Page 11 of Wonderland Asylum (Wonderland Killers #1)

TEN

Our Next Target

The only thing that gives my outer appearance a semblance of calm is the knowledge that he won't be alive for much longer.

-Kai

Checking my phone, I frown. Presley hasn't messaged me back, which isn't like her. I've texted her five times asking her for another picture. Every text shows that it’s been delivered but not read.

I open up my Snapchat app for the fiftieth time tonight. My reception was being shady earlier, and I couldn’t get shit to pull up. She doesn't know that she shares her location with me, but she does. I added myself to her list the night Sierra Rose died.

After the map finally loads, my heart skips a beat, because according to this she's fucking here!

I don't say a word to my frat buddies that I'm leaving, the assholes probably think I'm rushing off to get laid. They wouldn't believe it if I told them I haven’t had sex in over a year, not since my brother and I agreed Presley would officially be ours one day.

I look through every room of this house, and come up empty. Something feels off about this. What if she's in danger? She's too trusting, and doesn't know about the ruthlessness of Pixie Hollow like I do.

If somebody has laid even one hand on her, they're dead. She's mine to protect, it’s my job as her guard dog, as she so lovingly calls me.

The only place left to look is outside, I pass by Theo Sanchez talking with a hot girl by the door, and roll my eyes. He's an idiot, she needs to run far away from him as fast as she can.

Wait...fuck! That's my hot girl. I elbow Theo in the ribs, and smile when he doubles over.

That’s what you get fucker.

Turning back toward her, I panic. Why does she look so pale? I catch her in my arms before she falls.

"K-ai...KA—I!" She screams my name, snuggling into me, then passes out.

“Who hurt you?” But she can’t answer me.

"Theo, what the fuck happened? Did you hurt her?"

I don't know when the music stopped, but you could hear a pin drop with how quiet it is in here now. Everyone is looking at us, waiting for my temper to erupt. It's not a secret how crazy I am about my stepsister.

He looks horrified that I would even think that. "No! She stopped me, because she said that someone had put something in her drink. I was going to find her another shirt."

I can't stop the growl from coming out. Her tits are on full display underneath the beer stain. Taking a deep breath, I mask my emotions and place them back where they belong. It’s a trick I learned from Gunner and not one that I always use .

I've found our next victim, whoever hurt her will pay with their life. My insides are screaming at me to destroy something, anything, but I can't. At least not right now.

I concentrate on her even breaths puffing against my cheek, her being alive in my arms is the only thing that matters at this moment.

"Who was it?" I ask calmly. The first rule of being a killer is not losing your shit.

"I don't know the guy. He's tall, with red hair. Should we call the cops?"

"No. I'll take her to Wonderland. One of our doctors will check her out and we'll notify the police from there."

Without even having to ask, Dec has my truck waiting on us at the front door. That’s why he’s my best friend. We have each other's back no matter the circumstance. He knows how crazy we are about her, and he’s helping to ease my panic. At least a little bit.

Jumping in my truck, he places her back in my lap. There was no way I was leaving her in the backseat by herself.

Kissing her forehead, I call Gunner, the second we pull out onto the highway.

"Have you found her?" His voice is filled with panic, and his anxiety is about to get worse.

"Gunner, she was at the party. She's hurt, I think she's been drugged." I reply frantically.

"What do you mean? Where are you?"

"According to the whispers that I heard as we were leaving, I think someone slipped something in her drink during a game of beer pong. We're coming to you now."

"Who?" His voice cracks with barely contained anger.

"I don't know. I have a description, but that's it. We may have to wait until she wakes up to figure it out. She was already too far gone when I found her to give me any details." My whole body is numb with shock.

"First, we take care of her, then we hunt." He whispers.

"Agreed." I end the call.

I don't know what I'll do if she's not okay. She's the sun that lights a path in my darkness, a place I can rest when the walls close in. We can't lose her, because if we did, there would be no saving us.

"Kai." She whispers.

"Yes, Princess. I'm here." My throat thickens with emotion.

"Thirsty...."

"We're almost to Wonderland, and I'll get you something soon."

There are only two guys that fit the description Theo gave me. Drew Crews and Winston Baker. They're going to get a visit from us real soon, but my money’s on it being that bugged eyed motherfucker Drew.

Where the hell was AJ when all this shit was going down? I don't like that she left her, Presley is too sweet for her own good. Before all is said and done, I'm going to have a little talk with her little bestie, too.

Gunner meets me at the door, but he doesn't have a gurney. No he needs to hold her close to himself just like I did. Handing her off is one of the hardest things I've ever done, but sharing is what we signed up for. Even when it’s hard to do, like tonight. He loves her, too, it’s only fair.

"Gunner." She whispers.

Her eyelids flutter several times before she goes back into a deep sleep. My brother sits on the hospital bed while she rests on him. We both sneer at the orderly who suggests he get up so that she can lay on the bed properly. He understands the assignment and leaves the room shortly after.

A nurse starts an IV, draws blood, then takes her vitals. We are told that her blood pressure is low, but pulse is steady. They'll have the results of her blood test in an hour. Holding her hand, I wait by her bedside.

Gunner barks at the doctors and nurses, to do their damned jobs.

They’re surprised but he'll apologize later, but he's too wound up to be civil.

Hell, we both are. "I need everyone out, so that we can undress her.

I want you to test her shirt for residue, just in case her bloodwork shows nothing.

Knock before you come to collect her clothes. I will fire anyone who doesn't."

They nod, and basically run out of the room. I kiss her palm and each one of her fingers. "Will you really fire someone just for walking in a door unannounced?"

He rolls his eyes. "Fuck yeah. She's ours, nobody else will ever get to see her naked again, and I know what you're doing, but you don't have to try and distract me. As long as I'm here with her I'll be okay."

"I can trust that you're not going to lose your shit again?"

He chuckles. "Not until we have the bastard in Cell Block 666. Then I'll unleash my crazy. I'm assuming you saw my office?"

I sigh. "I did. I can't say that I blame you. How are you going to explain it to the staff?"

He shrugs. "Maybe the Madd Hatter will make his appearance soon, and I can get him to take the blame for it."

"That means you'll owe him a favor if he does."

He rolls his eyes. "Yeah, he's become as bad as Jekyll about trading favors."

Despite what we do for a living, neither of us love to talk about our feelings, but I want him to know that he's not alone.

"If I hadn't been in a crowd full of people, then nothing around me would have remained standing. She could have really gotten hurt tonight, Gunner, but don’t worry we'll have our revenge. "

"I won't rest until his blood is on the edge of my knife. Are you willing to kill him without there ever being a trial?" He asks quietly.

As a general rule, minus our first victim, all the guilty have been tried then let go by our justice system. Whether that be by money exchanging hands or a mishap with the chain of evidence, either way we couldn't let them be placed back into society. Especially if a child or woman has been hurt.

I don't even have to think about my answer. "Without question. For her, I'd kill thousands if that's what it took to keep her safe."

Cradling her body close to his, he bends down to kiss her again.

"Then it's decided. We'll be his jury and executioners.

I know we talked about this the other day, but I want to reiterate the fact that I've finally accepted what we are.

I've been putting off starting a relationship with her because I knew we didn't deserve her, and I thought maybe we could change or that there’d be some miraculous cure, but they'll never be one.

I've put her on the back burner for far too long. She'll need some time after this to heal, so we may have to wait longer than what we decided, but after that nothing can stop me from claiming her. I want us to take it slow so that we don’t break her. We need to ease her into the relationship.”

"Fucking finally, Gunner. I can't wait until that moment when we no longer have to hide our feelings for her." All I want to do is show her how much she means to me.

He nods. "Let's get her undressed before some asshole forgets to knock and they lose their life."

Killing someone would help blow off some steam before we catch our next target, unfortunately, that would break our code of ethics. We can’t do that to ourselves or the Brotherhood.

We remove every piece of her clothing, but there’s no leering, and we try not to stare. Someone already tried to take advantage of her today. We don’t want to add to her hurt.

A knock sounds at the door, and I cover her up with another blanket. "Come in." I command.

Nurse Cheshire smiles as she makes her way over to us.

Her smile always creeps me the fuck out.

"Dr. Donovan, it has been determined she was given a high dose of ketamine laced with fentanyl.

By the look of her shirt, she couldn't have ingested much, which is why she's still alive.

Whoever mixed this cocktail didn't know what they were doing. "

"How long will she need to rest?" I ask.

She looks at the IV bags above their heads. "It'll take at least twenty four hours for most of the drugs to wear off completely. She may not be fully coherent for a few days though."

Taking a deep breath, I hold back my anger. I don't want to leave her, but I don't want that asshole getting away. What should we do?

Nurse Cheshire turns back to us before leaving the room. "Doctor, you asked to be notified right away when the Madd Hatter finally arrived. He took over Lukas about an hour ago."

I smile, because the Madd Hatter is many things, but he would never hurt a woman. In fact, he would guard her with his life if we asked him to. She will be safe, while we go on the hunt.

"Nurse, please send him to me."

She nods, with that unnerving smile of hers firmly planted back on her chubby face. "Yes sir, I'll arrange it immediately."