Page 75 of Awakening the Beast
“I love you, baby. I’ll see you at home tonight,” I murmur softly, sounding the complete opposite to myshameful screams just moments ago.
He searches my eyes, his gaze lingering for a moment before giving a small nod. His chin lifts as he presses a tender kiss to my forehead, a rare softness from a man so consumed by darkness. The warmth of his body begins to fade as he releases me, the cold air quickly replacing the heat of his touch.
I feel the load of everything we've just done settling over me as I turn to leave, the murders we’ve committed together, the hard fucking I just took, all lingering in the air behind me and between my thighs.
It’s a Friday evening, and I’m stuck in the last meeting of the day. I glance at my watch, barely listening to shit conversation, my mind elsewhere. Wren’s going to dinner with Jasper, Lily, his mom, and Lumi tonight. I don’t know how I feel about it. Actually, I do—I don’t fucking like it. She means nothing to me, and I honestly don’t want to deal with her. But for Wren and my brother, I’ll put aside my shitty feelings. Hopefully, it won’t become a regular fucking thing.
They don’t know I’m planning on going there, but the second I’m out of here, I’ll head to the restaurant. Eat, have a couple of bourbons, then get the hell out.
The rain pounds against the window to my left, matching my mood. I’m fed up with the pointless chatter that’s barely holding my attention. With an exasperated sigh, I sit forward and raise my hand, cutting off the conversation. My eyes close for a second as I stand, a scoff escaping my lips, and the room falls silent instantly.
As I open my eyes, I lean forward, planting my palms on the table, my gaze sweeping across the room.
“I don’t know about the rest of you bastards, but it’s a fucking Friday night. I’m done. I need a strong drink,” I grit out, my tone sharp.
A few dark chuckles echo around the table, but I don't join in. My expression stays cold as I straighten up and grab my suit jacket, throwing it over my shoulders.
“Get the fuck out of here. We’ll pick this up Monday morning,” I order, the decision final.
They stand without hesitation, some nodding their thanks as they pass, but I don’t acknowledge them. I just stare straight ahead, already thinking about the night ahead.
My thoughts drift back to Wren—my Wren. Everything feels hollow when she’s not near, like a twisted addiction I can’t shake. The pull she has on me is relentless, gnawing at the edges of my sanity. I adjust my collar, tightening the grip of my suit around my shoulders, then light a cigarette. It dangles from my lips as I pull out my phone, the screen lighting up with the address to the restaurant.
My eyes fall to the initial carved on my palm—her initial. I take a slow drag, the smoke swirling as I shove the phone into my pants pocket,stuck on the thought of her. Always her.
I think about how to break the news to Wren tomorrow about Savannah. She hasn’t asked, maybe she’s been too wrapped up in other shit, but it’s time to give her the green light for revenge. Savannah’s relentless since she learned about Carter’s murder. She’s hell-bent on joining him with death, a tragic love story for criminals. It’s infuriating to kill with someone without gettingthe answers you need, but my patience is wearing thin. Her presence is becoming a serious fucking thorn in our side.
I take another deep drag of my cigarette, then turn and head out of the room.
Stepping out of my car in front of the restaurant, I glance up at the high-end establishment with a furrowed brow, wondering who the fuck paid for this. The rain pours down hard, thunder and lightning splitting the sky, but I’m unfazed. I actually like the fucking rain. It matches who the fuck I am.
I stride towards the entrance, where a guy holds the door open for me. As I walk in, I spot Wren immediately. Her back is to me as she's guided to a table, her red dress flowing elegantly, Lumi perched on her hip. Without waiting for check-in, I follow them, quickening my pace to catch up.
When they reach a table, my focus is entirely on Wren and Lumi. I slow as she settles Lumi into a highchair, but before she can take her seat, I move in swiftly. I slip my arm around her waist from behind, pull out the chair, sit down, and yank her onto my lap. She squeaks in surprise, and I grin. When she quickly turns to face me, her full, red lips curve into a bright smile. She looks fucking stunning, her makeup and dress perfect. I can’t help but think about how I’m going to ruin that pretty dress and makeup later.
“Hello, baby. You made it.” She whispers, her arm snaking around my wet shoulders.
She gives me a soft kiss on the lips, then gently wipes away the lipstick with her thumb. I shift my attention to Lumi, sitting unsteadily in the highchair. I reach out, stroking the soft curls of her hair. She looks up at me, her balance shaky, and as I lean in, smiling wide, she responds with a small giggle, her face lighting up.
Straightening in my seat, I tap Wren’s ass lightly. “I wanted you to sit on me but let me get her out of this thing. She can sit with Daddy.”
Wren nods easily, stepping aside, but the moment she moves, my gaze is caught by an older woman across the table. We lock eyes, and something stirs in me—something I can’t quite explain. Her long, dark brown hair frames her face, mature, and her deep brown eyes—so similar to my own—stare back at me. I don’t recognize her, but she feels familiar, like a distant memory or a dream I don't remember. She offers a faint, almost knowing smile, but I keep my face unreadable, unsure of what to make of it. This has to be Jaspers mom.
Breaking the weird exchange, I turn back to Lumi. Lifting her gently from the highchair, I settle her on my chest. She lifts her head, her tiny hands reaching up, grabbing at my face, and straight away, that strange moment slips away. As Lumi’s giggles fill the space between us, a smile spreads across my lips.
“Cree didn’t want to come?” I ask, turning to Wren and she looks at me, shaking her head once.
“He wanted to have dinner at his friend’s house. You know, the one we talked about? They have a small school project together.”
I raise an eyebrow, the familiar discomfort settling in at the thought of him being out of our sight. Wren senses it immediately and leans in closer.
“His parents are fine,” she reassures me. “I get along with his mom, and of course, I did a background check. They’re a decent, normal family.”
Her words make me exhale, my shoulders relaxing slightly.
“We’ll collect him after this,” she adds with a gentle smile, her hand finding my thigh under the table.
I lift Lumi, turning her to face the table as she settles comfortably on my lap. Before I can say anything, the woman opposite speaks up, her voice cutting through the moment with bizarre boldness.
