Iniquitous (The Marked #3)(26)

“And what exactly are you cautioning me about? What the hell are you going to do to me that hasn’t already been done, huh?”

The tension in the air was so thick, you could cut it with a knife.

His eyes climbed back up to mine. “Put down your weapon, angel. I’m on your side,” he said quietly, like a secret he didn’t want anyone else knowing.

Even though my heart was still racing and my adrenaline was pumping hard under my skin, his words had still registered. He was on my side. Right now, he was the only one risking everything to help me get out of here.

I pulled my wrist free and took a step back, gathering my bearings, pulling myself back together again.

“You’re right, I’m sorry,” I said, though the words were heavy on my tongue. I may have been out of line earlier, but so was he. “I’m just so sick of everyone telling me what’s best for me.” I looked up at him to make sure he was hearing me. “I’m not as fragile as you think I am, Dominic. I can handle the truth and I can take care of myself. I’ve managed to stay alive up until this point, haven’t I? Even with everyone lying to me and using me as collateral in their own twisted games.”

He didn’t say anything, but I could tell he knew exactly what I was talking about. After all, once upon a time, that list included his name.

“If you want to help me get out of here then please, be my guest,” I continued. “I’m not so stupid that I’d turn down a helping hand. But if you’re going to play games with my life and take it upon yourself to decide what I should or shouldn’t know, then don’t even bother. Because I don’t need that kind of help anymore. Are you reading me?”

He smiled at me. “Loud and clear, angel. Loud and clear.”

“Good. Now, how long do we have until Engel’s little witches get here?”

He glanced at the wall clock behind my head. “A little over two hours.”

I nodded confidently, though I could feel my pulse quicken as the sobering reality began to set in. “We need to go over the plan again.”

“We’ve already gone over it a hundred times,” he pointed out.

“Then we’ll go over it a hundred-and-one times.”

A smile teased the corner of his lips. “Have I ever told you how sexy you look when you take charge?” He stepped into me, immediately filling up my personal space with his sidetracking cologne and pheromones.

“You may have mentioned it.” My stomach fluttered at his nearness, but I forced myself to ignore it. I had to stay focused. No matter how good and distracting the Angel of Death looked before me.

He made a growling noise at the back of his throat as he continued to categorize my features with his eyes. “Not nearly enough, I’m sure.”

“Stick to the plan, Dominic.”

“I’m trying to, angel.”

“Excuse me, Mr. Huntington,” interrupted a small voice at the door.

I turned to see a petite woman standing at the entrance of the library. Her dark hair was pulled into a coil and she was wearing a black dress with a white apron. It looked like a Halloween ‘Maid’ costume, minus the skank.

“Yes, Nora?” answered Dominic, his eyes never straying from mine.

“Miss Blackburn’s bath has been run and her dress has been steam pressed. Everything is ready for her.”

“Thank you, Nora.”

She nodded and exited the room as quietly as she came in.

His lips twitched into a devious smile. “Looks like it’s show time, angel.”

I pulled in a haggard breath, and nodded.

Time to take this freak show on the road.





11. BLOOD IN, BLOOD OUT


I had a little less than two hours to get myself ready for this evening’s main event, though I was only planning on using a quarter of that to make sure I had more than enough time to take out Engel and get the heck out of Dodge. And hopefully, that was long before the Dark Casters arrived to further complicate my life. I wasn’t sure who they were or what they were coming for, and I had absolutely no desire to find out either.

Standing in front of the bathroom sink, I looked up and caught my reflection. I hardly recognized the girl staring back at me. My body looked weathered and my skin was sickly and pale. I couldn’t remember my eyes looking so tired before, almost as though the light in them had disappeared. I wondered if I’d ever be able to recognize my own reflection again…. if I’d ever really feel like myself again.

I rubbed my sweaty palms against the towel that was wrapped around my body and pulled in a deep breath, but it wasn’t nearly enough to steady the tremors vibrating my entire body.

“You can do this,” I whispered to myself in the mirror, hearing his words in my ears. “You’re stronger than you think.”

The door opened behind me and Dominic walked in carrying the emerald dress I was supposed to be wearing tonight.

“How exactly am I supposed to fight in that thing?” I asked him, eyeballing the dress like a ball and chain.

“Like a lady, I presume.”

I shot him a nasty look. “You’re a riot.”

He laughed and handed me a black tank top and some sort of booty-slash-bicycle shorts. “Slip these under.”

I picked up the skimpy garments and made another face at him. “Seriously?”