Page 39 of Love Bites (Timber Creek #2)

CHAPTER 39

MAX

The biting cold power of vanishing washed over my skin, blacking out the chaos we’d left behind. My father was a dead weight in my arms, Summer clinging onto his other elbow as we carried him through the In-Between. In an instant, we slammed hard onto a gleaming white marble floor, Malachi falling to his knees from the impact. Summer’s face was ashen, but I couldn’t look away from her, sick to my stomach over what she’d just endured because of me.

Gathering himself, Malachi put his hands on his knees, lifted his head, and muttered a curse under his breath when he realized where we were.

“Well, where did you want me to bring you?” I said as I held a hand out, helping him back to his feet.

Summer was already on his other side, hand supporting his elbow, as we heard heels clicking across the floor, getting closer. She straightened, alert for danger as she looked around the space, then to me. “Are we where I think we are?”

Gabriella, the angel often in charge of monitoring the Lobby at Headquarters, turned the corner from the atrium into the Lobby, looking down at her tablet as she approached the reception desk. “Massimo, again?” she said, tapping away at her tablet. “You know the rules, same as —"

Her eyes widened when she finally looked up and realized who was with me. “Oh my goodness, Premier! What happened —”

Malachi lifted his hand in a dismissive wave, but winced at the small movement.

“Healers, Gabriella,” I said, not bothering to hide the bite in my tone. “Now.”

She nodded, hurrying around the reception desk to pick up the desk phone, never taking her worried gaze off Malachi. “Of course.”

His breathing was heavy but even, leaning his weight into us far more than he should have been. Angels had supernatural healing abilities — even with the loss of his wings, it wasn’t right for him to be so weak. Worry crept into my mind. What else had happened while he was taken for him to be in this state?

“Help is on the way,” Summer said, her voice soothing and full of reassurance. I wasn’t sure whether it was for my father or if she could see the panic creeping into my thoughts. She reached a hand around my father, squeezing mine.

It wasn’t long before a handful of healers arrived in their light grey scrubs, a gurney pushed between them. If they were surprised to see the Premier here and in such a state, their faces didn’t betray it as they maintained professional calm.

“Arm around my shoulder, sir,” one said, quickly taking Summer’s place. I winced at the sight of the dirt and dried blood from Malachi’s shirt and hand soiling the healer’s white wings, but the angel showed no sign of caring.

Another healer slipped into my place, and they lifted him onto the gurney, pushing him down the hall and to the healing wing.

“I’ll be back,” I called to him before they rounded a corner.

Too weary to reply, he merely waved a hand and let himself be led away. Gabriella hurried after them, tapping away at her tablet.

I let out a heavy breath, running a hand through my hair before turning to Summer.

Blood spray coated her legs, but I could smell it wasn’t her own. Stepping up to her, my hand slipped around the back of her head, inspecting her for further injury.

What we love, we destroy.

My mother’s words echoed in my mind, an unending loop, and the picture they painted terrified me.

I tilted her head to the side, revealing the bruise around her neck from where Osric had grabbed her, and a snarl built in my throat.

If you love her, you’ll let her go.

I’d hated every moment he’d had his hands on her, and it had nearly killed me to wait for Gia’s signal from my perch outside the window.

If you don’t, you only doom her.

Summer’s small hand came to my wrist on her neck. “It’s fine. It’s already healing.”

“He’s lucky he’s already dead.” The words came out before I realized I’d said them.

Lucky, because otherwise I’d be hunting him down as we speak.

And when I found him, I wouldn’t make it slow. I’d draw it out, until he was begging me for death. I’d make him repay tenfold for every hurt he’d inflicted on my mate .

I managed to keep the more murderous thoughts to myself, but I couldn’t stop the shadows from coiling up my hands, my forearms. A spark burst from my fingertips, and Summer hissed as it scorched her cheek.

Immediately, I dropped my hand from her.

“Max?” Summer’s voice was guarded, her eyes searching my face. I took a step back.

We obsess and fixate and control until there is nothing left of what we fell in love with.

Was this how it started?

With small touches, meant to be tender, that turned into pain?

With comfort and safety, corrupted into control?

I shook out my fingers, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, drawing my magic from my hands until the shadows had receded.

Forcing myself to meet Summer’s eyes, the concern I met there nearly broke me.

Even covered in someone else’s blood, she was stunning. Even in this pristine white room, her brightness, her light, stood out.

Has it started?

Like you’re drowning underwater, and she’s your air?

A few weeks with me, and already I had her fighting for her life in alleys, dressed in black and covered in blood.

We couldn’t fucking do this.

She deserves to be more than your Source.

I clenched my jaw. “Let’s get you home.”

Tilting her head, Summer furrowed her brow but came forward. “All right.”

I grasped her arm, and the Lobby vanished as I transported us from the angel realm to the mortal dimension, reappearing smoothly on Summer’s roof.

“Max.” Summer’s tone was sharper now as I forced my hand off her, distancing myself from her. “What’s going on? I can feel you’re upset.”

My mouth went dry as I struggled to find the words, staring at the lounge chair we’d fallen asleep on yesterday.

“Is it your mother? Let’s go back and see what happened, make sure Rhain and —”

“No.” My hand cut through the air decisively, and Summer’s brows shot up. “You’re not going back out there.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I will if I say so. I told you, I’m going to watch your back —”

“Not anymore.” I straightened up, meeting her eye. “We found the vampires, sunshine. Job done.”

“Maybe we found them, but it doesn’t really feel like this job is done.”

“I don’t need you anymore.” Summer looked like I’d slapped her, and my gut twisted.

But I couldn’t tell her what Gia had told me about the Fixation. She’d only try to say we could find a way around it, all sunshine positivity, and I knew she was wrong.

Summer scoffed. “Well, ouch.”

“We did the job, it’s done.” I choked over a lump in my throat, fisting my hands at my sides. “So, we don’t need to pretend anymore. Our arrangement has concluded.”

Summer nodded, arms crossed over her chest, but nothing about the move was reassuring,not with her face that stony.

“Just like that.”

I lifted a shoulder. “Your little vacay from your real life is over. You knew what this deal was when you signed up for it, remember?”

“Mhm. Yeah, absolutely.” If a look could kill, I’d be flayed.

“I’ll figure out the paperwork for the divorce.” Fuck, had that word always been a weapon? It hit my heart like a stake.

“How magnanimous of you.”

Tension coiled between us. I didn’t know if I wanted her to hit me or walk away, but fuck, I’d take either. I deserved it.

A bitter laugh escaped her. “Are you kidding me? You’re seriously trying to convince yourself this was nothing more than a business arrangement? Even now, after everything?”

“It was,” I bit out. “I told you not to fall in love with me.”

She gasped, but the shock was gone in an instant. “You’re a coward.”

I fought my magic down as her wolf glowed in her eyes, begging me to fight with her, and went for a different kind of kill. One I hated myself for, because I knew it would cut deep. But it would be easier, in the long run, if she hated my guts.

Everybody else already thought I was the bad guy. What did I care if one more person did too?

If it would keep her safe, I’d ruin myself. If it kept her from ever agreeing to see me again, I’d reduce myself to the dirt under her shoes.

“Did you honestly expect this to work out, sunshine?” I threw my arms wide, gesturing to the cozy mountain town around us. “I work alone, which is how I like it, not the mess your life is in Timber Creek. Besides, you don’t just find danger, you cause it. You make cupcakes for a living, and I murder people. You’re right, the job isn’t totally done, but it’ll go smoother without you. Your nose was useful but your impulsivity is just a liability.”

Her canines had snapped out. “Well, fuck you, Massimo Russo.”

I took another step back. “I have to go.”

“Don’t let me stop you.”

I allowed myself one last look at my wife, gorgeous despite her anger, her hurt, before I wrapped myself in shadow.