Chapter Twenty-Four

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

The moment the shithead spotted them through the iron bars, he began struggling to free himself from the shackles. “Let me out!” he yelled, anger and fear warring for supremacy in his manic eyes. “I want out!”

Knox sighed. “No one cares, so you might as well settle down.”

Having nothing more to say to Enzo than he’d already said earlier, Levi didn’t stop at the cell. He continued onto the next one, which now homed Moira’s killer—and would do so for a while. The bastard had a lot of sins to answer for.

So many lives had been taken by him. So many children had been robbed of their mothers and then dumped at orphanages. Levi knew from experience that those places weren’t all hearts and rainbows. Heaven only knew what had become of those kids.

Hanging in chains, Clyde lifted his head. Despite his current situation, he nonetheless gifted Levi with an amiable smile. “I knew you’d come,” he said, seeming rather satisfied about it. He didn’t even look at Knox. He was utterly focused on Levi.

“You have questions,” Clyde assumed. No, hoped. He wanted attention. Company. Conversation. Maybe that had always been part of his personality, or maybe it was a result of the curse that had plagued him for so long and made him feel so very alone.

“Not really,” said Levi, going for bored and disinterested, knowing it would push the asshole’s buttons. “It’s not like I could trust that your answers would be at all factual. Not when you lie to yourself as if it’s your job and believe only what you want to believe.”

Clyde frowned. “No, that would be Enzo.”

“You’re kindred spirits for sure.”

“He was never anything but a tool I needed. You and me, though … we have a connection.”

Both Levi and his demon bristled. “No, we don’t,” said Levi, still feigning boredom. “You tell yourself that because you need to feel connected to someone. You tried forcing your victims to bond with you. Didn’t work so well, did it?”

“That was on them. I only wanted to love them. They wouldn’t let me. Your aunt was most resistant. But you made the time I spent with her worthwhile.” Clyde’s mouth kicked up. “Such a beautiful little boy you were. So much potential. She would have squashed that.”

“She might have tried. But that wasn’t a reason for her to die.”

“You were better off without her,” said Clyde.

Levi felt his jaw harden. “That wasn’t for you to decide. You played God with her, just as you did the other women. You weren’t looking for love, you were looking for submission.”

“No, I—”

“You wanted them to psychologically crumble so they’d be under your control without any effort on your part. It never worked though, did it? Know why?” Levi took a step closer to the cell. “It was because of the children. The women held out because they couldn’t emotionally abandon their children.

“My aunt might not have loved me or even wanted me, but she loved my mother—that was the only reason she kept me, and it would have been the reason she didn’t submit the way you wanted. In other words, you’ve been fucking yourself over right from the start, and you never once saw it.”

Clyde swallowed. “You’re wrong about me.”

“No, I’m not. I see you, even if you don’t. The woman who cursed you saw you too, didn’t she? I believe her name was Beth.” Piper had relayed the whole sordid tale.

“She saw my love for her sister as a betrayal.”

Levi wasn’t so sure Clyde had loved her or anyone else. The emotion eluded some people. Levi got the feeling that the man in front of him was one of those people.

“We can’t always help who we love, can we?” asked Clyde. “Take you and Celeste. She loved you. It wasn’t your fault that you didn’t feel the same, but she held you responsible anyway. It also wasn’t your fault that you fell for Piper—nor was it a bad thing—but Celeste resents you for that just the same.”

“Not enough to curse both herself and me in such a grave way. And you know, considering just how far Beth went to punish you and exactly what a sick fuck you are, I actually think you truly were guilty of the crime she accused you of. After all, you’ve taken the lives of many women over the years and you’re not one bit remorseful about it. I doubt that sexually assaulting a woman would be much to you.”

“She asked me to make love to her.”

“Maybe. But the question is … did she say those words voluntarily, or did you make her say them? Personally, I think it was the latter.”

The nightmare’s eyes flickered. Yeah, he’d been in her mind, ruling her actions. Fucker.

Clyde’s expression tightened. “You shouldn’t be so hard on me. I saved you. Your aunt would have ruined you. You can’t say you don’t like your life as it is. You can’t say you don’t owe me for the happiness you have now. Like it or not, we are connected.”

“You’re nothing to me,” Levi stated firmly. “And I don’t owe you shit except the beating of your fucking life for what you did to my mate.”

“I didn’t hurt her. I didn’t even touch her.”

“You stole her free will. You ensured she was helpless while another caused her physical harm, which means you’re just as responsible for any injuries she suffered. And so you will suffer worse. There isn’t one person who can claim you don’t have it coming.” Levi gave him a dismissive look and then walked away.

“Wait, we’re not done talking!”

Levi didn’t glance over his shoulder as he replied, “I’ll be back when I’m in the mood to play with you.”

“Don’t you want to hear how many women there were? Don’t you want—”

“Not interested.”

“There are things you should hear that … Come back!”

Once they were out of hearing range, Knox said, “He really does hate being alone, doesn’t he?”

“My guess is he’s also thinking he can bargain his way out of the Chamber by offering up details about his crimes,” said Levi.

“Well he’d be wrong to think so.”

Indeed. But Levi would certainly wring as much information out of him as he could, since there might be people who would like to know what happened to their mothers. For now … “I have to get back to Piper.”

Leaving her hadn’t been easy when the fear he’d felt for her earlier still rattled in his bones. But, as he’d told her, both he and his demon had needed to see that the threats to her were properly contained. “Take me to Larkin’s apartment, not mine. Piper and I are sleeping there tonight. We can’t stay at our place while it looks like a warzone.”

“Don’t be surprised if Piper receives some visitors,” said Knox.

“Visitors?”

The Prime pyroported them to Larkin’s living room. Both she and Piper sat on the sofa while Keenan lounged on the armchair. They weren’t alone. Devon and Tanner were present. And it wasn’t long before Maddox, Raini, and Hector appeared. Knox then collected Harper, materializing moments before Ciaran teleported Khloë into the apartment.

Levi couldn’t say he was happy to have so many people there when his mate was clearly tired, but since Maddox healed both Piper and Levi—the latter at her insistence—he couldn’t really complain. Much.

“I can’t believe it all went on while I was in the building none the wiser,” said a pale Devon while her mate rubbed her back.

Khloë blew out a breath. “My demon really wants to kick Enzo’s ass, and I’d be totally down with that.” She lifted a brow at Knox, her hands clasped. “Any chance we can make that happen?”

The Prime pursed his lips. “I don’t see why not.”

Khloë pumped her fist. “Awesome.”

It was an hour or so before all but Larkin left. Once more thanking the harpy for letting them stay at her apartment, Piper allowed Levi to lead her to the spare bedroom. As much as she appreciated that so many had showed up to check on them, she couldn’t deny that it was a relief to be alone with him.

Dog tired and still a little shaky from all that happened, she wanted nothing more than to slide into bed with her mate; wanted to feel him pressed against her, safe and well and fully healed. But first … “I was thinking of taking a shower.”

Her wounds might be healed, but dry blood still smeared her skin and stained her clothes—items which would need to be trashed, because they were all torn and would only make her think of what happened tonight. More, they’d make her think of what could have happened tonight if things had gone down differently. “Care to join me?”

He hummed. “Sounds good to me. Quick warning, I’ll end up eating you out.”

She blinked. “Well I do hope so.”

His mouth curved. “Good.”

She tried returning the favor after he made her come, but he resisted, claiming he wanted to explode inside her pussy tonight, not down her throat or all over her hand. But instead of taking her against the tiled wall, he ushered her out of the shower, intent on fucking her in bed. Having no objections to that, she didn’t dawdle.

In bed, he didn’t instantly put any moves on her. He only drew her close as he brushed her hair away from her face. “How are you feeling?”

Piper smoothed her hand over his solid shoulder. “Not too tired to get royally fucked, if that’s where this conversation is heading. And I’m otherwise fine. You?”

“I’m better now that we’re alone.” He flicked her nose with his. “I’m not in the mood to share you.”

She snorted. “Let’s be fair, you’re never truly in the mood to do that.”

The corner of his lips hiked up. “True. I like having you all to myself. My demon likes having all your attention.” He raked his gaze over her face, and his mini smile faded. “I’m usually good at locking down my emotions so I can get a job done. But when I realized the killer probably had you, I mentally lost it.”

“That man is a fucking psycho.” Even thinking about him made a chill run down her spine. “And he doesn’t even seem to know it. I mean, what is up with that?”

“Crazy people often don’t know they’re crazy. Khloë seems to be the only exception to that rule.” Sobering, Levi gave her a serious look. “He’ll suffer hard, Piper. And for a very long time. As will Enzo.” His jaw tightened. “I trusted that fucker. I trusted him with you.”

Piper slipped her hand up to his neck. “He’d never given you a reason why you couldn’t. So all that guilt I can see you’re feeling … it’s senseless. He spent years cultivating the image of a reformed criminal. You gave him a second chance. Lots of people did. That was the right thing to do. He’s the one who was in the wrong.”

Levi only grunted, guilt still plastered all over his face.

“I didn’t once suspect him of being the person who wanted me dead,” said Piper. “Not even for a millisecond. Do you blame me for that?”

Levi’s head drew back as his brow pinched. “What? Of course not.”

“Then you shouldn’t blame yourself either.”

He sighed. “It’s easier said than done.”

“I know.” She began massaging his nape. “How’s your demon?”

His eyes going half-mast as her fingers kneaded and glided, he replied, “Now that it’s calmer and more settled … it’s actually kind of smug.”

She double-blinked, her hand pausing its movements. “Smug?”

“The way the entity sees it, the death ballad brand ‘saved the day.’”

She rolled her eyes. “Enzo would have been taken down with or without the ballad.”

“Of that I have no doubt. But my demon still intends to take the credit.”

“Of course it does,” she said dryly, resuming the massage.

He groaned. “Feels good.” His hand squeezed her hip. “How’s your demon doing?”

“It’s sort of sulking right now.”

“Why?”

“It didn’t get to kill anyone.”

He snorted. “I see.”

“It might not be so annoyed if I’d gotten to kill either Frick or Frack—it’s often content to live vicariously through me.”

“Will the entity feel better if I buy it lots and lots of diamonds?”

Piper found it almost pathetic that her demon’s mood immediately switched to gleeful. Like all such entities, it liked pretty, shiny things. “To my disgust, yes. Yes, it really will.”

“Diamonds it is.” His mouth curving, he rested his forehead against hers. “I fucking love you, you know.”

Warmth bloomed inside her. “So you didn’t only say it earlier to mess with me?”

“I’d never give you those words unless I meant them.”

“Good.” She kissed him sweetly, softly. “Because I love you.”

His smile kicked up a notch. “My demon feels you should also love the death ballad brand, but we’re gonna ignore that.”

“Yes. Let’s. Now, hello, why isn’t your dick in me?”

A chuckle eased out of him. “No patience.” He rolled her onto her back, humming again as she wrapped her legs around him. “It’s going to be rough.”

“Just when I think I couldn’t love you more …”