Page 133 of Finders Reapers

I had no idea whose tiny voice had decided to make themselves at home in my head, but I didn’t like the truth bombs they were throwing my way.

Maddox pushed off the bed and grabbed his phone from the bedside table where he had stashed it before he came to bed. I watched as he typed in Rome’s name, which somehow made it worse.

He was going to tell the others.

My eyes flicked to the phone.

“Mr. Bub came to me,” I blurted out, my fists clenched and pressed into my hips.

Maddox lowered the phone as his head tilted to me so slowly that I felt like I was in the sights of a sniper's scope. “He came to you,” Maddox repeated flatly.

I swallowed, but the lump in my throat was too large, and I couldn’t do it. When I spoke again, I sounded like I had a fist wrapped around my throat. “He wanted to know how far you were in the investigation against him. He wanted to know about the contracted souls. He came to me twice—no, three times.”

“What did you tell him?” Maddox asked, light and almost disinterested in his question. He turned his phone over in his hands. Still wearing the blank expression that somehow felt more dangerous than Beelzebub’s gnashing teeth and blazing anger.

“I didn’t—”

“Bullshit.” Maddox’s arm reared back, and he threw his phone across the room. It slammed against the wall, and the case popped right off, and parts flew in an explosion of rage. Maddox remained still, even after his display. He cleared his throat and licked his bottom lip before rolling his head on his shoulder.

I stepped back. Frightened for the first time since I had met Maddox. Unable to stop my gaze from flicking back to the debris of Maddox’s broken phone on the worn carpet.

“Bullshit.” Maddox snarled. “Are you telling me that you were able to resist the magic of a demon king? Bullshit, Valentina. You rolled over like a puppy, pissed yourself, and then exposed every fucking thing we’ve tried so hard to keep under wraps. Do you know what you’ve done?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t tell him anything.”

Maddox grabbed the working lamp off the side table, and that went too. Right in the direction of the phone, into the wall, and into a thousand pieces.

It was dark, and all I could see was the outline of Maddox’s face in the moonlight that leaked through the open curtains. Somehow, even though his facial features were blurred, I could see every inch of disappointment he felt.

“You rolled over and told him everything, and you don’t even know.” He shook his head, disgusted.

“What could you have done if you’d known that he was coming to me?” I replied nastily. Hating that I was responding in kind, but I couldn’t take his scorn anymore. “You’re a Reaper, and he’s the king of gluttony!” I screamed the last word. “I’m so sick and tired of being a pawn between you and Charon and whatever the hell is going on at Quietus. I’m sick of it.”

Maddox exhaled. “Fine.”

“Fine?”

“Fine.” He repeated. “Get the fuck out.”

“What?” I reared back.

“You heard me. Get the fuck out of here. Take your shit and go. You’re not part of this Grim anymore. You’ve put all of us at risk. You’ve done enough. You don’t want to be a pawn, then go. No one is stopping you.”

It was hard to breathe. My lungs just wouldn’t work. It felt like I was underwater.

“Go?” I whispered.

Maddox turned away, his steps measured as he walked over to the wardrobe by the door. He slid open the door and grabbed my duffle bag. He lifted it with ease before dumping it on the floor.

I could feel his hatred. The burning force of his rejection against my skin was like a brand—hot, but not hot enough to warm the chill that raced through my bloodstream.

I couldn’t focus. I didn’t want to blink for fear that I would dissolve into tears.

I didn’t think I could speak, even if I wanted to.

I didn’t meet his eyes as I walked forward, my steps jerky and strange as I reached down for the duffle bag and heaved it over my shoulder.

I didn’t say a word as I took one last look into Maddox Pierce’s eyes before giving him one final nod.Message Received.I didn’t need him. Not if he wasn’t even going to listen to me.