Page 70 of Cursed to Be Mine
“Or that Hannah was fucking him,” Vlad says.
I flinch on Derek’s behalf, but his face doesn’t twitch a muscle.
“Or that.”
The uniformed officer who guided Derek down here clears his throat. It doesn’t do anything to cut throughthe tension.
“The body is just through here,” he says, opening the door the three of us just exited.
My eyes flicker between Derek and Vlad, my breath held in my lungs as I wait for something to happen. For a long moment, nothing does. Then Derek heads for the door, and I exhale hard.
Although I don’t know Derek well, the look he gave Vlad has shaken me. He looked at him like he was vermin, a monster not to be trusted.
My stomach drops as I glance at the thick-muscled man whose arms look as big as my head.Is he a sup?
Am I in danger even inside a police station? Have I just painted Khalid as a target by bringing him here?
My pulse rises in sharp tempo as I struggle not to give anything away. Is he the one who killed Ma and Daniel? I try to picture the werewolves from last night, but the only one who shifted into a human form was the man on the hood of the car, and Vlad is definitely not him. His nose is too wide, his jaw too square. But maybe he’s that big gray wolf who stood behind him?
I shiver, goosebumps breaking out across my arms.
“Let’s get you out of here,” Khalid says as he takes my hand. “You need to rest.”
But I don’t want to go home. “Where –”
The door opens and Derek steps out. His face is slightly paler, and I know without a doubt, it is his son on that other slab.
My shitty ex-boyfriend.
Who died probably banging my ma.
Derek looks at me, and there’s something in his gaze that makes me step towards him. Before, I was scared of him. Now, I want his darkness, his strength…
“Can I go with you?” I ask, my voice a quiver.
Khalid’s fingers tighten on my hand, but I tug my arm away. Thankfully, he doesn’t cause a scene, letting me go easily.
But I can feel his desire to grab me again as if it’s my own. I shake the imaginary feeling away. I might like him a lot more than Derek, but Derek’s house isn’t next to Ma’s and he can teach me things Khalid can’t.
Maybe he can even protect me…
“Scarlett,” Khalid says. “Come with me. I’ll introduce you to my brothers.”
I look at him, wanting to say yes, but all that will do is put everyone in danger. They’ll just be more victims for the wolves.
“I can’t right now,” I say strongly. “But I have your number…” I trail off, not wanting to lie and say I’ll call. Even if my mere proximity didn’t put him in danger, how can I ever go back to normality?
And any therapist would tell me, jumping into a new relationship this soon after so much trauma… That would not be fair on Khalid.
I look at him, studying his face, wishing like Hell, today was yesterday. He steps closer, completely ignoring the crowded hall of people staring at us.
“Youcall,” he says softly, his words a near order. “If you needanything, you call.”
A phone vibrates somewhere, and I’m vaguely aware of the other people checking their pockets, but Khalid never takes his eyes off me. He cups my cheek, and I’m getting addicted to the feel of his palm on my face.
“Call me,kira,” he murmurs as he places his forehead on mine.
I look into his eyes, trying to memorize everything about him. Tears burn in my throat as I realize I mightnot see him again for a long time, if ever. The wolves might kill me. Or it might never be safe for me to be around him.
