Page 57 of The Devil We Know

I grimace and hand him back the little plastic ball, then I move and sit on the side of the bed. “Do what you gotta do.”

He doesn’t waste any time making quick work of drawing blood from my arm and then inserting it into the little plastic ball. “You’re pretty good at that. Is that one of your side gigs?”

“What do you mean, side gig?”

“Phlebotomist,” I reply seriously. “I’ve heard a good phlebotomist is worth their weight in gold.”

He stares at me and shakes his head as he mutters, “I fear you’ve lost the plot.”

I laugh, becoming comfortable with the overwhelming urge for the maniacal laughter.

Matt shakes his head again and sighs as I continue to laugh. “I fear you’re starting to act like the rest of us.”

I shrug and then reply, “Inappropriate humor certainly has its place in uncomfortable situations.”

He snorts but says nothing, and then a wad of fabric hits me in the face. I grab at it as Matt laughs and says, “Put that on.”

I stop laughing but I’m still smiling as I drop the towel and pull on what appears to be a white dress of some sort. It’s rather shapeless, but at least it covers most of me.

Matt pulls on a pair of cotton pants and a shirt in the same fabric as my dress and then we stand there and look at each other and I feel that maniacal laughter coming back.

He moves close to me, the back of his hand stroking down my cheek softly as he says, “Don’t forget what I said.”

I frown and ask, “Which part?”

“The part about me having to do shit you’re not going to like. Just remember when it gets really bad, and it’s going to get bad,it’s all just a game. It’s a bullshit show for some bullshit people, and once this is all said and done, every single one of those motherfuckers will pay.”

I nod. “I’ll remember. Don’t worry. I’ll be okay.”

He nods, leaning down and pressing a soft kiss against my lips, and then there’s a knock at the door.

“We gotta go.”

I say nothing. I just take his hand, turn, and lead him to the door.

24

The Storm

Matt

When Jessica reaches formy hand, I grab onto hers tightly, like the lifeline that it is.

We walk like that down the hallway with her just ahead of me, leading the way. The closer we get to our destination, the subtle shift of her being ahead of me to beside me to behind me takes place.

By the time we reach the door, she has let go of my hand and is walking several feet behind with her head bowed and her eyes onthe floor. My heart pounds in my chest, rage building inside me at the idea that she’s to remain unseen and unheard.

Kaian is waiting for me, and his presence helps me find the cold place inside me I’ll have to live in to get through this next event.

I move to enter the room, and his hand on my shoulder stops me. My eyes meet his as he says, “Stay the course.”

I nod, my hand coming up and slapping him on the shoulder before returning my focus ahead of me.

I step into the room. The din of voices immediately falls flat, and I’m enshrouded by the echo of silence.

Jessica’s father walks toward me, and I use that opportunity to glance back, relief flooding me as I see Jessica still playing the part of a docile submissive.

If I was further along in my extermination mission, I would take this opportunity to light up every last motherfucker in this room. But knowing the timing isn’t right has me biting my tongue and, instead, smiling smugly at Seamus and taking his hand when he extends his.

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