Page 60 of Wicked Little Nightmare

“Mmmf, love you too.” I turned and headed into the office, doing exactly as Cam said. One of the drawers had a USB and I got to work downloading his files from the computer and wiping down everything I touched. Heading back towards the hall, I glanced around one last time.

"C'mon," he murmured. "Let's blow this banana stand before the neighbors get nosy."

As we stepped out into the cool night air, I felt the weight of what we'd done settle over us. The silence between us was heavy, charged with unspoken tension.

I glanced at Cam out of the corner of my eye. His jaw was clenched tight, eyes scanning our surroundings. I knew that look. He was on high alert, ready for any threat.

"You think anyone heard?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Cam shook his head. "Nah. But we can't be too careful. Seems odd that there’s never anyone here to guard these guys. Maybe they really are low enough level that Chimera doesn’t give a fuck whether they live or die." He sighed. “Or maybe it’s a trap to see if we walk out.”

We walked briskly down the darkened street, our footsteps eerily loud in the silence. My mind raced, replaying the events of the night on a loop. The way Steve had smiled before a mask of fear slipped over him. Killing him didn’t make me feel anything.

Losing information made me feel a sense of loss. The way he whispered, as if for only my ears to hear… what was it he said? Something about finding the lost?

I swallowed hard.Fuck.

As we approached our apartment building, the familiar sight of its grimy facade sent a wave of relief washing over me.Home sweet fuckin' home.It was quick work getting upstairs, taking two at a time until we hit our floor and headed to our apartment.

Cam unlocked the door, ushering me inside with a hand on the small of my back. As soon as it clicked shut behind us, I felt my legs give out. I slumped against the wall, suddenly exhausted.

"Fuck," I breathed, running a hand through my hair. "That was... intense."

Cam's dark eyes locked onto mine. "You good?"

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah. Just coming down from the high, I guess."

He snorted, a wry smirk tugging at his lips. "Some high. You were fucking ruthless back there, babe."

"Says you," I shot back, but there was no heat in it. My mind drifted back to the way Cam had effortlessly subdued the guy, his movements fluid and practiced. It was... hot, if I was being honest.

Cam must have caught something in my expression, because his smirk widened. He stepped closer, caging me against the wall with his arms.

"You a bit turned on right now, lil’ psycho?” he purred, voice low and dangerous.

I felt a familiar heat coil in my belly. "Maybe," I teased. "You may or may not have looked like an avenging god for a hot second, but I wouldn’t want to tell you that. Might make your head swell a few sizes."

His lips crashed into mine, hungry and demanding. I melted into him, relishing the taste of violence and desire on his tongue. When we finally broke apart, both panting, I saw my own darkness reflected in his eyes.

"We're so fucked up," I whispered, half-laughing.

Cam's grin was razor-sharp. "Wouldn't have it any other way, sweetheart."

Twenty-Three: Cam

Ipaced the apartment, back and forth, back and forth, my mind a fucking whirlwind. The urge to keep Lakey safe warred with letting her blow off steam. She'd been fucking nuts since we'd dealt with that prick, Steve— if that’s even his real name— liable to snap at any moment. She wanted to go dancing at the club, but we were both strung up, riding the wave between adrenaline and the inevitable crash.

"Fuck," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. The idea of her out there, vulnerable and unstable, made my skin crawl. But caging her in might just make her more volatile.

Lakey sauntered in, all dolled up and ready to paint the town red. My stomach clenched.

"Looking good, sweetheart," I said, forcing a grin. "But I think we should stay in tonight."

Her eyes flashed dangerously. "Excuse me? Since when do you decide my plans?"

I held up my hands. "Woah, easy there. I'm just worried about you after... you know."

"I'm fine," she snapped, but I caught the slight tremor in her voice.

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