Page 80 of Property of Necro
My mother was deaf, I reply.
Something passes over the half of Necro’s face I can see. Tears well in his eyes, and a violent shiver ripples through him as little goosebumps sprout all over his blood-cloaked form.
Sighing, he sits back on the man’s thighs, and his shoulders sag as if the weight he’s been bearing for ages no longer exists.I have so much I want to tell you.
My stupid, mixed-up little heart gives a hopeful thump. It’s nice to hear from him for once. Seeing his words directed at me, not someone else, I didn’t realize how lonely it was to spend months around him, without ever getting to talk. Apart from the few bits and pieces I’ve picked up over time, I don’t really know a whole lot about him. Considering my reason for being here, I figured he didn’t want me to.
Playing it cool, I force myself not to smile. “I’m happy to listen,” I say aloud.
With a simple dip of his masked chin, he nods, gaze locked on mine.
The heavy door to the room opens. Rot steps inside before Coffin fills the frame, curving his fingers over the top edge, legs spread wide, a clear outline of arousal in his pants.
“Come on, Prez. Let’s get you showered.” Rot waves for Necro to get off the corpse.
Glaring up at his brother, Necro flips him off.
“Yeah. I know you’re pissed at us.”
Necro swings his attention to me. It softens around the edges.Meet me in my bedroom. Please.
“Your bedroom?” I ask, shock evident in my voice.
Next to yours. I left the door unlocked.
Twisting my hands in front of me, I nod.
“I’ll show you how to get there,” Coffin offers, and a strange, raspy-broken growl rumbles in Necro’s throat.
No,his prez signs.Creature can take her.
“No offense, brother, but nobody is takin’ our woman anywhere ‘cept one of us,” Coffin argues, gesturing to the three of them and refusing to move out of the doorway for me to slip past.
“I’m sure I can figure it out on my own,” I offer. It’s not like I haven’t navigated plenty of these halls before. How hard could it be?
All three of them shake their heads.
“Fuck no,” Coffin grumbles, gripping the top of the doorframe harder, accentuating all those muscles.
“Over my dead body,” Rot comments, nostrils flaring.
It’s not safe,Necro throws out as he gets off the corpse.
S.O.U.L., that’s what he carved across the man’s stomach—My Soul.
Hmmm. Interesting.
“How about we all go to Necro’s room together? I know I could use a shower.” I throw my arms out wide so they can get a good look at how much blood there is. Without having a mirror to confirm, I’m gonna say I look a lot likeCarriein that movie by Stephen King. This might be normal for them, but it’s not for me. I need to wash every microscopic dot of dead skinhead off my body ASAP. “We can talk there,” I suggest, walking up to Coffin. Not waiting for their answer, I rub my palms up and down his tight, washboard abs as I tilt my head back to look him in the face.
“Please let me shower. I need to shower now. You guyscan fight and argue later. Okay. Now move.” My voice is sickeningly sweet as I push the middle of his stomach, hoping he’ll get out of my way.
The big man doesn’t move a single inch, and the hard set of his jaw says he’s not going to. Staring down at me, Coffin’s nostrils flare as he gives me a slow once-over that has his lips pressing into a thin line.
“Why don’t I carry you?” Rot offers, slipping up behind me and pressing his warm chest against my back.
I peek at him over my shoulder. “You want to carry me all the way to the other side of the church?” That’s sweet but also insane. I’m not exactly light.
“It’s not that far from here if we take the tunnels. They’re unfinished, and I don’t want your feet to get messed up.”
