Just as the words left her mouth, Evelynn's body went limp and landed on the black marbled floor. Kong was trained well for he even after sensing the danger just gently pushed Sheila away from her. I picked Evelynn up from her underarms and secured her head in the crook of my neck. She was a little old to be carried this way but I had no other option. Kong howled unstoppably as if asking me what I was up to, he was one noisy dog.
I glared at Kong who was observing me before shifting my gaze to Creed. I thought things over and decided to hand Eve to Sheila. "Take her, " I ordered, and added, "I'll meet you outside with Max."
I called for him in the mid link and my voice resonated in the dark empty plane. As if on cue on the kitchen entrance stood my beta.
Max patted Sheila's shoulder as she carried Eve out and walked over to me, standing above Creed's body. Kong stood on his hind limbs, resting his frontal paws on Max's thighs. Max scratched behind his ear happily. "Can we keep him?" He questioned giving me what I think were his puppy dog eyes.
Same breed
Amara said in my head.
That's disrespectful for Kong, I retorted.
"It's not ours." I informed him.
He stomped his foot and pouted like a child. I looked at him unfazed, probably resembling a mother who won't succumb to her kid's demands.
He sighed in defeat before his eyes strayed to Creed. He threw me a glance before kneeling down and jabbing a syringe full of wolfsbane just under my mate's jaw.
"Oh, how I wish to torture him." He said maliciously before taking out some wolfsbane laced ropes and tying Eddy's hands together. I subconsciously reached forward and pushed his raven hair away from his eyes.
Don't do this, Amara whined.
I didn't grace her with a reply and continued to stare at the cruel boy.
"You really are a sadist." I snickered at Max as he was busy glaring at the unconscious body. I didn't want my voice to sound as defensive as it did because I didn't want to seem out of control. When really, some part of me was sad, so damn sad for doing this to him.
I felt like setting myself on fire for going against my mate, but I wasn't the one in the wrong here.
I was the good guy.
Right?
"Forgive me, if I don't want to show mercy to a guy who murdered my mother and has my father held captive." Said Max snapping me out of my turmoil. Fair point, he got there.
I needed to be reminded that he did horrible things to my loved ones and wouldn't think twice before doing them again, mate or not, he killed my family, and I'm sure he would do it again.
"Let's go" I whispered to Max taking my eyes off Edan. Both of us dashed out of the giant door where we picked up Sheila's scent. As her scent grew stronger we neared a dingy alleyway, the smell of muck strong. Behind a dumpster stood Sheila with Eve in her arms.
"Where to?" She asked.
"Follow me." I ordered before striding through the dark streets with them behind.
"Have you ever tried this thing called answering?" Max questioned.
"That's boring," I replied.
"But it wouldn't hurt to give us some answers once in a while, y'know just to make us feel like equals."
"Never said this was a democracy." I shrugged stuffing my frozen hands into the pockets of those red swimming trunks.
"So," Max started uncertainly, "How are you, Sheila?" And that was the most awkward question I had ever heard in my life.
"Peachy", Replied Sheila monotonously.
"I mean- ar- are you okay?" He rephrased and that's when I tuned them out.
I observed the dark, empty roads. If somebody died there, screaming and crying, I don't think anyone would even know.
Why does my mind work like this?
As a resident of this place, I think I'm supposed to know that, but I, really don't. Said Amara.
Good thing I don't expect much from you then, I replied dryly.
Good thing my job isn't to live up to your expectations then, she replied mimicking my tone.
Damn girl, you can actually match my vibe, I said impressed because most people didn't really have good comebacks to what I said.
Being a bitch is in my resume
I could cry right now.
Uh, well, don't. I'm not great at offering comfort.
Eh, offering comfort isn't part of our deal so no problem there.
Well, this is enough socialising for me, peace.
And just like that, she broke the link.
The darkness around me reminded me of Edan, his aura. Unlike the street, the darkness surrounding him was not dangerous, it was troubled. The leaves dancing along the chilly air resembled the emotions swirling in his ever thunderous orbs. My mate wasn't someone who would stand out from the crowd. There was nothing as such special about him. You would easily look past him, he would just blend in the background, he was that dark. I think he preferred that, never wanting to come out of the shadows.
It seemed as though being unnoticed, he knew about everyone and everything but never intended on using that against anyone. That was what made him troubled and not dangerous. He knew all the cards before the game even began, winning was the easiest thing for him. I had not went toe to toe with him, yet I knew he was an enemy to be reckoned with.
My feet halted in front of the crooked sign that read Joe's.
"A grocery store?" Sheila asked incredulously. Not yet answering her I let my eyes roam the area before landing on a hooded figure.
"There he is," I muttered under my breath as he trudged to us. The hooded man intimidatingly towered over me before pulling off his hood. Under the dawn-lit sky, his face glistened as a knowing smile spread across his lips.
"Brooke Taylor", He nodded at Sheila keeping his distance.
Wondering how he came here?
You don't need to know that.
"Enlighten me about this emergency you talk about but look just as good as did yesterday." He spoke in a snobby tone.
"I implied of there being an emergency, but it seems to me you got the impression of I being in trouble. So allow me to clarify that, I look for a partner in crime rather than a knight in shining armor, my friend."
"Hmm," He nodded, those pools of hazel shamelessly roaming my face. His eyes strayed from my face to Sheila, more specifically, Eve, who was in Sheila's arms. "Don't tell me you kidnapped that child," He said with a ghost of a smile on his face.
"What if I did?"
"I expected better from you Ms. Carter," He shook his head disappointedly before looking at Evelynn again.
He turned his head back to me with a look of uncertainty. "So I have to help you hide that kid?" He reconfirmed.
"Yes, Brooklyn", Came my short reply making him smile.
"I didn't sign up for this shit," He sighed but the smile was still present in his voice.
Ah, look at that, us bonding over kidnapping.
He took us to his apartment which was a modern loft. It was pretty minimalistic, just like him. Less but profound. We cleared out his living area to give Sheila space to perform the cloaking spell on Eve.
"Till she does her hocus pocus let me fix you with a drink." Brooke offered politely, I could see how he struggled to seem hospitable. Maybe he wasn't used to company.
"Oh and me too."
"I'd like that." I gave him a small smile.
"Oh yeah thanks for asking, I'd like that too."
"The bar's up there, c'mon." He said before climbing the ladder leading to the bar.
I nod.
"I think she performed the spell on the wrong cutie." I catch Steve examining his hands before I ignore him and climb behind Brooklyn.