Reign (Sin City Outlaws #1)(72)

Felix sighs and pulls a phone from his pocket. I can tell Felix doesn’t like me. The way he glares at me, his lip curling every time Zeek is near me. Well, the feeling is mutual, buddy.

Zeek grabs a tissue from the shelf and dabs at my neck. Pain shoots up my jaw, and I hiss.

“Dr. Stein is on his way.”

Taking the tissue from him, I nod and sit back on the couch.

Felix and Zeek head back into the kitchen, but Mac sits next to me. Glancing at him from the corner of my eye, he’s got this pretty boy look to him. He seems so out of place with Zeek and the rest of his brothers. Mac looks like he should be on the front of a clothing magazine or something.

“I can see why he likes you.”

“Excuse me?” I turn my head, looking at him full-on.

“You’re hot. Got this angelic thing about you. Being next to you, I just want to take that halo and set it on fire.”

Swallowing hard, I pull on my shirt nervously. How the hell did I get to this point, the place where a bunch of bloodthirsty criminals are in my house and a body in my kitchen?

“Mac, you hitting on my girl?” Quickly, we both look behind us.

“Nah. I was just playing nice.” His voice comes off eerie, laced with a touch of psycho. I see now how he fits into the Sin City Outlaws.

“Get your ass in here, and away from her.”

Mac looks back at me, the smile I thought was genuine now creepy.

“Gotta follow orders.”

Minutes pass—fifteen, maybe, but I can’t be sure—before Machete steps back into my house, humming. My eyes widen when I see a large machete over his shoulder, and I look at Zeek.

“Zeek, I was joking about you hacking him up in my tub!”

“Oh, do you want us to do it in the tub? If we keep it in the kitchen, it’s easier to clean up. We won’t have to wipe the evidence from both rooms that way,” Machete explains casually. Eyes wide, I slide them toward Zeek. What. The. Fuck?

Fear wracks my body to the point my hands begin to tremble.

“This, this is the guy everyone talks about. The ruthless, bloodthirsty outlaw. The one everyone fears, but I… I seemed to see straight through that and see the good in you,” I whisper, my fingers clenching my hoodie.

“Go ahead, boys.” Zeek steps around the couch and grabs my shoulders.

“That’s where you f*cked up, Jillian. Every wolf has bite. Don’t be blinded by my kindness. I’m no choir boy, and never will be.”

Cupping my chin roughly, he kisses it.

“Now, I’ve got a mess to clean up.”

Sitting on the couch, I pet Jinx, wondering what the hell I’m thinking.

My mind drifts to what’s going on in my kitchen.

I should run.

I should pass out in terror.

I should be disgusted with Zeek.

But I don’t, and I’m not. Because I love him, and love is blind. My heart beats wildly, the rest of my body warming as hot as my cheeks when I realize I just silently said I loved Zeek. Raising my hand, I rub at my chest, rising and falling rapidly as my breathing becomes harsh. I love Zeek, a killer, a ruthless animal. One who is just in the other room chopping up a body, covered head to toe in someone else’s blood. That is the man I fell in love with.

“Here, you might want this.” Looking up, Machete places a glass of wine on my coffee table. His hair is so red, his stubble matching.

He sits next to me, taking me by surprise.

“I’m guessing this kind of thing is new to you?”

Accepting the glass, I take a large sip, swallowing my feelings and thoughts. Love, shock, fear.

Looking over the rim of the glass, Machete stares at me, waiting for a response.

“You could say that. I’m used to dead bodies, but dead ones in my kitchen? That’s a new one.”

“He’s rough around the edges, but he must feel something deep for you. ‘Cause he wouldn’t be with you, otherwise.”

I take another sip, not sure what to say.

“He saved me. Gave me a home when I didn’t have one. Well, I had one. I had in-laws of that cheating cunt. They didn’t count, though. I didn’t see what I was missing out on until Zeek found me.” He pats my back, and I still. “Don’t hurt him.” His words come out rough, his eyes narrowed with a dark promise that if I f*ck up, I’ll pay. My lungs cease to function.

“Anyway…” He looks at the TV, nodding toward it. “You might want to turn that on.” His tone is back to nice and casual.

I don’t move.

I watch as he flips my TV on and steps toward the kitchen.

“Nice chat.”

During the next thirty minutes, I can hear sounds I’ll never get out of my head. Sounds I’d only heard in scary movies, ones that seemed very much accurate, till now.

The way a blade hacks into bone. It’s something that will haunt me forever.

I down my glass of wine and quickly ask Zeek for another.

“Here, take the bottle.” He places it on the table, his hand in a tight latex glove, with blood smeared from his fingertips to his elbow.

I nod, and don’t look up any further.

The boys carry duffle bags out of the kitchen. Moments, later the smell of bleach strong.

Me? I’m well on my way to drunk, my sanity out the f*cking window.