Page 15 of Seven Graves

The Executioner

This place is nice. Way too nice for a dark smudge like me to get caught watching the funeral home Seven’s family owns across the street from a little cafe.

The lass that owns this joint might be the nicest lady I’ve ever met.

I think she’s sweet on me. This is the best fucking milkshake I ever had, and no matter how many times I tell her I’m good, she’s continuing to try and feed me.

With that kind of hospitality, you would think we were in the south.

I’ve never been here before. From this little porch at the cafe, you can look out over the harbor, hear boat bells clinking, gulls calling and scrapping each other for food.

It’s kinda peaceful, and that’s not something I’m used to.

But I could easily get used to it…especially with that little vampire working in the basement across the way.

It’s the epitome of a small harbor town.

Quaint and inconspicuous. Completely unlike the apartment she’s in a good little drive away from here.

I already scoped that out too. I watched her leave and was almost disappointed when I got close enough to her car to hear her music playing and she didn’t even notice I was there.

I’ll have to do a better job at intimidating her.

This’ll be fun . I smiled around my straw, sipping the last of my shake through it, which…

honestly…is mostly whipped cream at this point.

Hey…there’s a thought I’ll be daydreaming about later.

I bet she’ll taste just as sweet as what’s filling my mouth when she uh…

fills my mouth . I’m rock hard just imagining that.

A little after lunchtime, I finally saw her car turn out of the driveway that wraps around Leviticus House.

It made me wonder about the name the entire rainy drive back to her apartment.

I wonder if Seven is religious. I wonder if she’ll pray tonight that I drop just as dead as her clients.

What kind of grimy shite will she want to do to my corpse after tonight?

I’d much rather try to imagine what she’ll wanna do to my living body after I’ve convinced her she should be with me, but you know what they say…

sometimes it’s gotta get bad before it gets better.

Much like today…if I want my little pot of gold, I’ve gotta deal with the rain before I get my rainbow. I can be patient.

Scratch that fucking shit.

There’s a man in her apartment.

Not today, Jimmy.

His name probably isn’t Jimmy, but it sounded good anyway.

It’s probly something really lame or sporty like…

Brock …or Troy. Is that sporty? Whatever, who cares.

I can’t believe I was so hypnotized by her in that lacy night thingie that I didn’t realize she was wearing it for some other bloke.

It’s a good thing I printed out these photos.

I had other plans for these, but this will work just fine.

I thought I’d park out here, watch through her windows and maybe get to see a boob or two while she soaked in a bathtub or something, but this is way more than I bargained for and I’m not about to watch another man’s hands on my girl…

or any other body part he thinks I won’t fucking chop off.

I shoved the envelope into my jacket and pulled my hood over my head to brave the elements and slip into the main door of her building behind an unsuspecting old lady walking her dog inside.

I gave her my best smile, flashing the dimple that’s becoming something of a golden ticket for me, and held the door open for her.

“After you, dovely.”

“Oh, well…thank you. You’re so sweet.” She smiled at me and patted my shoulder as she wobbled by, and her little dog growled at me.

I waited until she got into the elevator and as soon as the doors closed, I bolted up the stairwell next to it, getting reminded of how out of shape I am when I finally made it to her floor.

It wasn’t two seconds I stood there, about to drop the envelope to the ground, when I heard the distinct sounds of a heated makeout session against the other side of this door. I think I just about lost my mind when I heard a buckle clink.

Not happening, Nathair Bheag.

I pounded on the door, letting the envelope hit the doormat, and smiled when I heard them both freak out. Good. I hauled arse to the stairwell and hid behind the door, cracking it so I could watch her.

“Hello?”

She’s looking for me. Damn it, she’s pretty. I wanna rip that outfit off of her and tie her up with it…my God .

Over here, tiny serpent.

It sucks I won’t get to see the look on her face when she opens that envelope.

She’s already closed the door on me. I was quicker going down than I was coming up and I got a couple of honks when I crossed the street like a reckless sod.

Just in time, too. She came to the window…

and she looks good and mad now. I poked the snake.

Happy face.

It took him a minute, but not long enough to think they actually did anything.

It also looks like she’s not the only one pissed off, now.

Fucker was barely able to finish getting his clothes back on when he left.

I started a sweet text that I didn’t send until I saw him peel out just to get caught at a red light.

Serves him right. Bastard. Keep your wee cock away from my woman.

I shot the message off. The rain got harder, beating down the roof of the Nova and it made me realize how tired I was after all the events from the day.

I’m glad I came, though. It got my mind off this shit with Bridget.

The only downside is that trailing after Seven Grey didn’t leave me much room to figure out what I’m gonna do about the O’Dell’s.

I still can’t wrap my mind around why Pop thought this would be a swell idea, especially after seeing what Shavonn’s untimely exit did to me.

I realized a few minutes later that Seven read the text, but she hasn’t responded yet…nor is she typing me some snarky reply. Well…now, I’m sad.

That’s fine, Baby…I’ll wait.

“Cad é an fuck!”

My whole body thrust forward and my fist with it, slamming into my steering wheel and jamming my knuckles as my phone thunked to the floorboard. I winced, biting back more curses and shaking my fucking hand in pain before I realized I’d fallen asleep in my car, waiting for her to text me back…

And then made an arse outta myself when she did.

At least nobody saw it. I leaned down and grabbed my phone. Damn, it’s almost the witching hour. That checks out.

Viper: If this is your way of trying to woo me again…you profusely suck at it. Google that if you can’t understand English. I’m not yours to fuck around with.

Haha…she said Google it.

“Ohhh, but you are.” I cracked a smile and looked up to her window, watching her shadow stomp angrily back and forth. She closed the blinds. Did she think it would be that easy to hide from me? Maybe this is working. She couldn’t resist not texting me back.

Me: That’s not very nice. Would it help if I told you that you looked beautiful tonight? And you’re supposed to be sleeping.

By all accounts, I should be back already. I didn’t bank on camping outside her apartment, but I can’t say I’m that upset about it. Our first night together…cute.

Viper: No. It wouldn’t. This is never gonna happen. I don’t nark on my clients. Your secrets are safe. Leave me the hell alone and both of us can stay that way. Savvy?

I guess our fun date is over. I flexed my sore fingers and started the Nova. At least it’s finally stopped raining.

Me: You should rest. Got a busy day tomorrow by the looks of it. Night sweetheart.

That should keep her busy until I can get back down here.

I got Declan to dive into whatever he could as far as the systems they use to communicate between medical examiners and hospice houses.

He did one better and nailed down the IP address for the laptop she uses in the basement.

I now have her full schedule, where they’re coming from, and the best part?

It updates as often as she updates it. She can slither all she wants, but she’s not getting away from me.

I pulled up and punched my code into the gate, just about delirious as I parked and kicked gravel the entire way up to the house.

I dunno why I was surprised when I heard music and carrying on this early in the morning from the very room I hacked Conor up in the other night as I trudged up the right staircase.

“Mal!”

Finley is one of my oldest mates, and the closest thing I have to a brother.

He’s about two seconds older than me, and in my opinion, a hell of a lot better looking.

He’s high enough up the ladder in our little family business to be blood to us, and he handles the money around here.

He’s also as promiscuous as Bridget, loud, and I swear the fucker doesn’t sleep.

I stopped halfway up the stairs and turned to look down at him.

“Where ya been, mate? Come down here and have a drink with us.”

“Next time, brother. Been a long night.” I went to turn and continue up, but Finn stuck his hands in his pockets and wouldn’t stop talking.

“You look blue. Got a couple of lassies in here that might cheer ya right up.”

“Goodnight, Finn.”