Monstrous Intent, page 6
I grab his chin in my hand, locking eyes with him. “Firstly, I don’t need any help looking after my ass, and secondly, it wouldn’t be my ass you’d have.”
Lake’s grin widens as he gives me a wink. “Sounds like a date. Don’t let your stubbornness get you killed.”
“You look awfully chipper for having lost half of your body’s blood yesterday.”
“What can I say, I’m an overachiever.”
“Yeah,” I say as I shove him toward the door. “Tell Jameson to fuck himself.”
“I will. Dinner tonight?”
“Absolutely not.”
“I’ll see you at seven.”
“Please don’t.”
“I like human the most… I meant hummus. Sorry,” he says as he heads through the front door.
“Sure you did.”
I slam the door shut behind him and switch the lock into place.
What the hell does he mean that something is drawing them here? Then again… two monsters this week alone… and that doesn’t account for the ones I haven’t personally dealt with.
I can’t get dragged back into this shit. I can’t deal with that group again. With Jameson’s calculating decisions. With any of it.
Feeling irritated beyond reason, I sit down at my table and pull out my phone before calling Officer Riley.
“Dear god, not another one,” Riley answers.
“No. Has there been an uprise in attacks?”
“There has been. We’ve been having to rely on DRD for help. We’re not quite sure what the sudden fluctuation in the city is from, but last night was the first level four we’ve witnessed in five years. Are you… getting back in the game?”
“No, I’m not, but Jameson wants to drag me into it.”
“Ah, good luck with that.”
“Send me a list of all of the attacks,” I say.
“You don’t work for DRD anymore. Ask Jameson for the list if you join up again.”
That just sours me. “What do you know about Lake? He works at the DRD.”
“Not much, really. Seems quite knowledgeable and has been a good help on a few of our run-ins. He’s worked with our medical examiners a few times.”
Clearly, she met a different Lake.
“You don’t find him… strange? Does he set anything off in you?” I ask. Humans generally fear monsters even if they’re doing their best to hide in plain sight, but don’t people fear Lake?
“Um… no? Like serial killer vibes or something?”
“Never mind,” I say before hanging up without a goodbye. I’m just irritated about the whole thing.
Hell, I feel like I’m in such a horrible mindset since Patrick busted back into my life. Before that, I’d managed to slow down. I’d managed to calm my life and learn how to be kind and caring and take care of people other than myself. And the moment I found myself back at the DRD, it was like I reverted back to my old self.
But what Lake said won’t get out of my mind. What if there is something going on? Would I have to give up this new life I’ve built for it?
* * *
Even though school is out for the summer, it doesn’t mean that I don’t have to go in to finalize some stuff and prepare for next year, so once I’m sure Lake is gone and I have my mind back to focusing on normal things, I head out.
As I walk into the school, I immediately feel at peace. This is where I learned how to live a quiet life. It reminds me that I don’t have to always live life on the edge, waiting for something to come and kill me.
Settling behind my desk, I turn the computer on and scroll through my emails, checking for anything I might have missed out on, which really isn’t much beyond a retirement party for a teacher I will never go to. Once I have emails done, I start going through the papers on my desk when Principal Whitt comes in.
“Morning,” I say as I toss the papers I no longer need into the recycling bin.
“Declan, we need to talk,” she says as she nods for me to follow her.
“Something wrong?” I ask.
She glances over at me as we head down the hallway, but from her body language alone, I can tell something’s wrong. She opens her mouth before closing it and heading into the meeting room where some of the board members, including the superintendent, are waiting. She beckons for me to sit before sitting beside me.
“What’s going on?” I ask, feeling uneasy. I haven’t done anything wrong and have been on my best behavior.
“We’re sorry to inform you that we have to let you go. Thank you for your work this past year—” the superintendent says.
Why am I not even surprised? “I have a contract, what are you talking about?” I ask.
“We were made aware of your previous position and feel that our parents would not be comfortable with their children in your care,” the superintendent says.
“Excuse me? My past job was not illegal. You’re firing me because of my position keeping people alive? So if a detective decided to become a teacher, you’d fire them too? That doesn’t even make sense. Are they forcing you to fire me?” I ask.
The superintendent looks away, so I turn my attention to Principal Whitt who gives me a warm smile. “You’ve exceeded my expectations, Declan, but we are being forced to let you go.”
“They’re forcing you to do this? Is it DRD? The state? They’re trying to drive me away from this because they want to pull me back into that… I won’t do it, and I would hope that you would fight to keep me on—”
“Declan, we have no choice. We rely on the state’s funding. If we were to fight this, the whole school district would suffer. You have to understand our position in this,” Principal Whitt says.
Anger courses through me because of course Jameson could do this. He has ties in the state that go beyond what I could even fathom. And still… why would I ever assume that when he let me leave, he didn’t have ways of pulling me back in?
“Please… keep my position open for me. I will be back,” I say as I stand up and head for the door. I will kill Jameson if that’s what it takes. I will make him regret ever messing with me and my life because that is what he does every time he wants to get his way.
When he wants something, he drives a wedge between me and everything in my life until there’s nothing left but what he’s offering me. Until I break down, getting drawn back into that world that holds nothing good for me. But not this time. He can’t fuck with my life anymore.
Anger drives me all the way to DRD, but when I reach the door, I find myself staring at it while wondering if it’s even worth it. What if I go through those doors and can’t come back out again? What if I’d be better just leaving the city… hell, leaving the state. Would they find me?
I bet they would.
What if they’re right and people are dying that I could save? I could keep them safe and I’m choosing to be a fucking schoolteacher?
But what about me? Aren’t there others that can just toss their lives away? Why only me?
The door swings open so fast it bashes me in the face.
“Hell,” I yell as I stumble back while my eyes water.
“Whoopsies,” Lake says as he sees me. “Aww! Did you come to visit me? I feel so special,” he says as he beams at me. “Did you bring me flowers? I don’t see flowers… I mean, I’ll settle for some chocolates or even a big hug with a steamy kiss—”
“I came to murder Jameson.”
He doesn’t even appear too surprised by this. “Oh… I mean… not really my idea of a date, but you do you, boo,” Lake says as he holds open the door and waves me on in.
Still, I continue to stand there until he leans against the doorframe. “Something bothering you?”
“He got me fired.”
“Well, that was a dick move. Want me to yell at him for you?”
“I can fight my own battles.”
“Uh… huh because currently, it seems like you’re struggling to even walk in, but maybe you just enjoy seeing my face and were excited to see me earlier than our seven o’clock date?”
“I’m not seeing you at seven.”
“You’re right, it is a bit late for old folk like us. Six sounds better. Your house, of course. I’ll bring the food,” he says.
I growl at him, and I’m not sure if it’s my irritation at Jameson or knowing that if I remain out here any longer Lake will try to drag me into something else stupid, because I head through the door. Lake inputs the code to the second door, blatantly letting me see it, before heading inside.
“I thought you were going out,” I say.
“Nah, I just knew I’d get to see your beaming face on the other side of the door and boy did it beam when you saw me! Just… lit up my whole day,” he says as I question at what point did I “beam.” Was it after he tried breaking my nose or before?
Wait… no, my real question would be how he knew I was on the other side of the door. Does he have access to the cameras? Is Jameson watching me be an idiot as well?
Lake reaches over and runs a single finger down my chest. “Don’t forget that when you have something others want, you are in control,” he says.
“I don’t seem to be in control of this situation between us,” I say.
“That’s because I’m what you want, making me in control, baby,” he says as he blows me a kiss before heading toward the elevator down.
But maybe he’s right. Irritatingly right. Jameson wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t have what he wants. And if he wants what I have to give, maybe I am in control. Oddly… that makes me feel more at ease as I head toward the stairs leading up, but before I do, I hesitate.
“How is your arm?” I ask. Not that I feel guilty about my prior actions or anything.
“Just peachy,” he says, and gives me a wink as the elevator doors slide shut with him inside.
Heading up the stairs, I feel determined that I will not let Jameson get in my head. I can’t let him get in my head because that’s his superpower.
When I find myself outside of his office, I shove the door open without bothering to knock and walk right in. He’s on the phone, so I grab the phone out of his hand and slam it down.
“You think firing me will get me to come back?” I ask.
Jameson smiles when he sees me, like he thinks he’s already won. And in his conniving brain, maybe he thinks he has. “Declan, so good to see you,” he says.
“Yeah? Well, you wanted me here, so I’m here to tell you to stay out of my goddamn life.”
Jameson folds his hands in front of himself as he casually leans back in the chair. I always feel like everything with this man is a mind game. “You yearn for this life, Declan. You’re drawn to it. Lake told me all about you killing that level four chimera, and you’re still going to deny that you’re meant for this?”
“Oh? You think because I killed a fucking monster to keep from dying, that I’m just yearning to come back? You thought I’d just lie down and let it take me?”
“I’m the only one you’re allowed to lie down for,” Lake says from behind me.
I jump, my entire body tensing as I question how I didn’t notice his presence behind me. Was I so caught up in this conversation that I let my guard down? That can’t be it, right? “I thought you went downstairs.”
“I know! But the idea of watching you berate Jameson sounded so yummy,” he says.
“Lake, go,” Jameson orders.
“You can’t force someone to do something they don’t want to do and get the results you want,” Lake says.
Jameson doesn’t seem interested in listening to Lake either, which doesn’t surprise me. I’ve known this man a whole hell of a lot longer than Lake has, and he won’t listen to a word I say.
“Declan, you have nothing else. This is what you’re good at. This is what you were raised to do. You know this is what you’re meant to do.”
“Yeah? And were you always meant to be an absolute dick?” I ask.
“Ha!” Lake is easily amused.
“Lake, leave,” Jameson growls.
Lake puts both hands up and slowly backs through the door. “God, I’m never allowed to have any fun. How dreadful.”
“I’m not helping you, Jameson. Do you understand? Don’t ask again and don’t fuck up my life anymore or I will make you regret it. Understand?”
“You’ll be back, Declan. Just… I hope for your sake that when you come back, it’s of your own free will,” he says as I turn around and leave the room. Honestly, I’m surprised that Lake isn’t waiting outside the door, but I see Patrick heading my way with a group of men and women. They’re all hunters but I only know a few, including Adam, a man who’d been here nearly as long as I had when I’d left.
“Declan, didn’t think I’d ever see you again,” Adam says as we all head down the stairs.
“Hopefully you never will,” I say.
“Still fighting the useless fight?” Patrick asks me. “You know Jameson gets whatever he wants.”
“Yeah? Then it’s about time he doesn’t,” I say as I head past them and come up on Roger who is walking toward the elevator.
“You’ll be back,” Roger says.
“Don’t count on it,” I say as he comes over to the door to let me out.
How the hell can that place feel so damn stuffy every time?
CHAPTER EIGHT
LAKE
The door swings open and Roger walks in. “I heard what you did last night.”
“Yeah? You heard about my date with Declan? It was rather nice,” I say. “Are you jealous?”
Roger, the only other person in the building who knows what I am, looks disgusted at the thought. “Jameson is making a huge mistake keeping you here. Huge fucking mistake. And that he even lets you roam around?” He shakes his head.
“Yeah? That suuucks. Now do you have anything useful to say?” I ask as I sit down in front of my computer.
Roger slams into me, pushing me back as his hand presses hard against my head. Oh boy, does the desire to just rip him to pieces course through me. I’d tear his weak human body apart.
“I do like it a bit rough, but not with you,” I say.
“I’m watching every step you make, do you understand?”
“I do! How lovely, I have another stalker!”
He shoves me hard enough the chair teeters and I fall onto the ground. My entire body is twitching as the idea of just ripping him apart fills me with so much desire. Oh the pure joy I’d feel—nope. No, I’m a good monster.
Good monsters don’t rip humans apart. Good monsters listen.
But a tiny bit of ripping…
Noooo. Just think about all the fun things that can be done to Declan this evening. Yes, yes, let’s ponder those things instead.
Roger must not find it as fun now that I’m just staring at him because he angrily leaves the room, leaving me alone to stare at the floor.
Declan is quite skilled, but why their obsession with him? He’s sexy, but they don’t seem to see that the way I do. So what is it? What is it about him that makes Jameson so fixated on him instead of one of the other hunters he already has?
I get up and return to my computer, but my focus is off for the rest of the day as I try to keep my other side in check. The door swings open around five thirty and Jameson walks in as he does just about every day.
“Wrist,” he says as he holds his hand out.
“Roger bullied me today,” I announce.
“Yeah? I’m sure you deserved it after that display earlier,” he says as he takes my hand and pushes my sleeve up to reveal the band. He presses his phone against it before deeming it good.
“I was being absolutely perfect, like usual.”
“Does Declan actually like you? I thought you said he suspected you,” Jameson says.
“He did. Which is peculiar because none of the other hunters here even have an inkling of what I am. But it’s okay. We’re destined to be. I’ll invite you to the wedding if you’d like. That’s how you humans confirm love, right?”
Jameson doesn’t seem to be overly excited to be a guest. “I’ve been thinking that I want you to seduce him. Once he’s in love with you, he’ll do anything you ask. Declan doesn’t have family. He’s never had anyone to care about him or love him. He’ll latch on to you. He was desperate for love as a kid.”
What a cruel man. “Sometimes I’m just shocked by how much of a dick you are, and I’m not even sure how I can still be surprised!”
Jameson’s eyes narrow. “Do it, Lake. Your usefulness is running out.”
“Oh? Just going to kill me then? I haven’t even told you half the shit I know but that’s fine. I will be useful as can be. Or… maybe you’re jealous of Declan’s attention on me,” I say as I press into him and run a finger up his side. A scowl breaks out on his face as he reaches down and snatches up my hand while I slip my free hand into his pocket and take his keycard out of it.
“You need to listen,” he says, giving me a shove that allows me to slip the keycard into my back pocket as I watch him leave.
Jameson usually leaves last when it comes to the ones who work upstairs, meaning that the second floor should be all clear. The hunters might still be training, but they’re likely in the main room, far enough away they’d never notice me. I close up downstairs and ride the elevator up to the floor Jameson’s office is on.
As predicted, the hallway is dark, but I don’t need light to see. I walk down it and to his office door that requires a keycard and his pin which I’ve gathered just by watching him when he thinks he’s alone.
I press the keycard against the sensor before immediately typing the pin in. With a beep, the reader turns green, and I hear the door unlock, allowing me inside. Pushing it open, I step into the room and shut the door behind me before heading over to his desk that is damn near pristine. I can’t imagine anything of use will be out in the open on the desk, but it appears he took his laptop with him, so I can’t rely on that. The only other place to look is the filing cabinet which is also locked. Thankfully, Jameson doesn’t realize how wandering my eyes are because I’m able to punch the code in and slide the first drawer open.
