Page 66 of The Black Lotus
I make the mistake of turning around to see where he’s at. Aster stands at the top, holding the boot I threw at him, a crazed look in his eyes.
“Did you throw a boot at my head, Serena?”
My eyes widen. “Nope. Wasn’t me.”
“Oh, really?” He takes one step down, and I want to run but his looming presence keeps me rooted to the spot.Run, Serena. Move your feet!“It sure looked like you.” Another step, slow and calculating. “But my vixen would never dare do something so childish.”
“Never,” I whisper, fighting a smile.
Two more steps and he inches closer, my feet still refusing to move from where they're glued. I feel like a deer caught in headlights and Aster is the light I fear will be the reason I meet my maker. Maybe, I can’t move because I want to get caught. Maybe, I want to be punished and this is my body's way of telling me. Maybe, I do want to be fucked into oblivion, again.
A few more steps and he’s standing right in front of me, his gaze one of a predator daring their prey, and even as every bone in my body screams at me to run I can’t. My chest rises and falls as my breath catches in my throat, his energy sucking all the oxygen out of the room as I wait to see if my body will listen to my brain and run.
“Do you know what happens to vixens who hurt their foxes?” he asks with a daring smirk.
I nod, knowing the answer, but not wanting to say it.
“Use your voice and tell me.”
I swallow, lifting my chin with a confidence I don’t feel. “They’re punished.”
“That they are. Do you knowhowthey’re punished.”
“Yes,” I breathe.
Aster steps even closer. “Are you sure about that?”
I bite my lip, forcing myself to stay in the power of this orbit. The first time it was anal, which I’ve come to enjoy, and the last time was something I never want to go through again. I have no idea what he has in store.
One word leaves his lips.“Run.”
Obeying immediately, I turn and run towards the front door, swinging it open, only to run square into a hard chest and fall backwards onto my ass.
When I look up, I see Aster stands in front of me, the muscles in his back more tense than they’ve ever been, and the face I’ve seen on tv too many times stands ominously at our door.
Deputy Wiley.
THIRTY-SEVEN
SERENA
What is Deputy Wiley doing here?Aster offers me his hand, and I easily rise to stand next to him as I place my trembling hands behind my back.
“Afternoon. Ms. Raven, can we speak in private please?”
Aster places his arm across me in a protective stance, his body taut and his senses on high. “What is this regarding?” Aster asks, not happy to have a cop at our home.
Deputy Wiley glances at me as if asking permission. “This is regarding the disappearance of Tyler and Bradley.”
I stop breathing, the blood draining from my face before I’m able to regain my composure as to not give anything away.Was there more evidence pointing to me as the killer?
“Anything you have to ask can be said in front of Aster.” I state plainly interlocking my fingers with his. “Please, come in.” Aster tenses beside me, clearly not keen on the invitation.
He dips his head not giving anything away as he walks past us into the living room. Aster squeezes my hand in reassurance as we follow behind him. My heart races a mile a minute and my hands so sweaty I’m worried I’m going to slip out of Aster’s hold.I need to do something to get rid of this nervous energy,but showing any sign of distress can give me away, so I sit next to Aster and wait for the deputy to start talking.
“We have found new evidence which points to you,” he looks at me, “since you were the last person to be seen with Bradley.”
What do I say in this situation?Yes, I was the last person, then I took him back here to have Aster watch me kill him before we made love under the stars covered in his blood.I can’t say that, but if they have evidence or a witness, then I can’t lie.
