics, Caines romance novels, that he swears by, even Roman has a few of his own here too.
The walls not covered in exposed brick, are painted a deep green, pththalo is the specific name.
From the windows in the master bedroom, you get a perfect view of the coast line.
It always brings me peace watching the waves come and go crashing over each other.
The push and pull. A perfect representation of us, of how we fit with each other. Our one constant.
I park and round the car to her side. She’s still sleeping and I don’t want to disturb her, she’s had a long day.
I carefully unbuckle the seat belt and grab hold of her.
My right arm coming under her legs and my left carefully cradles her head as I get her out and close the door with my foot.
Once inside the apartment I place her in my bed, careful when removing her shoes as to not wake her and place the cover over her sleeping form.
I place a soft kiss on her forehead and she stirs in her sleep.
“Sleep baby, I’ll be back real soon,” I whisper to her then walk out.
I keep the light low and the door ajar. I’ll let her sleep a little while longer.
I’m going hunting tonight.
I send a quick text to Caine to keep an eye on the cameras, keep and eye on her while I’m gone. Caine created and set this whole system up, so I trust it to keep her safe while I’m gone.
Me
I need eyes on the raven.
Skellz
Need me to go over?
Me
No, I won’t be long. Just got a little kitty cat to hunt.
I drive down to Noir, and park out back.
Jason, frequents this place like its his home.
He’s here every weekend drinking and placing losing bets at the poker tables.
I get in through the back entrance and pass Stacie on my way to the backrooms that hold the tables.
A worried look crosses her face, like she knows I’m about to start some shit.
I come up to the door behind the bar, I give a knock and the door opens up to Ilya on the other side.
He gives me a glance over and stands to the side letting me pass.
“Jason here?” I ask him.
“Is he ever not?” He chuckles, “Table four, down by 40 tonight.”
The room is clouded in cigar smoke, girls in bikini tops walk around with trays, bringing drinks to the tables. Its a small room, only six tables hold games tonight, and my sights are on lucky number four. Jason is hunch forward, by the looks of it a few drinks in, sweat on his brow.
I walk up to the table, the man sitting next to him excuses himself once he sees me and I take his seat to the left of Jason.
“Mr. Ivanov, so good to see you, joining us tonight?” The dealer speaks to me.
“Deal me in for 50, I’m feeling lucky tonight.” I glance over to Jason, “How about you, you feeling lucky today Jason?” My tone is mocking.
He doesn’t acknowledge me, just keeps his gaze forward.
One of the girls comes up to take my drink order along with a cigar. “What can I bring sweetheart?” She takes a seat on my lap, arm on my chest. Makes me sick.
I grab her hand from my chest, and moving her off of me. “You can start by getting the fuck off of me, as for the drink, whiskey neat.”
“Y-yes sir, I apologize.”
She scurries off and quickly brings me my drink.
I cut the cap off the cigar and light it.
I take a puff, a slow inhale never to the lungs, just the mouth.
I let the smoke curl between my teeth before exhaling through my nose in a thin, steady stream.
I make a point to blow the smoke aimed at Jasons face.
The room buzzes with low murmurs and clinks of glasses. Smoke curls through the air, dimming the already low lighting in here. I lean back, one arm draped overly chair, the other toying with my chips. Our cards are dealt and the dealer flips the flop— 8 — Q — 4.
Jason looks panic, he tries to hide the worry, but it’s so evident. I don’t move, taking my time.
“Check,” Jason goes.
I flip in a chip and do the same.
The turn came. 10.
Jason reached slowly, tossed in a bet. "Five hundred."
I tilt my head studying him and match him bet.
"You’re chasing something," Jason says, tapping his fingers. "Always knew you had a tell."
I smile, lazy and cold. “Do I?”
River card— A.
Jason leans forward, chip stack in hand.
“All in.”
A collective inhale ripples around the table. All eyes on us.
I’ve barely looked at the cards on the felt. “Call”
Jason slaps his cards down, “Two pair. Queens and Aces.”
I take my time flipping my own cards. One at a time. Savoring the moment.
K. J.
A straight.
10–J–Q–K–A.
Silence surrounds us. Then a sharp crack of chips raked across the felt as the dealer pushes the mountain of winnings toward me.
Jason's face goes pale.
“Should’ve folded,” I say voice calm. “But you always bet like you’re desperate to prove something.”
“Fuck you Eryx!” he chides back.
And now the real fun begins. I reach my right hand to his head, sliding my fingers through his disheveled hair gripping him tight and slam his head down hard against the table three times, effectively breaking his nose.
“Clear the room,” I speak to everyone around me, and like the good listeners they are, they quickly file out of here.
I pick up my still burning cigar and bring it to his face.
“Wh—what are you doing?” Panic in his voice, just how I like it. Fear me.
I press the red hot end to his cheek and press down until I don’t hear the sizzle of burning flesh anymore, only smell it. Perfect now he and Dean can both wear a reminder of what happens when you fuck with what’s mine.
“Aaaahhh—God—AAHHH!” He screams, like music to my ears.
“You all just never learn, must like getting hurt.”
“Wha—What are you talking about?”
“You locked Anastasia in a fucking closet,” I bring my right fist and connect it with his face.
“You touched what was mine,” another hit.
“You fucking left her there, we’re you ever going to go back for her?
” A third hit, the sound of his cheek bone cracking.
Blood drips down his face, his left eye already swelling shut.
“It was just a joke.”
“A joke? For her or for you?” I kick his knee in, and left jab to his gut. Another crack, a rib this time.
“Was she laughing? Or was she begging for you to stop, pleading to you?” Stomp, stomp, stomp.
He screams out in pain again as I break his leg.
“You’re going to pay for this, this isn’t over Ivanov.”
I get crouch down to eye level with him, he’s a bloody mess on the floor. Will probably need some stitches on his face, and his leg will need to be reset along with his nose.
“Are you really making threats at me right now? Maybe I should blow your fucking brains out and just be done with you right now.” I bring my piece from behind my waistband and bring it to his temple. “How’s that sound?”
That shuts him up. “Is your life flashing behind your eyes,” I cock the gun.
“Eryx!” A familiar voice.
I roll my eyes. “Roman,” I mock back.
“That’s enough, you’ve made your point, go home.”
I release a breath, uncock the gun, removing it from being pressed against his head and tuck it away in my waistband again.
“Whatever.” I get up and walk behind the bar, wipe my hands on a towel on the counter and pour myself a shot. I slam it down and head towards the exit. “Do me a favor and clean this up? I need to get back to my girl.”
“Sure, you owe me though, take a breather before you see her and clean up a bit, there’s blood on you shirt. Don’t scare the girl. She’s been through enough.”
Yeah she has, but I’m not worried about scaring her. I see the same demons that haunt me, behind her eyes. We’re more alike than she knows. Her darkness is my own.