Page 73 of Finders Reapers

“Romeo?” My brow creased.

“Rome.” She corrected herself. “He is mine.”

“Okay,” I wasn’t agreeing. I was just letting her know that I heard her. “I’m going to go—”

“You don’t understand.” She growled. “Heis mine.”

I rolled my eyes. “As inspiring as this high school bullshit is, I don’t really care. He doesn’t belong to you. He belongs to himself. If you’re in a relationship, great. Good for you. We’re colleagues. That’s it.”

“If I find out there is more, I will gut you.” She snarled.

“Right,” I laughed bitterly. “You’ll evaporate as soon as you step out of those doors, all I have to do is take five steps from you, and I’m golden. Was that really your attempt as a threat?”

“You’re a bitch.” She declared.

I looked down the end of my nose at her. “No. You’re a bitch, and I’m just matching your energy. I told you, Rome and I are friends. We work together. That’s it.”

Sasha pursed her lips. Her eyes darkened as she gathered herself for another attack.

I was done.

Luckily, I didn’t have to end it as Maddox did that for me. He stepped out from around the corner. “Coming?”

“Yeah,” I turned away from Sasha without looking back.

It wasn’t until we were at the last door of the corridor before he spoke. “I heard.”

“I guessed,” I replied. “If they have relationship drama, that has nothing to do with me.”

Maddox chuckled. “Sasha wishes she had relationship drama. She has issues and a fixation on Rome.”

Maddox pressed his hand against the door handle and whispered some demonic words. He made it look effortless, and I knew for a fact it was not.

We weren’t going back to the Bellagio just yet, but I wasn’t sure what I expected from a‘safe house.’Perhaps another suite in another hotel.

We stepped through the door and directly into someone’s living room.

The floor was slate in a rainbow of greys, blacks, and oranges. Rustic, textured but clean. The walls were a warm terracotta, and my eyes were drawn to the couch that looked as comfortable as it was ugly.

Maddox shut the door behind us, and I watched with fascination as red lines made of light spindled away from the door frame and into the walls. I felt a click inside my skull—like some sort of energy welcoming me.

Maddox must have known what I was thinking based on my facial expression. “Protection ward.” He assured me. “It can’t let in someone unless they’re invited.”

“And I’m invited?” I laughed nervously.

“Well, you’re in one piece, so yes.”

I turned back to the room, and I began to explore with cautious steps.

Photos lined the walls, set in reclaimed wooden frames. I recognized Fletcher’s wide grin and Jamal’s enigmatic smirk. Rome’s scowl and Maddox’s impassive glare.

This was home base.

I felt like I had been let in on a secret.

I turned to Maddox to ask a question, but it died on my tongue.

Maddox bent at the waist, clutching his side. I had barely enough time to take a step before he crumbled onto the floor. His eyelids fluttered.

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