Page 43 of Seven Graves

He took it by the head and Bridget turned away to likely puke.

I grinned, watching him touch it like it would grow fangs and bite.

“Remember how excited you were about the Girthmaster when I joked about it being up some guy’s ass?

Well…how does it feel to know this one was?

” I snorted, doubling over in belly laughs when that poor dick went flying to the ground next to the body and Malek flapped his hands beside him, growling.

I worked in silence for a while after that, cleaning the seat and everything around it as best I could while Malek strapped Kendall’s body in every seatbelt in the back, anchoring him across it.

The cock wasn’t on the ground anymore when I finally finished up, but I refuse to ask where he ended up stashing it.

The good news, is that it’s creeping up on dinnertime and so it’ll be getting darker soon.

If we play this right, we shouldn’t have any trouble getting to Rockport whole.

There was just one more thing that needed cleaning.

Malek was sitting in the open hatch of Kendall’s truck, flipping through the guy’s wallet and anything else that was in his pockets when I walked around the side.

“We’re done, but we gotta do something about you.”

He looked up, flicking crusted hair over his brow and raising one of them in confusion. “Me? What you mean?”

“I mean, you look like Carrie’s twin brother, and I’m not sure how the hell you thought cleaning the truck would do any good if you’re covered in the blood I just wiped up. We gotta fix that.”

“There’s a water hose around the back of the warehouse,” Bridget offered, pointing a thumb in that direction. “I saw it when I snuck over there to take a leak.”

“There ya go. Bridge, you brought his clothes?” She nodded.

“Fine.” He slipped off the back and I followed him over behind the warehouse.

Whatever Bridget thought was a water spigot, was an ancient pump sticking outta the ground by the tree line with a dry-rotted hose that probably hasn’t been used in fifty years.

I’m not even sure how to turn the thing on.

“What in the fuck am I supposed to do with this?”

“I dunno, pull that top lever?” He did, and it screeched something awful, likely rusted out…but it gurgled, and the hose flinched. Nothing came out the other end. “I think there’s something living in it, dude.”

“Here, lemme see.” He snatched the bloody knife out of a leather thing on his waist and started sawing through it about two feet down the hose.

Dirty water started spraying through the breaks he made in it, until the rest of the hose dropped off and he was left with a short piece that gushed with something equivalent to the smell of fucking swamp water.

“Oh, fuck…Sev, please . I know you’re pissed but…

that reeks. Can’t I just take my chances? ”

“Afraid not, Dr. Lecter. Strip for me.”

“Just so you’re aware, this is not …how this was supposed to go.

” He started with his shirt, peeling it over his head…

that was already enough to get me tense.

He kicked his way out of his untied boots, and loosened his belt, popping that button and easing the zipper down.

I swallowed. He had blood spatter on his chest and his neck.

Tattoos covering every inch of him, and yes…

I’ve seen it already, but something about this is…

insanely hot. I reached down and grabbed the end of the hose, holding it away from me.

“So, you planned this differently then? Do tell.”

His jeans slid off first…and he lingered on the waist of his boxer briefs that hugged every inch of that cock…and the metal ring I haven’t stopped wishing was still sliding in and out of my—

“I wanted to play a little game. With you. Somethin’ we could both win.

Get to know each other a little better. For every honest question answered, clothes stay on.

For anything that isn’t…” He slid his briefs down, that cock springing out, and he stepped out of them, tossing them onto the pile of bloody clothes.

“So…strip truth or dare?” I asked, smirking while I gave him a very slow onceover.

“Somethin’ like that.”

“Okay,” I grinned, holding my thumb near the end of the hose. “How many tissues did you use when you jacked off to me?” His face went sour. I smiled harder.

“Geez…no. No, no, no.”

“How many, Malek?” I snickered.

“I don’t know the exact amount! Come on!” I pushed my thumb in, jetting the nasty water, and blasting him with it. He covered his face and wailed. “Fuck, Viper! It got in my moouuuuth! ” He whined like a two-year-old and I cackled.

“How many!”

“ I dunno! Eight? Nine?”

I sprayed him again. More wailing. More tantrum.

Very Bridget-like. What he doesn’t know…

is I’m already satisfied with his answer.

And while he’s been trying to fight off all this?

I’ve pretty much got him cleaned up—or…well, as clean as a sewer rat would be anyway.

I yanked my thumb out of the hose, and he stood there, dripping…

delicious. And…very upset. I pounded my fist on the rusty lever and shut the water off.

“Not nice. Not nice at all.”

I looked him up and down, biting my lip. “Once again…matter of opinion.” He smiled then, stepping forward, and I dropped the hose and backed away. “Don’t you dare.”

“Kiss me.”

“Malek, you smell like sun-baked shit.” Didn’t stop him.

He prowled forward, grabbing my wrist, and before I could think about holding my breath, his stark naked body was against mine, and that salty kiss was all I could taste.

I melted into it, pond water and all. My black latex gloves slapped against his wet face and both his arms reached around me, pressing me even tighter against him.

“Murder makes you hot,” he breathed into my mouth, following it up with a savage kiss. “Admit it.” I didn’t realize we were still playing this game…but…I actually had to think on it.

Oh, my God…is he right?

“Aaaggghhh! Are you kidding me?!” We both turned our heads, and Bridget covered her eyes, holding his change of clothes out in front of her. “I’m gonna be fucking sick. Jesus, Malek, cover yourself up! I can see everythingggg! ”

“Whoops…” he grinned, hiking my leg up to shield his junk.

I palmed my forehead.

It seemed like it took forever to get to Rockport, and it was well after dark when we hit the city limits and I checked the rear-view to see Malek driving Kendall’s truck, Bridget in the Nova right behind him.

I’m starving. I smell like a hot garbage truck, and I can’t stop thinking about what he said back at that warehouse.

I generally don’t have any feelings when it comes to death, other than the compassion I put into who comes in and out of that funeral home.

Aside from that it just feels…numb. I’ve never put any stock into the possibility that the way I’m so unaffected by it, could actually also be what triggers me sexually…

and that’s—disturbing. I drummed my fingers on the wheel, gnawing my lip in frustration while I continued to lead the pack through town.

We finally drove down the long, wooded driveway to the getaway spot, and when I pulled up at the house, I got out and directed Bridget to park on the other side. Malek rolled his window down.

“We doin’ it now?”

I nodded, pointing to a little trail just big enough to fit a small car through near the barn where all the nautical shit and fishing gear was stashed. I guess we really don’t have to worry about whether or not it scratches Kendall’s truck, since we’re about to push it over a cliff.

“Lemme ride with you. That edge will sneak up on you too quick, I don’t need you going down with the ship.

And whatever you plan on keeping in this truck, I suggest you take it out now.

I don’t wanna cart it back to the house.

” He got out and emptied about a dozen really big guns from the back of the truck, to the trunk of the Nova. Bridget stood, leaning against his car.

“Toss me the keys, I can start putting our stuff in the house if you want.” I threw them to her, and she caught them. She still looks green in the face from seeing her brother naked. The poor thing. I’d probably have the same reaction had that been Greg and Maggie.

I stood at the back of the truck, closing the hatch and swallowing down my nerves. For some reason, the idea of there being a possible way to find this body was leaving me unsettled. Malek came up behind me as I crossed my arms over my chest.

“You alright, love?”

“Yeah, I’m just…nervous. I dunno.” I quirked my mouth to the side and looked down at the lit license plate. “We should take this off and get rid of it.”

“Good idea.” He grabbed his knife and knelt down, working the screws out with the tip of the blade until it popped off. I picked it up, walking over to the barn and tossing it underneath…far underneath where nobody would probably ever find the damn thing.

“Come on, let’s do this before I get any second thoughts,” I sighed, opening the passenger side door and climbing up into the truck.

It stunk twice as bad in here, even with the cleaning job.

I talked him down the path and my teeth were on edge with the sound of the scraping branches on either side of the truck.

It was also a bumpy ride and the sound of Kendall’s body jostling around in the back seat made me want to gag.

“Okay, stop here.” He did, and I hopped out to see how much space we had before the cliff edge.

About six or seven feet. I stepped to the edge, seeing nothing to obstruct the fall, and turned around watching him through the windshield. “Lights out.”

He shut the headlights off and put the truck in neutral.

“Ready?” I moved outta the way while he rolled down all the windows.

This is it. The threat Malek made about accessory to murder?

That’s a big neon sign for me with this one.

Not that I’m not always that…I mean I get rid of bodies for a living, but…

this is wigging me out. He stepped out and took the driver’s side while I took the other, and we started pushing.

The truck began to roll pretty good, and I yelled between us through the truck. “Alright, let it go!” We both jumped backward, and off it went…

Bump…bump…whoosh…bang…splash.

It felt like a magnet drawing us both to the cliff’s edge, and we watched the truck start sinking. I was frozen to that spot long after it disappeared, watching the waves crash against the rocks like the shit never even happened.

Well…later, bad mob guy with a tiny, detached pecker. Bon voyage.

No use feeling shitty about it, I guess.

I reminded myself that this guy had big plans in hurting that barely twenty-year-old in my house.

He deserved everything he got. I hope that blood is scented from miles away and whatever is lurking down there makes a quick buffet outta the bastard.

Now, I feel better. Malek’s calloused fingers laced through mine, and he turned his face towards me.

He really is fucking beautiful. I’m a fool and a liar to think any other way.

“Thank you.”

“I told you I’d do this. You don’t have to thank me. Her safety and steady pulse are thanks enough. How many more are left on your list?”

He glanced back down at the water.

“Three. Kendall has two more brothers. Then there’s Nolan O’Dell.

That’s the last of ‘em. The rest of my list isn’t your cross to bear.

” I didn’t realize there was more on his list, but…

suddenly I find myself leaning towards wanting to help with that too.

I didn’t say so. I might not for a while.

For now…I’m more interested in this game of truth or dare.

“Let’s get outta here,” I smiled, turning us to make our way back down the path. He’s started something, and I’m not sure if he even knows that we’re both about to head down a path that neither of us are probably ready for. But we’re about to find out.