Chapter 46

CHAPTER

FORTY-SIX

EDMUND

This entire fucking town has been a media circus. The only reason I am downtown and struggling through the current crowd at Latte Da is because Harper wants a crème br?lée latte.

And I’m a fucking simp for her.

A fucking simp dying to tie her to my bed and cover her healed body with new bruises.

My bruises.

My teeth.

My marks.

With the girls before her, I wouldn’t have cared whether they were ready or not, but I can’t fathom the idea of permanently hurting her.

A little pain on the other hand…

“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath as my cock twitches in my pants.

Trying to think of anything other than Harper splayed across my bed or sliding over my cock, I push my way into the coffee shop. It is wall to wall with press. Not only the local guys, but the national chains.

They descended upon Adelaide Cover seemingly overnight, all of them wanting to be the ones to get the big scoop on Michales. Yet, all of them regurgitate the same story.

Because there is no other story to be told.

Lifting the local paper from the counter, I read over the front page.

His face is everywhere .

Local papers, tabloids, and national news coverage. Every last one of them pushing our agenda that Michales was responsible for every body we have buried beneath The Preserves.

Bodies no one will know exist until well after all of us are gone.

He might have been a more deplorable human being than any of the rest of us, but I have to give him credit for one thing.

He was a good fucking cop.

Unlike the rest of the police in this town, he saw us— all of us devils —for exactly what we are. He was missing one piece that would have taken us all down.

It’s ultimately what led to him being condemned to an eternity below my future home. After what he did to Harper, I would have put him there with or without the help of Grant, Samuel, and Will. Their eagerness to help grew exponentially when they learned how close he was to exposing us.

I’m not na?ve enough to believe their intentions were pure, and that they did it for me. I know this with certainty because none of us are built like that. Self-preservation above all else.

Only now, I’m not just protecting myself. I value Harper’s life as much as my own.

Same as Samuel with Cora.

And I’m pretty sure with Grant and Abigail as well.

Refolding the paper, I set it back onto the counter and order Harper’s drink. With the packed crowd, it takes a little longer than usual, but I’m back in the car and on my way home within minutes.

“Harper,” I call as I walk through the door. When she doesn’t answer, I begin wandering through the house looking for her. A splash comes from outside, and I am surprised to find her in the pool. A little angry, even, as I set her latte on the patio table. “What are you doing?”

Her doctors have been adamant about rest and relaxation as she recuperates. Exercise—or anything strenuous—has been off-limits since I brought her home.

“All my tests looked good yesterday.” she smirks. “Doctor Vaughler said I could resume my normal activities, just that I needed to ease back into them.”

I can ease her back in.