Page 37

THIRTY-SIX

DRAKE

I knew it. It was as if I could see into the future—to this day—when I bumped heads with Imogen the first time we met.

What just happened rocked my world because I never realized how intense it would be when you make love for the first time in your life.

I wanted her to have the world and my intention was to chain her heart to mine.

I need Imogen to fall madly in love with me because I have already fallen madly in love with her.

Her body is limp as I turn off the shower, swinging her into my drenched arms as I forego the use of the towel. I carry her into the room and lay her carefully on the bed, wrapping the sheet around her as I slide in carefully beside her.

She whispers, “I’m sorry to say this, Drake, but I think I love you.”

My chest tightens. Hearing those words fall from her lips, said out loud, causes my blood to heat as if I’ve just had a transfusion. I am revitalized, full of energy and as her eyes flutter closed, I kiss her softly on the lips and whisper, “I think I love you too, baby.”

Her pretty smile rests on her lips as she drifts off to sleep, her entire body sated and exhausted.

As she sleeps against my chest, I am wide awake, relishing the comfort of her body against mine as I shut the world away and steal this precious time with my girl.

No cameras recording us, no dangers lurking behind the door, and no other person coming between us.

This is our moment, the one we need like oxygen, and I will not sleep for a second and savor every moment I have her.

As she sleeps, my thoughts inevitably turn to the mission.

I must remind myself this is one and I will see it through to the end.

It took a surprising turn last night and hearing Delilah’s story hardened my resolve.

I’m aware that Ryder has all the bases covered but the inside intelligence was needed to discover the identity of the head serpent, him or herself.

Is that person Angela Constable? We already learned it’s not Christian Duprey, but until I see them together I won’t know for sure.

Christian is the person who binds the tribe together.

He travels across the country making sure the society is thriving.

Is Angela merely one of his list of recruiters?

Feeding depravity into a system that exists with that one sole aim in mind.

Who are the brains behind the operation?

Not Jenna Sloane, not Christian and possibly not Angela.

It will be interesting for sure, but not at the cost of my woman or the broken angel who is relying on me for her deliverance.

It doesn’t occur to me that she’s part of the trap. She could be and I would be wise to consider that option, but something about the fear in her eyes drove that worry aside. She is scared shitless, and that holds a lit match to my rage.

Imogen stirs against me and says sleepily, “Don’t let me sleep. I don’t want to miss a second of this day with you.”

“Are you hungry?” I ask with a smile on my face, and she nods. “Desperately.”

“Leave it with me.”

I grab the room service menu and lift the receiver, placing our order for a selection of dishes and lots of black coffee.

When I finish up, she giggles sweetly. “That’s a lot of food. I’m not that hungry.”

“I won’t expect you to clear your plate, darlin’.”

I chuckle to myself. Being a Reaper comes with many rewards and money is just one of them. We all have a black credit card that is paid for by Ryder from our funds. No questions asked, just rewards for our commitment to the cause.

We don’t own fancy homes, motorcars, or expensive things.

We live a simple life in the compound with everything we require.

I’m away all the time, but there is a suite of rooms there with my name on it.

It’s vital to have a place to call home, even if that home remains unoccupied.

I wonder if that will change when Imogen returns to the compound?

Can I dare to imagine a future where we both live in that apartment as biker and old lady.

Is that what she wants? Is that what I want for her?

It’s early days and I can’t believe I’m thinking along those lines, but I just can’t help it.

“This is just what I needed.” She says with a satisfied smile.

“Me too.” I admit, curling my arm around her shoulder as she sits beside me, our backs against the pillows.

“Tell me about the girl I saw you with earlier.”

I detect the uncertainty in her voice and seek to reassure her.

“She used to be a student at Rockwell and lost her folks in a car wreck. The Principal offered her a home when she discovered she had no place to live.”

“That was kind of her.”

Imogen sounds relieved and I hiss, “Save your admiration for that woman.”

I heave a deep sigh. “There’s something you should be aware of and you’re not gonna like it.”

“What?”

She turns to me and I detect the anxiety in her expression and take a deep breath.

“I was called to The Principal’s office, and she had compromising photographs of us that night in my house.”

“Oh my God!”

The blood drains from Imogen’s face and her eyes fill with tears.

I hate how her earlier happiness is extinguished like a puff on a match and I growl, “Its what she used to blackmail me into joining her club. Apparently, the other members have similar red strikes against their names and rather than lose their jobs or face the law, she blackmails them into becoming her slaves.”

“That’s disgusting. You should report her to the authorities.”

“And then all the others in her club would lose their jobs, too.”

I huff. “It’s not only the club. She is involved with Christian Duprey, Jenna Sloane and the entire fucking Serpent Society, and Jesse is also one of her victims.”

“Seriously.” Imogen’s lower lip trembles. “How do you know?”

“The young girl. She told me today in the tunnel.”

“So, what is your plan?”

Imogen swallows hard and faces me with a determined frown and I can’t help myself and kiss her softly on her sweet lips.

As always, she returns the kiss, deepening it, causing me to lose concentration as it rests solely on the pleasure of this act alone.

Reluctantly, I pull away and shake my head. “I could kiss you all day, darlin’ but shit needs putting in its place and we need to be on the same page.”

“Go on.” She sighs, resting her hand on my chest, and I groan.

"I'm off the hook until Friday night, when the next club meeting is scheduled. It coincides with the Claiming—which, as everyone knows, has now been replaced by prom."

“So neither will go ahead and we have longer than one week because the club will resume the Friday after prom, surely.”

“Ordinarily, yes, but I have a feeling the principal will use the prom to her advantage.”

“How?”

“Think about it. All the pieces will be in place under the same roof. Now I may be wrong, but if you’re a depraved psychopath, that’s a golden opportunity to get your fix.”

“So, you think she’ll do something at the prom?” Imogen appears confused. “What could she do?”

“I don’t know the details of that, if it’s going to happen at all, but I know someone who will.”

“Who?”

“Delilah.”

She nods, realization dawning in her eyes.

“She is going to inform me if she hears anything, and I will prepare for that.”

“What can I do?”

My heart shifts at her trusting expression and I cup her face and staring deep into her eyes, whisper huskily, “You stay god–damned safe darlin’ because if I considered for one minute you were involved in any of this, I would burn the academy down with the principal locked inside.”

Her face softens and tears glisten in her beautiful eyes as she whispers, “Right back at you, Drake.”

Once again we kiss, desperate for contact, savoring the moment and the time we have together, wondering if we really stand a chance, or if fate has other plans.