Page 8 of Filthiest Of Them All

“The five of you and that’s it. They can’t know about the rest of our operations,” I mutter, pissed off that I still have to worry about those fuckers figuring out that I reneged on our deal. At the start I had planned to adhere to their rules, but then I realized I would never be a blue collar type of guy, and I had four guys relying on me to keep them fed and sheltered, so I went back to doing what I know. My own parents disowned me. They lost this place a couple of years ago to the bank. I had the guys swoop in and buy it while I was locked up, there is no way I would ever let my sister’s dream be sold to developers. My parents hate who I am and blame me for what happened to their daughter. I can’t say I blame them, the things I have done would make any parent disown their own child.

“What about her?” Vatican says, flicking his chin behind me. I peer over my shoulder to see Tatum standing there, looking uncertain. I can’t say the look suits her but the sight of my clothes on her body does. Fuck! I push that thought away and narrow my eyes.

“She remains here.” Her jaw locks and the twin balls of flames in her eyes rise as she glares at me.

“Sheis standing right here.” I raise a brow at her outburst.

“You are irrelevant, Miss Lawson. Your wants and needs are not something that will be taken into consideration. You will remain in mystraw houseuntil I say otherwise. No one here will help or aid you in any attempt to escape. Welcome to your gilded cage.”

“You’re a real fucking prick, you know that?” she snaps back at me.

“So I’ve been told, but as you can see, I don’t give a flying fuck what you think.” She reels back as if I hit her. I refuse to allow her reaction to have any sway on me, so I turn back to my guys. “Send me the details when Carnage responds. I’m heading to bed. We leave in the morning to head to the warehouse.” Halo opens his mouth but before he can utter a word I add, “Yes, she will be coming with us. Now, how about you fuckers stop worrying about the girl and do your fucking jobs.” I ignore their snickers as I spin around and stalk past Tatum, heading out the back door.

Tatum

I stand here watching him retreat outside. There are no lights to mark his path.

“If I was you, I would be running after him before you get lost.” I spin around to face the guys and frown. The guy with unruly brown hair rolls his eyes. “You aren’t staying in here with us.” I jerk back and cock my head.

“Who are you?” I blurt.

“Pope. Now, chase after him before I throw your fucking ass out of our house.” I scrunch my face and stay where I am until the guy with black eyes—Omen I think his name is—takes a step toward me and I dart out the back door Alex just disappeared through and squeal as the moist ground touches my feet. I run blindly into the darkness. The moon offers no fucking light tonight. Fear begins to wind its tendrils around me as I don’t see Alex ahead. I hear leaves crunching to my right and I veer that way but my breath hitches and I slam to a halt. I spin around in a circle and instantly my eyes widen. I’m surrounded by… nothing. The lights from the house behind me are nothing but a faint glow. I hadn’t realized I had run this far.

I inhale and all I smell is nature. This place is nothing like Hollow Hills or any of the places I have lived before. It’s quiet and… peaceful. Suddenly I don’t care. I'm alone in this strange place with a serial killer and his four sidekicks. I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up a second before I feel his heat at my back. He doesn’t touch me but he stands close enough to shroud me in his shadow.

“Do you see now?” he asks me quietly.

“See what?” I whisper.

“There is nowhere for you to run, Tatum. Even if I let you go you would never find your way to town. This place can be a prison without having any need for bars on the windows.”

I shake my head as I look out at the night sky. “I don’t see a prison,” I admit.

“What do you see?” The curiosity in his tone is clear and I choose to answer rather than fight him and ruin this moment.

“Freedom,” I say barely above a whisper.

“That’s what she said.” Hurt laces his tone. I turn and face him ready to ask what he means but he silences me when he grabs my hand and drags me after him. A whimper escapes me when I step on something. He stops, then turns to peer down at me. “What happened?”

“I stepped on something,” I mutter. He curses beneath his breath, then suddenly I’m being swung into his arms bridal style. My arms band around his neck on instinct. His scent overwhelms me and I know for sure that whatever this attraction is between us, it isn’t fucking healthy. I’ll admit the first night I saw him in Lividica I was stunned, he’s not like any man I have ever seen before. He is fucking stunning yet he doesn’t walk around with big dick energy. He has no idea how fucking beautiful he is.

“I’ll have Vat bring your bags to my place,” he mumbles. I’m about to ask what that means but then he rounds a bend and suddenly my train of thought derails at the sight of a small cottage nestled in a gully next to a creek. The moon shines enough light on this side for me to make things out. Alex kicks the door open, clearly he doesn’t need to lock it living out here. He places me on my feet then steps away, a moment later I’m bathed in light. It takes a minute for my eyes to adjust, I turn in a circle and marvel at the beauty of this place. It’s all open—the kitchen, the living room and even his bed is all in here. I see a door off to the side and I’m guessing that’s the bathroom, at least you can pee in private then I guess. “What? No smart-ass remark?”

I turn back to face him with a frown. “Huh?” I ask genuinely confused.

He shoots me a deadpan look. “You aren’t going to say you’ll blow mystick housedown?” I cringe and shoot him a sheepish smile.

“I’d much rather blow the straw house down and keep this one, thank you very much.” If my reply shocks him he doesn't show it. I leave him there as I make my way around the tiny space and gaze at the photos that decorate the walls. I can feel his gaze boring into the back of my head but he doesn’t stop me when I reach out and trace my fingers over a picture of him with a beautiful girl. I don’t need him to say it, I know without a doubt that the girl in the photo with him is his sister.

Elenor Denver.

God, she was stunning. She has his eyes. Her long strawberry blonde hair reminds me of Blake Lively’s. He has his arm wrapped around her while she stares up at him with the biggest smile on her face. You can see the love she has for him in her eyes. Suddenly it becomes too painful to look at the picture, I close my eyes and turn away from the image.

Alex moves behind me and I tense in anticipation but when I spot him moving toward the closed door, I frown. He’s really just going to take a shower and leave me out here to dig through his personal items? When the door clicks shut behind him I have my answer. I make my way to the kitchen and check the fridge, nearly crying at the sight. I grab everything I need to make a sandwich.

I decide to be gracious and make the Aztec god one as well. I carry our plates over to the bed and sit down, tucking my legs beneath me and resting my plate in my lap. My stomach growls. I collect the sandwich and my mouth waters as the scent of turkey hits me. I open my mouth to take a bite but freeze when the door opens and Alex steps out wearing nothing but a white towel wrapped around his waist.

My mouth is watering for an entirely different reason now.

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