Page 51 of A Blackened Bond

Ezra nods as a heavy sigh leaves my lips. They have both been constantly harping on about her lately.Red thisandMicai that.

We had work to do. And everyone needed to stay focused.

Christmas day was only a week and a half away, and I hadthat groupcoming.

The whole party that night in the abattoir was planned around them so that I could get the information and contacts I needed from them. They were an important step for our future plans, and nothing could mess it up.

They all needed to stay focused, not constantly talking and thinking about some small blue-eyed girl with a tight ass and a fiery temper. We didn’t have time for that.

Especially now with trying to find out who’s throwing out black fucking pills on the dark market. The small circular drug had been circulating in all the wrong crowds and giving me a damn headache.

They’ve caused more problems for us in the past couple of days than I’ve had to deal with in weeks. Already, two shifter packs had to be dealt with when they tried to enter our territory, hopped up on those pills and asking for a bloodbath.

Unfortunately for them, Annex wasn’t in the mood to play around. Or maybe that was their luck?

Quick was better than being tortured or ‘played with’ for days.

Either way, he and Mallyn ran through them quickly last night. Even with their enhanced speed and strength from that black little drug, they were no match for a pissed-off Annex and Mallyn’s agitated beast.

The psycho asshole had then left us to clean up the mess alone while he ran off, and now I know why.To go to Micai.

What was so special about her that he jumped like some trained pup when her name was mentioned? Even dropping usand leaving the bloody mess he loved to make, just so he could sleep beside her?

I never claimed to understand Annex’s mind—I don’t think anyone could—but I thought I knew him well enough. But lately, I’m not so sure.

I thought that sending him to deal with thephysical taskswould help ease some of the madness that always seemed to take hold of him when he returned from death. He always seemed more crazed each time, craving blood and carnage in a way that would outdo even Mallyn’s beast.

I threw those types of bloody jobs at him, hoping it would help ease it and bring some part of Annex back to us. And it seemed to work to an extent.

Except even with that, he seemed to be slowly pulling away from us. His gaze told me he was worried about what he would become if it continued. I think he worried that he would turn on us one day, the madness taking him over completely…and unfortunately, I couldn’t reassure him otherwise.

But now, he seemed to resemble the Annex I remembered before the madness had chipped away at him. Lately, he didn’t seem so lost. He seemed…clearer and more calm than ever before.

“I’m not working today, Creed. I’m spending my time with Red.”

“Me too.” Calls Ezra. “We have those stupid interviews tomorrow, so I’m not wasting another moment today. I have to make up for lost time.”

“We better get that bigger bed soon, then,” chuckles Annex.

“I don’t mean it likethat. I’m happy just being with Micai.” Adds Ezra with a dopey look in his eyes.

Annex shakes his head. “We didn’t do anything last night either, but trying to get a good position in that small bed?” Herolls his shoulder again and cracks his neck. “It wasn’t exactly acomfortablenight.”

“Let’s pick something huge so she can starfish between us.” Smiles Ezra, a look of genuine happiness spreading on his face that I’d never seen there before.

My eyes narrow as they start chatting back and forth about different bed types and thread counts…what the hell was happening to them? They seemed to be getting excited overbed sheets.

“We have those interviews today, Annex.” Calls Mallyn, cutting off their weird discussion. His hoody is pulled up, covering most of his face as we walk through town to the abattoir.

A small sigh of relief leaves my lips as I watch Mallyn. At least one of them was acting normal.

“Fuck that,” Annex seethes, all joy drained from his face as his annoyance takes over. “I’m not being interrogated by some council dog about what I was doing and who I was with.” He kicks a metal bin while we pass by, a significant dent forming in it as a couple of the locals glance our way, their gazes falling to the ground as soon as they see us.

Everyone knew who we were in town and not to mess with us.

“They won’t find answers, and anything theydofind will be kept quiet,” Annex grits out as he continues to rant. “They’ll only be reported to those greedy bastards who only know how to sit around and scratch their old dusty balls.”

Ezra’s face scrunches up with his words, the visuals making even me wince in disgust.

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