Page 20 of He Who Sleeps

"I don't care. He could be Mother fucking Teresa and his days are still numbered. If you haven't figured out yet that we're the only people allowed to hurt you, then you haven't been paying enough attention." His watch beeped and he cursed. "I have to go. It's dinner time with the others and I don't want to get caught in here without my mask." He rose up, lifting her easily, and settled her back in her chair. "Eat your dinner like a good girl and get some more rest. I'll be stabbing you later." He winked and sauntered toward the door.

“I’ll be waiting,” she offered and watched him walk out, eyes on his fabulous ass. “Be good, Leo,” she said softly as he walked out and he paused in the doorway, eyes alight with mischief.

“I think you meant to say ‘bebaaaad, Leo.’ You know that’s how you love me.” With a wink and an air kiss, he walked out, leaving her quietly laughing behind him.

Chapter 8

Snake sat down in hisusual spot at the dinner table, waiting for his brothers to arrive. Devil was already seated, too, but he could hear the others moving around in their rooms and someone coming down the stairs.

"You okay?" Devil asked him and Snake nodded.

"Weird vibe this year," he said, unsure how else to put it. "I don't remember her being this sassy last year."

"Yeah, something is definitely different." Devil looked thoughtful and it was on the tip of Snake's forked tongue to tell his leader about the mask thing, but then Goblin walked in and the moment was lost.

“Everything is settled,” he said to Devil. “Ghost is on the phone with Stephan right now, and I think we need to see the well here before we see Petra.” He looked to Snake. “You good?”

"Yeah, man. You?" Snake wasn't a sociable person by choice. Learning to be around his brothers had been a process, and he'd never stopped being grateful for their understanding. He certainly had more freedoms and alone time than some other groups in The Order allowed their members. Devil might be a killer and a sociopath, but he was a good man to have on your side.

“Five by five,” he offered and sat as Ghost walked in.

“Stephan says the well in the Balkans is frothing,” he said by way of greeting. “And it’s the first time it has done that in over a century. He is pleased.” He pulled out his knife, twisting it slowly, the tip pushed against his finger.

“Interesting,” Goblin offered.

"What's interesting?" Stitches skidded in, no doubt thinking he was late.

"Apparently the well is frothing," Devil told him. "First time in over a century."

"It's got to be us," Stitches said, taking a seat. "Things are different this year."

Snake stilled in his seat. Yes, things were fucking different this year. Petra had a fucking death wish, playing her silly games with his mask. He wondered if she'd tried it on any of the others.

"If it's harnessing extra energy, then it's positive," Devil said. "The question is whether it will continue to increase year on year."

“Yeah...about that..." Stitches was actually blushing. "I stopped in to check on Petra before I came down. She got some sleep and she's eating her dinner, but she had some interesting things to say."