“It’s more than that, Seven. It’s why none of them ever deserved to see you so much as walk into a room. Or breathe thesame air. Kinda makes me wish itwasa curse on your fucking back.”
I looked one last time at him, feeling a knot gather in my throat. “Why?”
“Because any man lucky enough to have even a taste of what you just gave me in the back of this hearse? If they didn’t see you for the wonder that you are…they deserve to have their cock snap off.” I looked away, swallowing.
“Wise words from the mob hit man?” I smiled softly, trying not to tear up. He only made it worse.
“No. From a man that knows exactly who the fuck I’m riding with…and how lucky that man is. Irish or not.”
Bitch, keep your shit together for three more miles.
“Thank you…”
“Eh. Don’t thank me yet. We still gotta see if you have an outbreak. You might hate me in a week.” I shot my head towards him.
“Excuse me?!”
He shamefully bit down on a knuckle and turned his face away. “Probly a bad time to tell ya ‘bout the herps, right?” I balled my fist up and started blindly swinging, making contact with everything but his face. He was smart to cover his infectedmanhood.
“I’m kidding!TRUCE! I’m fucking kidding!Bleedin’ Christ!” He cackled, warding me off. “I’m just bustin’ ‘yer balls for the curse. You can’t tell me you didn’t deserve that.”
I totally do.
“My God…I cannot believe I just fucked you.”
“Ah, butdidyou?” he grinned like an utter ass.
“Malek, I will make you into a pretty little speed bump.” He leaned over and pressed a chaste kiss to my cheek.
“At least you think I’m pretty.”
CHAPTER 18
The Executioner
I question my stealth and my numbered days where it concerns not getting caught doing obvious shit I’m not supposed to. We did manage to get the hearse back in the garage at the funeral home, but I’m almost positive I saw movement in one of the upper windows in the back. The sun was just coming up when we got back to Seven’s apartment and Bridget was curled up in the coffin with that same book, snoring. I let Sev shower first, and didn’t try to sneak in there with her, although that was a fucking effort. I could easily go three more rounds with her, but I know we’re both in need of some serious sleep. I was kind enough to forego her Bluetooth speaker and see what other gold she had hidden on that playlist. When I got out, she was passed out cold on the far side of her bed…a pillow and a spot next to her with the covers already pulled back.
My nose is sore but doesn’t seem like it’s broken. However, I’m a little apprehensive about assuming this invitation is legit, lest I get a fat lip to go with my nose. I spotted the diamonds sitting on her nightstand. The filthy clothes we wore in an open rubbish bag next to the bathroom door. We just cleaned a body for a cannibal, buried it in an old lady’s grave, and fucked each other in the back of funeral buggy. Screw it, I’m sliding in. The sheets were soft, and my eyes crossed a little when I laid back, covering my lower half. She stirred a bit, but didn’t say anything. I tensed up.
I haven’t slept in a bed with a woman in almost a decade…
Bridget definitely doesn’t count. She’s not fucking human, anyway. I swallowed, staring at the ceiling, andsuddenly found it incredibly hard to breathe when a pale, tattooed arm reached across me and the smell of coconut shampoo drifted up to my throbbing nose from where her head rested in the crook of my shoulder. Part of me wonders if she even realizes what she’s doing. But the other part is thinking about the look on her face when she told me what that tattoo really means…how long it’s probably been for her since she’s had this either. We’re both just lost, damaged little fuckers. A fucked-up version of Adam and Eve, eating both halves of a poisoned apple. How we got here doesn’t matter. Where we go after this…
My arm coiled around her, and I closed my eyes, resting my chin on the top of her head. I don’t remember the last time I got to hold my girl…I don’t remember the smell of her hair, or the feel of her skin. Can’t remember what our last words were to each other. I feel like that should bother me, but right now?
Right now, it doesn’t.
Dim sunlight peeked through black curtains, and I felt like a fucking vampire as my eyes peeled open and I searched around for my phone that was relentlessly ringing.Somewhere. I’m in the middle of the bed, stretched out and I don’t think I’ve slept this good in my entire life…but I’m alone. And aside from the sound of that god forsaken phone, it’s really quiet. I sat up, wiping the haze from my eyes and looked over at the empty bathroom. The bedroom door is open too. There’s no sign of life in there. The trash bag is missing. I dragged a hand through my hair, ignoring the phone and getting up to slither into the living room.
Bridget’s air mattress is tucked into the far corner of the room. The coffin is tidied up, blankets folded. There’s a pot of coffee on in the kitchen, and a mug left out…and a note.
Day off. You snore. Bridget’s withering.
Going to get cake pops and twat waxes.
Coffee’s fresh. Don’t die.
-S-
