Page 108 of Villains Never Die

Around four A.M. he texted me he was on his way home and I stripped down to lie in his bed like he’d asked. I was nearly asleep when I heard the door open and felt the weight of him join me a minute later.

His lips grazed the space between my shoulder blades and he laughed. “Did you clean my house while I was gone?”

“I had nothing else to do. How is Trey?”

His arm fell loosely around my waist and he scooted closer, his warmth saturating me and my cold raising goosebumps over the arm that held me. “He has a concussion and some bruises. He’ll recover. I’m beat though.”

He moaned happily against my back and his arm tightened slightly. I thought his eyes might be closed, and that perhaps he wore a small smile as he breathed me in.

“Go to sleep then,” I said. I was prepared to. Rook had become some sort of living security blanket, granting me the peace I needed to doze off.

“I was thinking maybe you should hire a bodyguard,” he said.

I turned as far as his strong body against me allowed and glanced at him over my shoulder. “I have an entire security team.”

“No, someone close. At least until you kill the masked man. I don’t think you should wait for him alone, and I can’t be with you all the time.”

“I have nine lives,” I said, turning over. His eyes were closed, but he opened them at my voice. “What is this about?”

I watched his throat move thickly in the dark. “I have a bad feeling about this, and I can’t…” He blew out a breath. “I can’t lose you. I realized it earlier when you won that bet and youlaughed. This is good. We’re good. I always want to hear you laugh like that, and I feel like something is going to go wrong.”

“You’re being paranoid.” I sighed deeply, suddenly uncomfortable, and shifted against the pillows. “I love you. You won’t lose me. I won’t let that happen.” Maybe it was the genuine fear in his voice making me so uncomfortable, giving me that itchy restlessness under my skin. I wasn’t sure anyone had ever worried so much for me before, not my family, maybe not even Gray.

“I like it better when you’re laughing at me,” I said. I paused, kissing him lightly. “I’m the serious one, remember?”

“Just be careful.”

“Close your eyes,” I said, skimming my fingers over his dark lashes until he obeyed me. “I am yours. Soon, I’m going to kill that bastard, and no one will even remember him. He’ll be some forgotten mark on this city, and you and I? We’ll still be here.”

Soon, all our troubles would be over, and we would remain.

Chapter Forty-One

Days passed, things smoothed out, and my life returned to business as usual. Everyone rearranged to fill in the hole that Gray left behind. My friend was gone, and the world kept turning. My headaches were the usual kind—betrayals, lies, and stubborn buyers. I found someone else to dole out punishment and gather information in my basement, or I did it myself when they couldn’t. Avalon went on gathering crowds and raking in money. I filled my spare hours with the Prague collection, examining it all piece by piece and feeling like all hope might not be lost.

It was all very usual.

Rook was the only one who kept my life interesting. I spent several more nights learning to appreciate his fights and his company. The laughter he coaxed felt less foreign. We made each other come more times than I could count and spent the aftermath lounging in his bed or mine. I even developed a sleeppattern, something consistent and restful.

I was alone tonight, scouring The Looking Glass for mentions of Death, until Rook got off work and could meet me in thepenthouse so I could sleep. It was Friday, and there were always extra fights or multiple opponents facing each other in the cage. He’d be late tonight, but I could wait.

My phone vibrated on the pillow beside me—Rook’s pillow—and I picked it up.

Rook: double espresso, something with no sugar, latte with extra foam.

What?

Rook: The ink on the file clerk’s arm. I’ve been trying to figure it out. It’s a coffee order.

Rook: I know who the killer is.

Who?

Five minutes passed with no answer and my temper sizzling at his sudden pronouncement, then disappearance.

Rook! Bloody text me back!

Fucking hell. When I see you I’m going to