Page 43 of Seek Me Darling

It's starting to get dark when I get home, and I'm relieved there aren't any twisted gifts waiting for me—because they'd be immediately tossed into the dense forest that backs onto my cabin.

Stepping inside, I slam the door behind me so hard it's a wonder the glass doesn't shatter. Rage and frustration coil tightly inside me, suffocating in their intensity. Shrugging off my jacket, I drop it on the couch, placing my gun alongside it with a heavy thud.

I pour myself a generous glass of whiskey, draining it in one swift, burning swallow without bothering to move from the spot. The warmth does little to ease the bitter fury still clawing at my insides. With a sigh, I turn and walk down the hall toward my bedroom, hoping sleep might at least dull my anger.

But before I reach the door, someone steps smoothly from the shadows of my bedroom, filling the hallway ahead of me. Even in the fading twilight, I can clearly see the figure's full tactical gear and mask, obscuring every feature.

Rule.

Or maybe Ruin—I haven't seen him yet. I wouldn’t put it past them to have matching sinister getups.

A fresh surge of fury floods my veins. I want to launch myself at him, to claw and fight—but I've already tasted Rule's strength. Instead, I pivot quickly, desperate to reach my gun on the couch. My escape route is abruptly blocked by a second figure stepping silently into the hallway, identical gear and mask cutting off any hope of retrieval.

Fuck.

One of them speaks, his voice distorted by a modulator, chilling and detached. "You left us with no choice."

I don't wait—I lunge forward, aiming a brutal strike at the one blocking my path to the couch. My fist connects solidly with his chest, but it's like hitting solid steel. He barely shifts, absorbing the blow easily. Undeterred, I throw a swift kick at his knee, forcing him to sidestep slightly.

The other one—the first who emerged from my bedroom—moves forward, attempting to restrain me from behind. I twist sharply, driving my elbow backward with all my strength. It catches him in the side, eliciting a distorted grunt. Encouraged, I follow up with another strike, this time higher, aiming for his masked face.

He deflects my strike effortlessly, grabbing my wrist and twisting it painfully, forcing a hiss of pain from my lips. The second figure moves in swiftly, catching my other arm before I can lash out again, trapping me securely between them. I fight against their grip, kicking and snarling like a feral animal, but they're too coordinated, too powerful.

"Let me fucking go!" I scream, rage bleeding into every word.

The figure in front steps back slightly, pulling something out from one of his many pockets. The other uses his free hand to hold my jaw in an almost bruising grip. When I see what’s in his hand I thrash harder, panic edging into my movements. "No!"

It's too late—the spray feels cold in my nose, almost immediately dulling my senses, limbs turning sluggish against my will.

As darkness creeps into my vision, a distorted voice murmurs, almost soothingly, "This is for your own good, little storm."

Then everything fades into oblivion.

Chapter 19

Rule

Ishouldn’tbehard,but the moment Seanna decided to take us both on, throwing all of her might into a fight, I swear I have never been more turned on in my life. She is ruthless, a fighter through and through.

My pulse thrums violently, the blood in my veins rushing with the exquisite, chaotic thrill of possessing her fully at last. Seanna Darling. My thoughts coil tightly around her like barbed wire, prickling against my skin. I've always been drawn to darkness, but nothing compares to the perfect storm that is her.

I cradle her in my arms, savoring the warmth and the way her unconscious body molds perfectly against me. Her dark hair cascades softly over my armored forearm, her breathing slow and rhythmic from the sedative Every detail about her is etched into my mind—the curve of her lips, the faint scent of her perfume, the intoxicating darkness that clings to her like an invisible aura. A rush of possessive satisfaction hits me, a dark, twisted triumph whispering through my bones.

“Is everything clear?” I ask Ruin sharply, my voice modulated to an unrecognizable pitch through my mask, but barely disguising the obsessive tension simmering just beneath the surface. I stroke a gloved thumb softly over her cheek, possessiveness swelling through me as I memorize the softness of her skin.

“Almost,” Ruin replies, his voice similarly distorted, focused as he moves through the cabin. He wipes down surfaces, packs clothes and personal items, making sure no evidence remains. I watch closely, meticulous as always, ensuring every detail is accounted for. Ruin and I have been friends for a long time—two lonely teens who stumbled across each other in the dark recesses of the web, kindred spirits finding companionship.

I shift Seanna slightly, her head resting against my shoulder now, her delicate frame seeming impossibly fragile in my embrace. But I know better. Beneath that beauty is pure, intoxicating danger. Ruin had found her first, a beautiful black-haired girl who gradually became the object of his dark fascination, discussed fervently during our countless late-night conversations. His obsession slowly bled into me until it became my own—twisted, unhinged, and completely inescapable.

My thoughts darken as I consider Ruin. I can't see his face beneath his mask, but I don’t need to. I know him better than anyone. Beneath the friendly facade he presents to the world lies a ruthlessness far more chilling than even my own darkness. Ruin hides his true nature masterfully, the divide so profound that sometimes it's as if he’s two entirely different people. I wonder how long it will take for our beautiful girl to see who he truly is—not just the face beneath the mask, but the cold, relentless darkness lurking beneath.

“We can't risk mistakes,” I warn him, glancing down at Seanna again, consumed by the need to have her isolated, safe, and completely ours. “No loose ends, Ruin.”

“You underestimate me,” Ruin replies sharply. “Nothing is ever left to chance.”

“What about communication?” I question. “Her job, friends, family—they'll start asking questions.”

“She’s officially on leave from the DEA,” Ruin explains calmly, confidence resonating in his voice. It’s a predator's calm, wrapped around him like a cloak. “She warned Max she might go deep undercover. He won’t risk interfering. Her friends and team are manageable, but we'll watch them closely.”

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