Fractured (Deep In Your Veins, #5)(71)

“Who injected me with the serum?”

Marco turned to face her. “What makes you think I know who it was?”

She arched a brow. “Don’t you?”

“In my opinion, it can only be one of two people. I’ll find out which one.”

When he and his consorts moved to Ian, Imani demanded, “What two people, Marco?”

His face softened with what looked like sympathy. “Good people can do bad things sometimes—not just because they have the potential to do bad things like everyone else, but because they’ve found a way to justify it to themselves. Like someone who steals from their sibling, telling themselves it was okay because their sibling owed them in some sense.”

She growled. “What are you getting at?”

“You’re smart, Imani. You’ll work it out. But don’t worry—by then, they’ll be dead.”

At Jared’s nod, Ian teleported the three vampires out of The Hollow.

I rubbed Imani’s back, trying to ease the tension from her body. “He wouldn’t have told you, baby. He wants to be the one to punish them. He might not even know anything—he could be just trying to f*ck with your head.”

“I know,” she sighed. “But it’s not his right to punish whoever it was.”

“In his warped mind, it is,” said Jared. “With any luck, we’ll get to them before he does.”

She released a calming breath. “Right now, it isn’t the priority. We have The Order to destroy and dragon shifters to fight.”

Sam patted her arm. “Go home, get some rest. Things are going to be hectic at dusk when we get ready for the invasion.”

Nodding, Imani leaned into me as I slid my arm around her shoulders and began to guide her out of the mansion.




(Imani)



The whole thing was a little like an adrenalin crash. I’d gone down to those cells with anticipation flooding every part of me, thinking I’d finally get my answers; finally get my chance at vengeance. Or, more specifically, I’d stand back while Butch got it on my behalf. I didn’t mind giving him that, because I knew how much he still blamed himself for my being hurt. I thought that if he could get vengeance for me, it might make all that unfounded guilt fizzle away.

When Ryder revealed the three were innocent, the anticipation pouring through me came to an abrupt halt. Then the emotion left me completely. At first, I hadn’t felt anything. Not anger, not a sense of injustice, nothing.

Maybe it was the shock, or maybe I just hadn’t known how to feel. But by the time Marco was leaving his cell, I’d felt my mad coming on. And the bastard hadn’t even shared the names of the people he suspected, like he hadn’t owed me that at the very least.

Closing the apartment door behind us, Butch pulled me against him and pressed a light kiss to my mouth. “I’m sorry you don’t have your answers, baby.”

I curled my arms loosely around his neck. “You don’t have to bottle up your anger, you know.” That was what he was doing in an effort to not feed my own.

“I don’t want to spend the rest of tonight pissed and stewing on things outside of our control.”

“Me neither. And I don’t want to spend it thinking about what’s coming, or about how bad things are going to get. I just want time with you.” He could make me forget.

“I have no issue with that at all.” Sliding his hands in my hair, he kissed me. Hard. Deep. Exactly how I hoped he intended to f*ck me in, say, the next two minutes. Still kissing me, he backed me into the bedroom while his skilled hands roamed and teased. Abruptly, he released me and stepped back; his gaze expectant. Knowing what he wanted, I slowly stripped until I was completely naked.

He pulled off his shirt, but he didn’t shed the rest of his clothes. Instead, he circled me. Like a predator circling its prey and admiring the sight. Pausing behind me, he kissed my shoulder. “Perfect. Mine.” With a nip to my earlobe, he walked to stand in front of me. “On your knees.”

My eyes flew to his hands as they tackled his fly. His cock sprang out—long, thick, and full.

“Now, Imani.” His authoritative tone made my stomach clench. I dropped to my knees, and his dark eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

He tapped my cheek with his cock as his hand fisted in my hair. “Open up, baby. Good girl.” His grip on my hair held me still as he fed me inch after inch of his cock. His thrusts were sure, bold, and dominant. The thumb of his free hand traced the curves of my mouth. “Fucking beautiful.”

Sucking harder, I swirled my tongue around him. He growled. So I did it again. Tightening his hold on my hair, he f*cked my mouth. Hard. Rough. Inwardly, I smiled. I wanted him to lose control, to let go.

“Swallow it, Imani.” That was the only warning he gave me before he thrust deep and came with a low growl, eyes holding tight to mine.

I’d no sooner let him slip from my mouth than he scooped me up, kissed my forehead, and flung me on the bed. Then his mouth was on me, licking between my folds and stabbing his tongue inside me. He was as good with his mouth as he was with his hands, so I didn’t last long. My back arched as bliss crashed over me, leaving me a shuddering mess.

He crawled onto the bed and draped himself over me, eyes once again glittering with satisfaction. I thought he’d kiss me. Instead, he licked his mouth clean. “Tastes too good to share.”