Page 29 of The Devil's Bargain
“We’re going to start meeting more regularly,” Calix chattered on, completely oblivious to Titus’s darkening thoughts, despite the link being open between them. “I can’t remember the last time I had a real friend who wanted to do things and chat. Maybe coming back here wasn’t so bad after all.”
“Absolutely not.” Titus dragged Calix toward the stairs and then up to the second level, storming straight to the room they’d kept the detective in—the one he’d insisted on keeping when they’d returned—and into the bathroom.
Maintaining a death grip on his arm, Titus slammed and locked the door and then pulled him to the tub, flicking the faucets on, testing to be sure the spray was as hot as it could be without fear of causing actual harm. Once he was satisfied, he stripped Cal of his clothing, annoyed by how much more difficult the task was due to his drunken state.
“No more drinking,” he stated. “From now on, you’re forbidden.”
Calix scowled. “You can’t—”
“You won’t be meeting with that boy again either.”
“That…boy?” He struggled against Titus’s hold for the first time, but was no match for him. “Thatboyis the same age as I am.”
Titus lifted him and dropped him into the tub, pressing his shoulders down until he was seated and the water was up past his waist.
“Mother fucker!” Cal clawed at him. “It’s fucking boiling!”
“Don’t be so dramatic. It’s hot. But it’s not even close to boiling. Like I would risk your perfect skin.”
“When you’re this angry?!” he yelled. “I wouldn’t put it past you!”
“Oh,” Titus captured his nape and hauled him forward, their noses practically touching, “so you are aware how cross I am with you right now?”
Calix braced himself against the lip of the tub, but the water had done the trick, and there was a lot more clarity in his gaze than there’d been even a moment before. He swallowed, voice steadying. “Mercy, please. It’s hot. Let me out.”
“Not until I’m positive we’ve cleaned the filth off of you.”
“Filth?”
“Where did he touch you?” Titus’s gaze roamed over his naked form, only growing angrier by the second. “Did he see you like this? Has he seen you like this in the past?”
How foolish not to have considered as much prior.
“We went to school together,” Calix tentatively said, as though he’d rather not, but knew better than to try and get away with a lie. “I told you about it.”
Right. He had. He’d mentioned how Nero had discovered the things Sister Grace had done to him because he’d seen some of the marks.
In gym class.
While changing.
“Forget his spine. I’m going to tear out his eyes.” That wouldn’t solve the problem though, not really. Nero already had images of Calix seared in his memory, after all.
Brain dead?
He could do that. Killing him outright would draw too much attention, and they’d only just escaped being connected to the murders, not to mention the fact that Amory’s death was still unknown.
But even if murder was out, that didn’t make him entirely powerless. Titus could easily turn Nero into a vegetable. Could—
“Stop,” Calix’s trembling voice caught his attention. “I don’t like this.”
Had he felt the darkness through the bond?
Yes, that must be it, because now that Titus was aware of it, he could feel Aodhan’s responding worry. It was rare for him to completely lose his cool. The doctor’s concern held merit.
Titus shoved Cal roughly away, ignoring the splash of steaming water that doused his front in the process, and stood, sending off a quick explanation to Aodhan before he removed his multi-slate and tossed it onto the counter.
“…Mercy…” Calix’s eyes went wide, gaze dropping to his hands as Titus began to unbuckle his pants.
