Page 23 of Wicked Lies Grow Wildflowers

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

XANDER

I’m beyond horny and fucking pissed about it .

I had a plan to meet Maeren tonight, have my fill, and purge her from my system for a few more days.

Instead, I left hard as fuck and angry that I didn’t play my cards right.

I drove her home and knew she had to be up for work in the morning, and not wanting to take advantage of her intoxicated state, I left once she was safely inside of her apartment.

I promised to take her back to her car in the morning but fuck, I should have pressed her to let me in.

I want to do things right with her though, and when I take her for the first time I want her fully lucid without a layer of anything between us, let alone the haze of alcohol.

Her mentioning The Skinner almost threw me off, almost . I know it’s currently headlining news, but her bringing it up feels too much like work and pleasure mixing, and I sure as fuck don’t want her getting tangled up in this mess. Not when all I want to do is keep her safe from everyone but me.

This game we’re playing is no longer working and it’s time to change tactics.

Periodically having my fill of her to tide me over for several days at a time isn’t cutting it.

Not when every time I see her, it just makes me want her more.

I imagine this is what addiction is like, having a little taste of something and then just a little more until before you know it, you’re unable to breathe without it.

Maeren is quickly becoming the drug I can’t quit.

Days pass and I still need to get my aggression out, so I decide to do a little sleuthing on The Skinner and see what I can find using some of my underground connections.

Unfortunately, since his true name is unknown, I can’t start out with searching through his social media accounts like I typically do.

No worries, I’ll just have to get creative.

The good news is that if his real identity is unknown, he shouldn’t be too missed when I kill him.

More work now, easier work later. I can do that.

I compile a list of people who may know of The Skinner’s whereabouts.

Those who are in the same underground scene and who I know will keep my line of questioning confidential if they want to continue seeing the light of day.

I learnt a long time ago to always have a solid backlist of loose allies if need be.

Five solid connections seems promising enough—time to get to work. I’m going to find this fucker, and when I have him begging for his life, he’s going to tell me who he really is, and why he put a hit out on Liam’s nephew.

A few phone calls later and I have some very valuable information.

The Skinner hasn’t been caught by the local cops or any feds because he always has others carry out his smaller tasks in order to remain elusive.

He’s rarely been spotted, but I’ve gotten a rough description of his appearance to go on.

He operates a large ring of drugs and prostitution on the west side of the state and wants to expand, which is likely why he’s been after Mark and his family.

With the Marino family having a hold on nearly all organized crime on the east side, this Skinner fuck must be eager to lose his life by challenging them.

The only other information I could find on him is that he loves to use and abuse women, a true gentleman.

I can’t help but roll my eyes at that thought.

It’s been known that any female who gets involved with him winds up missing or found dead—hence the string of bodies.

I do wonder why anyone would continue to take their chances with someone so notorious.

Drug use is likely to blame; those in the throes of addiction will do anything for another high, as I’m becoming quickly aware.

I start to formulate my plan, mapping the areas I want to stake out and when I want to do it. I’m going to have so much fun once I find this piece of shit.

My phone pings and I turn it over to a message from Maeren.

Great. I haven’t messaged her for several days, not since we met at the White Rabbit.

I need to at least try to pretend like I can stay away from her.

While I may not have directly communicated with her, she’s been in my thoughts every free second I have.

Maeren: Hey Xander, just wanted to see if you were okay. Haven’t heard from you since the other night. Hope all is well. XX

Heat rushes up my face. She’s worried about me. No one ever worries about me. Fuck. I’m so utterly fucked. I text back a few minutes later.

Me: Yeah I’m good, just been busy with work. How are you?

Maeren: Oh I’m sure! Lot’s of website building going on? I’m doing well enough.

I scoff at that, if only she knew.

Me: Yeah, lots of clients have come in recently, it’s going to tie me down for a bit.

Maeren: Oh okay, well I don’t mean to bother you too much, just wanted to make sure you were still alive.

Fuck, she thinks I’m trying to brush her off and it makes me feel like an ass.

Me: I’d like to see you sometime this week. I can clear some space in my schedule for you.

Maeren: Oh great! Yeah, let's try to get together, maybe Thursday? Your place or mine?

I’m not moved into the house I bought through her yet, and I don’t want to disclose my real home so soon. Hers is the safest option.

Me: Yours is perfect, see you then.

Somehow Thursday is too close and too far all at once.