Timber (Hades Book 4) Page 20
"Sir, there's a gentleman here who claims to have an appointment with you," Macy's voice crackled through the intercom that we never used. Her tone was dry and sarcastic. "Says he's an FBI Agent." There was a pause and then, "He's a mean-looking bastard with an eye patch."
A chill ran down my spine, and I straightened in my seat as Zed slid off my desk and pulled an AK-40 from the hidden panel behind my desk. Hannah gave a small gasp, her eyes wide as she eyed the gun, then turned to me.
"Do you want me to send him away?" She blinked at me with total sincerity. "I can tell him you've already gone for the day. The charges against you were all dropped; they have no right—"
"It's fine, Hannah," I murmured, even though every muscle in my body was telling me to fucking run. "Just let him in, then take the rest of the afternoon off. Macy, too."
That only alarmed her further, but I wouldn’t risk her getting caught up in whatever bullshit Chase was playing at today.
"Go, Hannah," Zed pushed. "Now."
She tightened her lips but tucked her phone back in her pocket and stood up with a straight spine. "Understood, sir. Thank you for your time today."
Hannah opened my office door and gave a small gasp when she realized Chase was right there on the other side like he'd been listening through the door like a fucking juvenile.
"Excuse me," she mumbled, brushing past him when he made no attempt to move out of her way. True to my request, she didn't even stop at her desk before heading to Macy and passing along my message to go home.
Chase peered over his shoulder at her, then stepped into my office with a wide grin on his face. "She's pretty, isn't she? Jumpy, too. Bet she has a lovely scream." He took another leering look in Hannah's direction, then closed the door behind himself. "Complexion is a bit dark for my liking, though. Freshly spilled blood doesn't contrast quite as nicely as it does on all that creamy porcelain of yours, Darling."
Bile rolled in my guts, and I could feel my palms sweating where I clasped my hands loosely on the desk in front of me. "I don't believe you had an appointment, Chase. Unless this is official FBI business"—my sarcasm was thick—"politely fuck right off. Feel free to jump straight out the window and do us all a favor."
Instead of doing as I asked—damn shame, too—Chase just sauntered over to the chair Hannah had vacated and sat his ass down like he owned the thing.
"That won't be necessary, old friend." Nodding to the assault rifle, Chase winked at Zed. "I sure hope that's licensed. I left my colleagues out in the foyer, but they really are sticklers for rules." He shifted his attention back to me. "You're looking good, Darling. How's that shoulder?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," I replied, using every damn shred of strength I had to keep my voice even, my expression calm. Beneath the desk, my knee was bouncing, but I managed to keep it subtle so Chase wouldn't see. "Like I said, we're very busy. Do you have official business, Agent Lockhart?"
He grinned again. Fuck, I hated that smile.
"Always in such a rush," he purred. "I heard a whisper that your dead lover isn't so dead anymore. Maybe we could chat about that? Hmm? You made that look very real. I think I'm a little impressed."
I said nothing. Gave him nothing but silence and a level stare.
He made an irritated sound in his throat. "Very well, then." He reached inside his jacket, and Zed's grip on his gun shifted. But Chase just pulled out a thick linen envelope sealed with red wax.
"If you're inviting us to your Freddy Kruger–themed birthday party, unfortunately, we won't be able to make it," I drawled in the most casual tone I could muster while internally screaming. "I'm washing my hair that day."
Placing the envelope down on my desk, Chase gave a low laugh. The front of it was hand-addressed with looping script, made out to Hayden Darling Timber.
"The mayor of Cloudcroft is hosting a gala next weekend," he explained, his beady eye locked on me. "Given all the nasty press lately with your unfortunate arrest and dreadful abduction, she thought it would be really good for optics if you attended."
I blinked at him a moment. Was he fucking serious? Of course he was. He was straight up fucking insane.
"What's in it for me?" I ignored the invitation and leaned back in my chair. Casual. Calm. Unaffected. Like nothing he'd done to me had ever happened.
Compartmentalization was my strongest asset, and I wasn't afraid to use it.
Shrugging, Chase stood. "Nothing at all, Darling."
He paused for a moment, standing in front of my desk and looming over me. I loathed to look up at him, but I also refused to be cowed into looking down at my desk.
"You really look good," he murmured again. "Like you got all your spark back. Bet you could run fast now, hmm?"
Oh fuck. I was about to crack. Just as the tremble in my leg started to creep up my spine, Zed closed his hand over my good shoulder. He grounded me, and I drew on his strength like a breath of fresh air in a stale room.
Chase stared at that connection, and I saw the briefest flicker of anger in his single eye—enough that I wanted to fan the flame. So I reached up and stroked my hand over Zed's, toying with his knuckles, and smiled as he linked our fingers together.
"If that's everything, agent, I have a very busy afternoon planned." I loaded my voice with innuendo as Zed gave a soft, sexual kind of chuckle.
The corners of Chase's mouth tightened ever so slightly, but then that slick grin was back. "Cute." He made his way toward the door, then paused as he held it open. "Oh, you wouldn't happen to know what happened to my house, would you?"
I pretended to think about it, then shook my head. "Sorry, no. Nothing is sparking in my mind, anyway. I absolutely will tell you if anything ignites an idea, though. It's a shame you weren't home, I heard it was quite the explosion."
He huffed another forced laugh and sauntered back out of my office without closing the door. The second he was out of sight, Zed put his gun down and marched over to slam the door, then flicked the lock too.
For a moment, he planted his hands on the door, his shoulders bunched and his head hung low like he was desperately trying to get a handle on his anger. Then he pushed off again and scrubbed a hand over his face as he turned back to face me.
"This is probably the stupidest question that will ever leave my mouth," he said in a low, rough voice, "but are you okay?"
With Chase gone, my control had snapped. I shook violently all over, and my head swam like I might pass out.
"You're right," I replied, sounding weak. "That was a stupid question."
I was far from okay, and that "innocent" visit from Chase had shown me just how damaged I still was—no doubt, exactly what he’d intended. But even knowing that, I couldn't stop myself as I broke down in Zed's arms.
26
After Chase's friendly little visit to my office and my subsequent meltdown on the floor, wrapped in Zed's arms, it was no real surprise that sleep totally eluded me that night. I distracted myself by hitting the gym and working on my fitness. Even if my arm needed physical therapy, there was no reason the rest of me couldn't get back into shape, especially now that most of my injuries were healing well. My ribs still hurt, but as there was nothing to be done about that, I just... ignored them.
Mind over matter. It worked... to a point.
When the sun started cresting the horizon, I sent a message to Seph and asked if she wanted to grab breakfast with me. Even with all the stress and paranoia of Chase lurking around town, I couldn't keep shoving my sister aside.
She replied straight away, which wasn't like her at all. She seemed excited to do breakfast, even suggesting we invite Demi. I thought was a great idea, not just because Demi might offer a buffer if things turned sour between Seph and I, but because I also wanted to ask Demi a few things.
Heading upstairs, I made a mental deal with myself to regain some of the emotional ground I'd lost the day before. I was going to tackle the shower alone again.
Both Zed and Lucas had att
ached bathrooms in their bedrooms, but Cass and I used the main bathroom at the end of the hall. So rather than waking anyone up, I headed straight for that one and stripped out of my sweaty work-out clothes.
This time I didn't try to give myself a pep talk in the mirror, and I carefully avoided looking at the fresh scars decorating my ribs, wrist, thigh, and shoulder. Instead, I kept my mind working on my plan for those six people Chase had been speaking with when I escaped. He'd thrown me off with his little visit yesterday; it was about damn time I chalked up another win against him.
Blowing up his house had been fun, no question, but it wasn't enough. It hadn't hurt him or his plans, not really. I needed to start cutting him down at the knees.
Letting my mind wander, I worked on autopilot to turn on the shower and get it up to temperature before stepping in.
Vaguely, I recognized the way my muscles tensed and my skin prickled, but I was determined. Today was the day I regained another piece of myself.
Inch by inch, I backed myself under the water. Then the bathroom door opened, and Cass lumbered inside with a long yawn, tugging his T-shirt off.
"Cass, I'm fine," I snarled. "I can do this myself."
He paused with his hands on the waistband of his boxers. "Okay." Then he pushed them down and stepped closer with his big old tattooed dick swinging. "Can I shower with you, though? I'm late to go help Nadia with some heavy-lifting shit."
My lips parted, and I needed a couple of tries before I could make my voice work. "Oh. Yeah, sure."
I shifted slightly to the side, letting him into the cubicle that was suddenly way too freaking small. Why did this bathroom seem to have the smallest shower of the whole damn house?
"Thanks," he replied, flashing me a toothy grin as he dipped his face under the spray and saturated himself.
I bit my lip as the water cascaded off him and onto me, but I was too busy drooling to panic. "Grumpy Cat... what do you think you're doing?" I murmured as he spread soap all over his ripped, ink-covered chest.
He arched a brow at me, perfectly innocent. "Showering. What are you doing?"
I narrowed my eyes. "Showering too."
With a twitch of a smile, he dragged his eyes down my body. "Doesn't look like it. You need soap and water to shower, Red."
Gritting my teeth, I glared up at him, pointedly trying not to look at his dick. I'd seen it enough that I could picture it perfectly in my mind, though.
"You're taking up all the water," I pointed out with a shrug. "It's not my fault you're a shower hog."
Cass chuckled briefly, then stepped out of the stream of water and leaned his shoulders against the tile wall, leaving the soap suds clinging to his muscles like he was posing for a naked calendar. "All yours, beautiful."
The challenge was crystal clear, but I was stubborn enough to rise to the bait. Keeping my eyes locked on him, I moved further under the water. Further than I'd managed alone since...
Fuck. I was backsliding into dark memories, and that was not going to help.
Cass swiped a hand over his head, sending droplets of water flying as he eyed me hungrily. Okay. That, actually, was helping. I soaped up my hands and started spreading it over myself while Cass watched, unblinking.
"Shit, Red," he muttered as I cupped my own breasts, covering them in suds, "you sure know how to make a shower more interesting."
In case there was any question about just how interesting he found my showering, the rapid rise of his cock answered it. I shot him a heated look, playing into it by gently toying with my hard nipples.
When I slid my hand lower, soaping my belly and then heading south, Cass gave a small growl of frustration and reached out to snatch my hand away.
"You're killing me," he whispered, stepping away from the wall and into the water with me. Without asking permission, he placed my hand on his waist, then cupped my head with his fingers in my now soaking wet hair.
He tilted my head back and claimed my lips in a hard, hungry kiss that made my knees weak and my pulse race. His hard dick pressed against my stomach, and a ripple of darkness shuddered through me. It was gone in a flash, though, when his lips moved to my ear.
"I've got you, Angel," he rumbled, his low, gravelly voice filling me with a heady sense of safety and security. "I'll never hurt you." He pulled away just far enough to shoot me a devilish wink. "Unless you want me to... later."
I huffed a laugh, then gasped as his fingers found my heated core.
"Cass," I breathed, but had no fucking clue if it was a protest or a plea. Either way, he brought his mouth back to mine, kissing me deeply as his thumb found my clit and made me writhe.
With firm, confident strokes, he worked me over as he kissed the breath straight from my lungs, until I was trembling and moaning in his grip. The warm shower continued beating down on us both, the water mixing with our kisses and heating my already flushed body to the point of scorching.
Right as I could feel my orgasm hanging on the horizon, I let go of the last bit of control I'd been hanging onto. Acting purely on instinct, my fingers skated down Cass's hard abs and wrapped around his throbbing cock.
He grunted in surprise, then plunged his fingers deeper as my hand stroked him slowly. A moment later, I was moaning and shaking as I came. My grip on his dick tightened as my toes curled and my knees went weak, and as my orgasm started to fade, Cass jerked and huffed his own release.
I tensed up a moment, memories flashing across my mind in a lightning-fast montage of terror, but the shower water instantly washed away the evidence of his climax, and he kissed me again.
"You want me to wash your hair for you?" he asked, sounding husky and a little breathless. The water was pouring all over me, and I just gave him a loopy, relieved smile.
"Mm-hmm," I agreed, reaching for the shampoo, then handing it to him. "That was sneaky, Saint."
He flashed me a wicked grin and spun me around so that I was out of the water while he washed my hair. "No, that was positive reinforcement, Angel, replacing traumatic memories with stronger, fresher experiences of pleasure. And trust. And love." He kissed my shoulder. "It was Lucas's idea."
Of course it had been. Lucas knew Cass was infinitely more comfortable pushing me past my self-imposed limits, but that was exactly what I'd said I wanted. So they were working together to help me. I loved that more than I could ever express.
"Remind me to thank him," I murmured, letting my eyes close as Cass washed my hair. This time, though, it was a loving, borderline-sexual act. He wasn't helping me as an injured, fragile, damaged creature. He was worshiping the woman he loved.
I was late for my breakfast date with Seph. She'd asked me to pick her up from Rex's place because she wanted to show me something that she'd been working on, but after I'd asked Cass for some more positive reinforcement in the shower, I was breathless and rushed when I arrived.
"Good morning, boss," Rex crowed as he opened the door for me. He lived in an apartment above his garage with his sons and now with Seph. "Lovely day, eh?"
I arched a brow at him. My hair was a bit wild—I'd run out of time to do anything but blast it with some heat—and I knew my lips were red and puffy from kissing that rough, bearded bastard in my shower.
"Superb," I replied with a flat, fuck-off tone. "Is Seph ready? I'm late."
Rex swiped a hand over his face like he was trying to hide a laugh. "Uh yep, she was just having a small disagreement with Ford upstairs, but I'll give her a yell."
He led the way through the garage, past a beautiful corvette in a soft lilac, and over to the door at the back, which was marked with private - no access.
The second he opened the door, I heard what he’d meant when he said Seph was having a small disagreement with his oldest son. Her unmistakable shriek echoed down the stairs, and on instinct I stiffened as a cold chill ran through me.
Before I could overreact, though, her shriek turned into scathing insults and curses, and I exhaled the tension out again. She was fine.
"Come in anyway," he said to me, indicating I join him at the top of the first short flight of stairs. It opened up into a kitchen and eating area where a sleepy-looking teenage boy was eating cereal and watching anime.
Rex cleared his throat loudly, and the boy glanced up at us with half-asleep curiosity. As natural as breathing, his eyes ran over me with a spark of interest and a flirtatious smile curved his lips.
"Whatever bullshit is about to leave your lips, boy, I'd think fucking twice," Rex snarled. The kid gave Rex an arrogant sneer, then shifted his eyes back to me. This time, though, his brows rose with recognition. Seph and I looked a lot alike.
"I apologize for the fucking moron, boss," Rex muttered to me, lumbering over to the kitchen. "Can I get you a cup of coffee?"
I shook my head. "No. I'm taking my sister for breakfast." Satisfaction rippled through me at how the boy paled when I said my sister. I flicked him a predatory glance. "I don't think we've met."
Rex grunted. "Sorry, boss. This degenerate is Micah. Not technically one of mine, but he acts like he is." He gave me a long-suffering look. "I figure he’s better off putting his hands to work here than getting in scuffles with Reapers or Wolves."
The boy flashed me a cocky smile, but this time it was more cautious and a whole lot less leering. "You're Hades, huh?"
Rex clipped him around the back of his head, and I bit my cheek to hold back a smile. "Apparently," I replied in a cool murmur.
"Ow, what?" Micah scowled up at Rex. "I wasn't being rude!"
Clattering footsteps coming down the stairs saved the kid from earning another wallop from Rex, and Seph burst into the room with bright red, tear-stained cheeks and venom in her eyes.
Instead of spouting off about whatever had upset her, though, she just grabbed me in a tight hug. "You're here! I thought you might have changed your mind or something."