Page 34

33

ELIJAH

The drive to the bar takes us less than ten minutes, and I find a parking spot right behind the building located in front of the motel.

The noise from the crowded bar spills out onto the street, with the music blasting at an ear-splitting volume.

“This way.”

We all turn our gaze towards Kai, who guides us to an entry that diverges from the main path and leads us to a heavy metallic door.

Okay, then. It seems like he knows where we’re going.

With each step towards the centre of the bar, the sound amplifies, reverberating through the air until the view in front of us freezes us all in place.

“Fuuck,” Arch almost moans, his voice filled with desperate desire.

“What the hell?” Kai grumps.

“Fuck me,” Theo groans.

Yeah, I’m on the same page as them for that.

Iris, with bottles in hand, is dancing on the top of the bar, her black skirt showing off her underwear, while her fishnet tights leave little to the imagination. Her crop top is so see-through you can see her nipples poking out.

Her hair is styled in a towering bun, with strands of black and purple interwoven and a few loose strands framing her face. Her makeup is strikingly dark, with smudges of black extending from under her eyes to the middle of her cheeks. The colour of her lipstick, a deep, blood-like red, stands out against her pale complexion, and there is a slight smudge on the side of her lips.

She resembles Lilith, a stunning deity of demise, as if prepared to bring about the destruction of the world.

As Kai goes to walk towards the counter, he’s stopped by the same woman we met earlier, who places a firm hand on his shoulder.

Oh, bad move, honey.

In an instant, he pulls her hand away from him and instinctively takes a quick step backwards.

She remains unaffected by his sudden move, her fake smile staying fixed on her face.

“You guys came,” she coos as she leans towards me before placing a hand over my chest. “I knew you were just playing hard to catch when you said, “We’re taken.”

“I—”

“If you want to keep your hands attached to your body, I’d suggest that you remove them from what’s mine.”

Peering past the girl, I catch sight of Iris, her hands clutching two bottles, poised and ready to unleash chaos.

“And who are you?” Chardonnay or whatever her name is sneers.

“The person you want to avoid if you value your life. Now chop chop, I think my men told you they were taken.”

“All of them?” Chardonnay’s eyes widen.

“What can I say?” Iris nonchalantly examines her black nails, unaffected. “I’m greedy like that.” With our masks obstructing a kiss, she leans towards us and opts for a more bold approach. She firmly grasps our balls one by one through our jeans, evoking our groan as her touch sends waves of sensation through our bodies. “All of that is mine. So you can fuck off and check elsewhere.”

With wide eyes, Chardonnay scans each of our faces while Arch affectionately rests his head on Iris’ and waves her goodbye.

Chardonnay scoffs, her lips curling into a sneer, before she turns on her heels and heads towards her friends.

“Maybe I wasn’t clear enough last time with your friend.” Iris raises her brow, causing the black makeup to stretch across her face.

“Which friend?“ About whom is she speaking?

“The one that Bella hates. You know, fake tits, fake hair, fake nails.”

“Oh, Melanie,” chuckles Arch.

“Yes, that bitc— female.”

“You can say bitch,” Theo laughs.

“Nah, I’m working. I’m a professional. So, I was saying I made it perfectly clear to her that I don’t share. If another woman dares to lay a finger on you, we’ll have to find a bigger graveyard.”

“You’re the one to talk?” rages Kai. “What the fuck are you wearing? Looking down from the top of the counter, you could see every detail with clarity.”

“Are you serious? I’m wearing less at home.”

Kai strikes with lightning speed, his fingers closing tightly around her throat while her back remains pressed against my body.

My hands instinctively reach out and grab her arms, holding her firmly in place.

“At home, there are not a hundred lustful men eagerly eyeing you as if you were their next meal.”

“You are?—”

“I’m not done yet, Poison. Perhaps it is about time that we remind you of your rightful place and who you truly belong to.”

She squirms against me and lets out a soft moan.

“I’m working,” she whispers, her voice barely audible as Kai’s fingers constrict around her throat.

“Oh, I know. We’ll be sitting in the corner, keeping a watchful eye on you. But let any man dare to touch you, playfully or not, and I guarantee they’ll be missing a body part tonight.”

He releases her throat, and she massages it with her hand, leaning closer to him. She whispers something in his ear, but I can’t hear it over the loud music.

His features remain partially hidden, but before she heads back behind the counter, he nods and winks at me, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Well, that doesn’t look good for us.

Choosing a corner table, we watch as Iris returns with a tray of drinks. Her skirt dances with each stride, revealing a tantalising glimpse of her underwear.

I’ve never minded people eyeing what’s mine as long as they don’t cross any boundaries. However, with Kai, it’s a whole different matter. He clearly disapproves of her revealing clothing.

Which is a first.

“Here you go,” she sings as she drops her drinks on the table.

“We didn’t order,” challenges Theo.

“Because you think I don’t know you?” she scoffs. “Straight vodka for Angel, Scotch for Eli, beer for you, and a Coke for Kale. Did I get that right?”

“You did, Sirène ,” I laugh.

“Oh, and I brought some straws, you know, with the masks and everything.”

“What did you put in it?” Theo raises his brow.

“Hey, I put nothing in it. You’re losing brownie points, and it’s such a shame after working hard for two weeks.”

“What? Why? Iris.”

“Sorry, Wolfy,” she raises her shoulders. “Don’t play games you know you won’t win.” She winks at him before leaving.

“For fuck’s sake,” he groans.

While she is walking back, someone unexpectedly grabs her by her ass, causing her to be surrounded by a group of three men. I watch as the guys all stand up simultaneously, but I quickly intervene to stop them.

“Not now.”

“So you’re going to let them get away with that?” Arch asks in shock.

“One, she can handle herself. And two, you should know me by now.”

They all groan but sit back.

Taking a moment to observe the decor, I’m impressed by the creativity and effort put into every detail. The room is transformed into a macabre setting, with skulls and candles casting eerie shadows against the walls, while fake spider webs add an extra touch of spookiness.

In the middle of the room, people are dancing and shouting with exuberance, each dressed in vibrant and unexpected costumes for the occasion.

The evening unfolds, and Iris captivates our attention as she skillfully makes her way from table to table while Chardonnay frequently seeks her out for conversation.

From Iris’ face, it won’t take long before she’s losing her shit.

Just as I’m about to ask one of the guys to take care of it, Iris disappears from view, with Chardonnay following closely behind. Meanwhile, the men who had grabbed her earlier make their exit through the back entrance.

“Keep an eye on her,” I order.

“Where are you…” starts Theo. “Oh, I see.”

“I’ll see you in a bit.”

I follow the guys, tracing my steps back and retrieving my shaving knife from the concealed pocket at the back of my jeans.

There are three, so it should be a piece of cake.

The door lets out a creepy groan as it cracks open behind me, and I observe their struggle to walk and smoke simultaneously.

The place is completely empty, and the motel mirrors the desolation with all of its rooms dark.

“Gentlemen.” I lean closer to them. “It seems like you touched something you shouldn’t have.”

“Wha’ the fuck are you talkin’, mate?” One of them hiccups.

“Petite, purple hair. Looks like a goddess?” I tilt my head to the side, which I know makes me look more intimidating with my mask on.

“That bitch? I told her we would wait for her outside. Nobody tells us no.”

I approach him, making him lift his head to meet my gaze.

“Is that so?”

His attempt to speak is abruptly halted as my blade finds its way to his throat, allowing only gurgles to escape amidst the pooling blood.

“Who’s next?”

The influence of alcohol slows their movements as they desperately try to flee, giving me the opportunity to firmly grasp two of them by their hair and forcefully collide their heads, making them fall to the ground.

“You know,” I say sternly, “I don’t tolerate any disrespect when it comes to what is mine. Sadly for you, you made that mistake.”

As the shaving blade glides through their throats like a hot knife through butter, their bodies spasm uncontrollably, blood spilling out in all directions.

I meticulously wipe the blade on my jeans, ensuring that no traces of blood remain, before carefully returning it to my pocket. Then, I proceed to discreetly collect the bodies, making sure they are concealed from sight.

As I carry the last body, the door creaks open to reveal Iris, her hands stained with blood.

What the fuck happened?

“ Sirène ?”

She jumps and brings her hand to her heart. “For Christ’s sake. Don’t sneak out on people like that.”

“Um, I was here first. What happened? Why are your hands covered in blood?”

“I could ask you the same? What did you do? Why are you completely drenched in blood, from head to toe?”

I lean closer and touch her face to make sure she’s alright.

“I’m fine,” she groans. “I don’t need the big bro treatment.”

“Afraid you don’t have any choice. So? What happened?”

“Your friend has been... grating on my nerves.” She chews on her cheeks nervously, as if she’s been caught doing something wrong. “And no, I didn’t kill her, even though I should have. She kept dragging on about ‘how your arms felt strong beneath her touch’ and blah-blah-blah. Fucking gag me.”

A chuckle escapes me. “So what, you stabbed her?”

“No,” she twists her fingers. “I just made sure she’d never lay a finger on you ever again.”

My jealous little thing.

“What did you?—”

I interrupt her before she can finish speaking, gripping her firmly by her ass and pinning her against the wall.

“Crim, what are you doing?”

I lift my mask to glance at her eyes. “I hate those. Once everything is over, I never want to see you with those contact lenses again.”

She swallows the lump in her throat. Behind her brown eyes, she has hidden herself for eight long years. But I yearn for her to look at me with the same captivating beauty as a chocolate and icy lake.

Glancing down at our feet, she sees the lifeless bodies and smirks at me. “I thought we said no unnecessary kills.”

“They touched you. That should be enough.” As I lean in, I inhale the sweet scent of her neck. “I’m going to take you now. You can hate me tomorrow, but I think I’ve waited enough.”

“Since when do you ask for permis?—”

My mouth is on hers in an instant.

Fuck, I missed her.

Our intense battle for control unfolds, our mouths clashing in a frenzy of biting, licking, and sucking, but she abruptly retreats, yielding to me and granting my tongue complete dominance in her mouth.

Our lips separate, and she whispers, “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

“But I think I missed the beast between your legs more.”

“Is that so?”

Maintaining a firm hold on her, I forcefully rip her fishnet tights into two, creating a gap between her legs. I swiftly unzip my jeans, releasing my hard cock from its confines.

“You know we’re outside, right?” She moans as I position my shaft at her entrance.

“It was never a concern until now.”

I thrust in one push, making us both groan in pleasure.

“Fuck, I missed your cunt.”

Clutching her firmly, I push into her with an intensity that could quench a thirst built up over three long years.

And that’s what it has been, minus what happened two weeks ago, but we were not alone.

I haven’t touched another woman since her. She’ll always be the one.

Stepsister, killer, unhinged.

I don’t give a shit.

Each part of her is mine.

I marked her years ago, and I won’t relent until she understands that I’ll never allow her to escape again.

“Haze,” she moans.

And that nickname does it.

She used to call me that when we met because she had an obsession with my eye colour. It has always been a major turn-on for me. Knowing that we had this type of connection that would make her comfortable enough to give me a nickname. It’s been years since I heard it from her lips, but the effect is the same.

Now gripping her legs tightly, I sink my teeth into her neck, feeling the pulsating heat as I thrust deeper into her, her body slamming against the stone wall.

“Oh FUCK!”

“If you keep screaming like that, you’ll attract attention from people nearby.”

“I don’t fucking care. Fuck, don’t stop. Never stop.”

“There are lifeless bodies scattered at our feet,” I remind her, my breath escaping in short gasps.

And I mean, literally. One of them is so close that its head is nearly touching my shoe.

“Shiiit,” I grunt, feeling my muscles burning with each deep, relentless push.

Her head rolls back, then she focuses it in front of her, taking in the scene.

I know this look.

“How many are there?”

“Tw-two. Fuck. Haze, please. I need to come,” she begs.

“You’ll come when I tell you to come.”

Her groan fills the air as I release her, and I carefully steer her towards the metallic fence that separates the motel from the surroundings.

“Hands on the fence and eyes up.”

Lifting her skirt, I hear the soft rustling of fabric in the air, followed by the sharp smack of my hand hitting her ass, the echo of the impact mixing with the noise of the busy surroundings, before plunging back into her.

“It’s surprising that your pussy is still tight with all the dicks you’ve been taking.”

I grip her bun tightly, causing her head to arch backwards. As I bite her ear, I whisper. “Show them how good I’m fucking you.”

I pinch her nipple, then deliver a firm slap to her clit, causing her to let out a loud, unrestrained scream.

“That’s it. Scream for me.”

I thrust with intensity, feeling the power building as my orgasm approaches its climax.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck. I’m gonna—” Her words are silenced by the powerful wave of pleasure that overtakes her, causing her to shudder beneath my touch, pulling me into the depths of ecstasy with her.

While her orgasm lingers, I push myself into her one more time, the sound of my roar intermingling with the music in the background.

She takes a few seconds to catch her breath, her chest rising and falling with each inhale. I lean my head against her back, feeling the warmth of her skin, and press a tender kiss before pulling out.

“You good?”

“Mmhmm.”

I push back my cum into her, eliciting a groan from her, before kissing her ass and assisting her in making herself presentable without underwear.

As she turns to face me, her lips meet the tip of my nose just as a piercing scream echoes towards us.

“What the hell is happening?” As she asks, the back door swings open, revealing a chaotic scene of people running, crying, and screaming amidst a billowing cloud of smoke.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

The constant stream of people exiting seemed never-ending, making it impossible for us to retreat back inside.

“What happened?” she asks, urgently grabbing the person coughing by the arm.

“Fire. We don’t know how it happened.” The person keeps coughing as she releases him.

“Eli,” she pleads, and I can hear the terror in her voice.

“I know.”

“Kai… He’s scared of fire.”

I turn to glance at her, surprised by his sudden confidence in her.

That’s not something that comes naturally to him.

“He’ll be fine,” I kiss the top of her head.

They have to. They need to be safe.

Theo comes into view first, his eyes watering as he tries to stifle a cough with his forearm.

Iris jumps in his arms, her small hands exploring every inch of him.

“I’m fine, Starling.” He kisses the top of her head to reassure her. “The guys were behind me. They shouldn’t be long.”

Kai follows, his hands pressed tightly against his face, his body shaking uncontrollably.

“Thank goodness,” Iris cries, jumping into his arms. “Are you okay?”

“I’m good, Poison. Arch was behind me.”

We wait and wait and wait, but no sign of Archer.

Iris’ eyes glisten with tears as she nervously nibbles on the skin of her thumb.

The flow of people continues unabated, but a thick black cloud of smoke that descends upon us quickly overpowers our senses.

“No, no, no,” she screams.

Just as she starts to run towards the inside bar, we all immediately block her path.

“Are you mad? What are you doing?” Kai screams.

“Fire. There’s a fucking FIRE.” Shaking her head, she struggles to contain the steady stream of tears. “I won’t abandon Angel like his parents did. I can’t. He’ll never experience the pain of abandonment, not now, not ever again, do you hear me?” she yells, shaking her head. “I need to get to him. I cannot lose him.”

She slips out of our grasp and plunges into the raging inferno that the burning place has become.

“FUCK! You two, you stay here.”

I don’t listen to their protest and run after her.

My heart races, unaware of the horrors that await us inside.