Page 70 of Hollyhocks

“Is there?” He smirks. “Because I still stalk Mickey, and Creed stalks Demi every day. I’m surprised he is here now that I think about it.” His brows pull together then turns his head to see Creed playing with Storm.

To me it looks more like fighting, but what do I know?

“Be careful, okay? We are dangerous, Fitz.”

“You’re no more dangerous than a regular human being, Rhett.”

“That’s not true and you know that. Don’t fool yourself.” He closes the distance between us with his giant crocodile feet. “If I wanted to, I could rip your head off from your body before you could speak your next word. I have nothing but primal urges and instincts. If anyone looks at Mickey, if a man’s eyes linger too long, I have blood on my hands. I’m not like Creed. He doesn’t care who he kills. I don’t either but it doesn’t mean I don’t wish things were different. It doesn’t mean I don’t wish to feel more human. Granted, I feel more than Creed does, but you need to be careful. I hope whoever this monster is, they are your fated mate and they aren’t here to hurt you, but it makes sense. The smell and the markings, they have claimed you. You don’t know who it is?”

“No clue,” I say. “And I don’t know if there is a monster. Maybe I’m losing my mind.”

“You aren’t. We are really great at evading if we don’t want to get caught. It’s only a matter of time. When is all this happening? Do you know?”

“I wake up like this,” I answer, lifting my shirt again to show how far the black mark travels. “It’s like lightning.”

“It’s probably happening while you sleep. I’m not sure what kind of a monster can do that. What are your dreams like?”

My cheeks redden immediately with embarrassment.

Rhett grins, flashing his fangs. “I see, well, that answers that. Try to find something in that dream that helps bring you back to reality. Wake up to see the truth, Fitz. You’ll have your answers. If you find out that your mind is gone, that’s okay, I love you enough to take care of you. You look exhausted so why don’t you go get some sleep.” He winks. “Keep me updated.”

I salute him with a finger. “Will do.”

“And stay away from the shop. I’ve closed it. You have other things to focus on. And to be honest, it’s still airing out. I’m not sure what your monster did but it fucking reeks.”

“Rhett! Come swim!” Mickey shouts.

I give Rhett a slap on the arm. “I’ll see you later. Have a good time. I’m going to go home and crash. I can barely keep my eyes open.” I sway on my feet, exhaustion hitting me like a brick wall. “I really need to go.”

Rhett steps in front of me to stop me. “You look like you have worked three days straight. Why don’t you take the spare room? I don’t feel comfortable with you driving.”

“I’m fine. It isn’t a far drive. Remember, I’m only across the lake. I’ll get the rest of my stuff later if you don’t mind.”

“We will leave it in your room for when you’re ready. No rush. This will always be your home, Fitz.”

I step in and give him a hug, slapping him on the back. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”

He shoves me away, covering his mouth and nose.

“Oh, come on. It doesn’t smell that bad. You’re being dramatic.” I begin to walk away, my vision blurring with the need to sleep.

“It is for us paranormals! Anyone else’s scent is atrocious!” my best friend yells.

I happen to like that I smell like someone. I am obsessed with the fact that there is someone out there who wants me so badly that they mark me to warn everyone else away. I belong to someone.

I’ve never belonged to anyone. I’ve always been isolated and alone in a sense. I’ve always had to depend on myself. That’s how I was raised. By watching what my parents said and how they acted, I learned the only person I could trust in the world was me. No one else was going to support me. No one else would save me. And no one else would love me.

What is it like being loved?

Not friend love or parental love, whatever that’s like, but the all-consuming, rageful, will do anything for you, kind of love.The love that knows no bounds. The love that will kill everyone if it means my heart got to beat one more time. The type of love people heal from.

I want that.

I need to heal because I’m tired. I ache. I’m sore. My heart beats, sure, but my blood is tired of feeding a lonely soul. I’m battered. I’m damaged. All my pain is my own doing, I realize that. I’ve always been the life vest. This time it’s me who is drowning.

It’s me who needs to be saved.

By the time I’m climbing into the truck, I question how I got here for a second. I’m so tired. Maybe I should take the spare room in Rhett’s house. Even as the thought crosses my mind, I press the button to start the engine. A pull is tugging me home. It’s only a five-minute drive.

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