Page 63 of The Sea Witch’s Son (The Villains of Wolf Hollow #1)

Epilogue

CALISTA

And they lived happily ever after.

Oh, please.

He’s a psychotic narcissist and she’s a pathological liar. I would have been more surprised if they didn’t end up fucking.

Honestly, I didn’t think Melody would be able to pull it off. Rolling into town with nothing but an innocent smile and a fuckable skirt is a sure way to make a lasting impression. And once Marlin took a liking to her, I figured it was only a matter of time until I was peeling that pretty face off her skull.

Yet here we are.

It helped that Anton Clementon was one of her targets. I was only too happy to leave his office door unlocked for her. Even went as far as to leave some incriminating photos lying around to help drive her motivation.

Oh, I knew about the drugs .

Her stepfather made the mistake of parking beside me at the house party while I was eating out Tahira in the backseat. It was amusing, watching him steal an entire shipment while Melody kept Marlin entertained, but I was more curious to see what he was going to do with the drugs.

Lo and behold, it turned into a shit show not even I can take credit for.

Anton's name gets crossed off my list, the last man who found his way into my bedroom time and time again.

There were seven of them in total. Seven businessmen who would slip into my room with a knife and a penchant for touching little girls. It didn’t matter how loud I screamed or how much I cried, none of them ever stopped until their disgusting needs were satisfied.

It was a pass or fail test, and I failed for years. So many years that I decided to wait until I was strong enough to kill them all in a way that would degrade them in the same way they degraded me.

People say karma is a bitch. I like to think in this town karma goes by a different name.

I celebrate the occasion with a little online shopping. Nothing beats a shared celebration, and a new diamond collar for my baby boy is just what I need to mark this momentous event.

“Ooh, what do you think about this one?”

I lean over and show the screen to my new brawn. He squints, staring at the bedazzled collar as if he’s not quite sure what he’s looking at .

“Is that for an animal or a person?”

His question puts a smile on my face.

Vector Vin was a recruit I had my eye on for a while. Big and mean with an addiction to steroids and violence, the varsity athlete was the perfect candidate for Gus’ replacement.

As luck would have it, he ended up on trial for physical assault at just the perfect time. I was only too happy to post his bail and coerce him into signing an employment contract in exchange for keeping his little family safe.

From me, of course.

“That depends.” I lick my lips, flicking my eyes over the muscles bulging beneath his Silverwood sweater, “How open are you to dying your hair?”

Vector frowns, reaching up to touch the shoulder-length blonde strands.

“Probably not?”

“Then it’s for a dog.”

He nods slowly, his pale blue eyes darting back to the collar on the screen, “It’s cute.”

I add it to my cart with a smile.

Melody’s glare catches my attention. I follow her gaze and notice Finley, of all people, heading for the empty seat beside her.

Honestly, you would think the man would learn.

“I heard you were hoping to make nationals this year, rookie. ”

The sound of my voice has Finley stumbling, tripping over his own feet. I grin, leaning forward to look at the sling covering his left side.

“Such a shame about the shoulder. Did the doctors say it would be a full or partial recovery?”

“P-Partial.”

“Oh, dear.” I sigh heavily, “Next time I’ll make sure to only snip the most vital tendons. How does that sound?”

Finley turns and runs like a little bitch.

Snickering to myself, I lean back and kick my heels up on the desk. Vector eyes the red soles of my Louboutin’s, the crimson colour a perfect match for my lipstick.

A girl can never have too many accessories.

My phone pings with the arrival of the report I’ve been waiting for.

MARLIN: [file attachment]

MARLIN: I’m struggling to find information on the child.

CALISTA: What kind of trouble?

MARLIN: The file is locked with an external firewall. I can’t find anything within our national school systems or police reports.

I frown, pulling up the document he just sent over.

The Cartier Mansion was recently purchased by a Mrs. Cruella Deville. Former supermodel and current fashion designer, Deville specializes in the fur industry and boasts a portfolio of animal products that are banned in most parts of the world.

“That explains why she wants a house full of dead animals.”

Vector glances at me, “I didn’t sign up for dead animals. ”

“Not even for a fur coat?”

“No fucking way.”

Snickering to myself, I return my attention to the report.

She had a string of husbands who supported her extravagant lifestyle. Old and rich, they were all two to three decades past her age. All of them died shortly after the nuptials and none of them secured their assets with a prenup.

“Everyone, can I have your attention.”

The professor’s voice breaks through my concentration. I cast a glance up, noting Florian’s annoyed expression and quickly open my messages.

ME: A gold digger with an ambition. I think I like her.

MARLIN: Don’t speak too soon. I just figured out why I couldn’t find information on the son.

ME: Well? Don’t leave me in suspense.

MARLIN: He’s not from around here.

ME: What do you-

My message never gets sent because Florian’s voice suddenly tunes back in.

“…please give a warm welcome to Mr. Deville.”

I look up and dark hair is the first thing I see.

Dark, dark hair.

The kind of dark I could paint over my soul and not an ounce of colour would bleed through. The kind of dark I could run my nails through and watch them disappear in a pot of ink. It’s long and shaggy and falls into eyes that are even darker than his hair .

My birthday most definitely came early this year.

“We’ve never had a devil in Wolf Hollow before.” My voice slices through the auditorium, drawing those delicious eyes up to mine, “Have you come to confess your sins?”

Snickers echo around the room. The new guy just looks at me with a smirk that I want to lick right off his face.

Florian chuckles, “Your sins are no heavier than the ones already present, I’m sure. Please take your seat.”

The new guy swings his leather jacket over his shoulder and starts walking towards the first row. I watch him pause at the bottom of the stairs before he keeps walking.

And walking.

And walking.

My panties are fucking drenched by the time he comes to a stop at the desk in front of me. Throwing his jacket down on the chair, he turns around and places his forearms on the edge of my desk.

Up close, his eyes are a couple of glittering obsidians. His jawline is sharp and dusted with stubble so dark I want to shave it off and keep it for myself.

Ink bleeds from his neck all the way down to his knuckles, covering every inch of skin. A silver chain disappears into the material of his shirt, the bulge of metal against his chest making this man look like a present waiting to be unwrapped.

And oh, is he going to be unwrapped.

“The name is Christopher, darling. But once we get better acquainted you can call me whatever you'd like. "

The accent filters across the room and Melody lets out a sigh.

“Of course he’s British.”

I smile, scraping my nails along the desk and closing the distance between us.

“You look like a bad boy.” Casting another glance at his dark hair, I feel a purr creep up my throat, “And bad boys get punished in this town.”

Christopher licks his lips, not taking his eyes off me.

“Is that a promise?”

“Or a threat. Whichever you prefer.”

His eyes flick down to the open folds of my jacket. Shifting so the edge of my nipples are pressed against the leather material, I watch his eyes crinkle in amusement.

“I quite like being threatened by beautiful women.” Christopher smirks, raking his eyes over the tattoo on my chest, “Don’t mind being punished by them either.”

Oh, he’s good.

I flick my eyes over the tattoo creeping up his neck, the portrait of a wolf being shot to death by an array of archers. Blood leaks out of the canine’s wounds, it’s teeth snarling and snapping back at the hunters surrounding him.

“Most men don’t make it out of here alive.” Running my tongue along my teeth, I give him a malicious grin, “Especially if I have anything to say about it.”

His smirk turns into a full-fledged grin, one that has my pussy fucking clenching .

“It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Miss Drache.”

“Likewise, Devil.”

Christopher chuckles softly, casting one last glance at my tattoo before he turns and sits down right in front of me. The auditorium is silent, shocked and curious stares pinned in our direction.

MARLIN: You’re going to want to take a look at this.

MARLIN: [file attachment]

My attention gets pulled back to my phone. Clicking the file, I open a collection of police reports that have been extracted from judicial systems spanning all across Europe.

Warrant out for the arrest of Christopher Deville. Suspect has been found guilty of armed robbery, embezzlement, burglary, fraud, shoplifting, larceny, receiving and selling stolen items, transportation of illegal goods, and unauthorized possession of a firearm.

Suspect is armed and dangerous. Identifiable markings include tattoos covering his knuckles, arms, chest…

The list goes on for quite some time.

I muse over the information, watching the way Christopher studies the students around him. He jots down notes on his phone every so often, his gaze lingering on the most expensive accessories.

MARLIN: He’s got the skillset you need. Shall I begin the preparations ?

So the big bad wolf came to rob the rich families of Wolf Hollow.

Oh, dear.

Somebody should have warned him about the hungry dragon.

ME: Let the games begin.