Page 28 of In the Monster's Wake
“I can’t.I don’t know anything else, and if he finds out I talked to you, he’ll kill me like he killed Cherry.”Harold licked his lips.“I was there.I ran when I realized it was him.”
So Harold wasn’t a killer, just a coward who’d abandoned his ex-girlfriend when she needed him the most.Archibald wasn’t surprised, just like he wasn’t surprised that apparently, Harold had been following Cherry and her new boyfriend, possibly stalking them or maybe thinking of attacking them.
Archibald slammed Harold against the wall one last time, then dropped him.Harold stumbled and fell on his ass.He quickly scrambled back, his eyes wide as he stared at Archibald.Archibald didn’t look back at him.He turned to Jasper, who was still silent and hadn’t reacted to what Harold had said.“I don’t think we’ll get anything else from him.”
Jasper nodded and turned.Archibald made to follow him, but he stopped and leaned down so that Harold would hear him.“If I find out you hurt anyone else, you won’t like what happens to you.”
Harold quickly nodded.“I promise I won’t.”
Archibald patted his head.“Be a good boy, Harold.”
Harold frowned.“Who’s Harold?”
Archibald followed Jasper back to the car.They didn’t have anything new.He wasn’t surprised because he hadn’t really thought that Harold was involved in Cherry’s death, but at least now, they knew for sure.
He slid into his seat and waited for Jasper to close his door.He flexed his hands on the steering wheel, wondering what was next.He also wondered why Jasper hadn’t reacted to anything he’d done.“You didn’t tell me not to hurt him,” he commented.
“Considering what he did to Cherry, I wouldn’t have cared if you’d hurt him.He might not have killed her, but he abused her.”
“I’m surprised.Humans don’t usually feel that way.They don’t like when people get hurt.”
“I was a hunter for years.I met enough monsters and humans to know that some of them don’t deserve anything but violence.Besides, hunters aren’t good people.We think nothing of hurting monsters, even those who haven’t done anything.No matter what hunters and my father tell themselves, they’re not any better than monsters.”
Archibald wasn’t sure what to say.Jasper wasn’t wrong, but it was the first time a hunter admitted that to Archibald.
It made him like Jasper even more, which he definitely hadn’t needed.
* * * *
JASPER WISHED HE KNEWwhat Archie was thinking.He was probably wondering what came next for them, or maybe thinking about what had happened with Cherry’s ex.
Jasper truly didn’t care.A lot of hunters thought themselves better than everyone, especially monsters because they weren’t human, but deep inside, hunters were assholes.They didn’t think anything of hurting people who didn’t deserve it just because they belonged to a different species.Hunters weren’t better than anyone, not even monsters.Most of the hunters Jasper had worked with were no better than bullies who took advantage of their power to hurt vulnerable people.
Jasper was surprised at how easy it was to work with Archie.It almost felt like he was back with the hunters and working with Corey and Kerry.He trusted Archie the way he trusted them.It didn’t make sense, but it was true.He knew that Archie wouldn’t hurt him.
Hell, he liked the monster, and he couldn’t stop thinking about kissing him again.Would it be a bad thing?Well, it depended on who he asked.His father would agree that it would be, but Jasper?He couldn’t wait to taste Archie again.
He was sorry when Archie parked the car in front of the office.It meant their time together was almost over.He needed to go home before Corey and Kerry started getting worried.He hadn’t left them a note or texted them, which he usually did when he left the apartment.
He slid out of the car and moved toward his.He turned to say goodbye and was surprised to see that Archie had followed him closely.For a moment, they stared at each other.Jasper wasn’t sure if he would regret it, but he reached for Archie, grabbed his jacket, and pulled him close.He pressed their lips together, smiling when Archie leaned into him instantly.
This kiss wasn’t like the last one they shared.It was softer, but it felt just as good—if not better.Knowing it was coming meant that Jasper could enjoy it much more.
When Archie’s arms slid around Jasper’s waist, Jasper broke the kiss and took a step back.Archie blinked at him and reached for him, but Jasper didn’t let him touch him.He smiled at him and turned toward his car, waving over his shoulder.“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You’re going to leave me like this?”Archie called out.
“Think of me tonight.”
Archie laughed.“Oh, I will.”
That was what Jasper had wanted.He smiled as he slid into his car and drove off.Archie was still there, watching him as he drove by.He didn’t wave, but Jasper could feel his gaze on him.
He had no idea what he was doing with Archie, but did he have to know?Wasn’t it good enough that he liked Archie, and Archie liked him?They weren’t in a rush.Jasper wanted Archie, but he could take his time—not too much time, but enough to enjoy himself.
He was still thinking about Archie and how kissing him felt when he parked in front of his building.That was the only explanation he had for not realizing right away that someone was watching him.He was almost at the door when he felt eyes on him.He paused.He didn’t look around.He was pretty sure that even if he did, he wouldn’t see anything, and it might push his watcher to do something.
Kester was too smart to allow Jasper to see him, anyway.
