Page 114 of Tethered Souls

HIM

I slam my fist into the punching bag, waiting for the call I know is coming. Today is the day we go after Cid. Rei was broken out three nights ago, her DNA taken. She’s back in the brothel as we can’t risk her not being there. It’d be too suspicious given Talon’s been fucking her for the past few weeks.

Maddox has been to the werewolf’s house and collected items for Khalid to use in his soul dolls. Hair for the women. Semen-covered tissues for Cid’s boy. He’s also brought back a few dirty lacy panties, taken from the youngest daughter’s room, but they’re not to be used in Khalid’s soul magic. No, those have been kept by Maddox.

There’s a bet going on about whether he’s obsessing over her because helikesher or because he’s planning on her being his next victim. With Maddox, it could be both.

But all I’m interested in is a phone call from Khalid. He went out with the team he picked this morning. They should be bringing Cid in soon.

Impatient, I jab at the bag in quick strokes. Left, left, left, right. Duck. My thoughts turn to Micha unbidden, the main focus of my frustrations. I don’t like her not being here. I don’t like that she hasn’t called. I don’t like that I want to, near desperate just to hear her voice.

Ignoring the presence of my phone on the bench, I attack the bag harder. Working my muscles like my thoughts work me.

If Micha goes for the ledger, can I actually hurt her?

My fists hit the bag.

It’s just a book. The information in it isn’t even true.

She doesn’t know the paintings are the real ledgers. If she did, she would’ve taken a photo of them already and collected the two mil.

It’ll be a victimless crime…

But it would still be a betrayal.

And betrayal always means death.

Just not with her…

Fuck. I have it bad.

My phone rings, and for a second I ignore it, striking the bag hard and fast. Needing to let my frustrations out. Then I stop suddenly, remembering Cid. The bag swings back to me, and I step out of its way as I stride over to the bench. For a moment, right as I pick it up, I hope it’s Micha calling. But it isn’t. Of course it isn’t.

This engagement is just a transaction to her, a fate forced upon her. She’s at home for the first time in four months.Why would she be thinking about me at all?

Irritated, I snatch up the phone and accept Khalid’s call.

“Four died, but we have Cid,” he says. “We’re bringing him back now.”

I force out a breath, force Micha out of my thoughts. “No, I’ll get the room ready. Grab his soul, then dump his body inside the city. Fix him to make it look like a heart attack. We’re using the WALL as bait tonight.”

They are dumb enough to hunt sups at night but smart enough to know we’re the ones who’ve killed Cid. The idea of a war between us will get them itchy and moving out in full force. I need to see their numbers, and if there are as many as Khalid thinks there are, that big of a group will draw out Antonio.

I have a feeling we’re going to be needing to kill him soon. To cut off the head of the snake before it strikes.

“Will do. Back in fifteen.”

He hangs up, and my thumb lingers over my contacts.

Hating my lack of control, I press her name.

It rings three times before she answers.

“Hi.”

And just like that, my irritation eases.

“We have Cid,” I say. “You finished there?”