I Am the Wild (The Night Firm #1)- Karpov Kinrade Page 0,15
rented for him. Now, in lieu of a bed, there are deep grooves in the carpets where the wheels had pressed in. But everything else is untouched. The bottles of medication on the side table. The open book lying face down, holding his page as if he might come back to it at any moment. His favorite socks folded just so next to his shoes.
A breeze catches the curtains of his window, blowing through the room gently, carrying more of his scent to me. I could have sworn the window had been locked. It always was.
Adam and I fought about it constantly. He needed fresh air, but he refused to let me leave the windows open. "I don't want to stink up the rest of the world with the scent of my death," he said.
And so his scent grew stronger in our home, turning from the beloved and comforting and familiar, to a mutated version of itself, similar enough to inspire a fresh wave of grief, but more rancid and laced with rot. A reminder of what was to come.
I suck in my breath and cross the room in ten steps, stopping in front of the window. When I touch it, I feel the pull of a flash, but it fades before I can follow the thread. The window slams shut quite suddenly, and without my aid, or the aid of anyone as far as I can see.
It must have been the wind.
I turn towards the bedroom, to face what remains of my brother. There are some things I cannot let someone else pack, or even touch. Not until I am done.
And so I begin one item at a time, savoring the memory each of his belongings brings up in me, even as it slices a fresh wound in my already eviscerated heart.
A sweet torture.
In the end, I only keep one thing.
His ring.
He always wore it. To the very end.
I had given it to him the day we both graduated college.
I slip it onto my middle finger and then leave his bedroom for the last time.
I don't know how it happens, but Derek wasn't wrong. The movers have everything cleared out by noon. I am left in an empty apartment, save my personal items. I've decided not to store anything, and to take only what I truly need and a few keepsakes.
A fresh start, as it were.
Letting them into my brother's room was the hardest part, but I know it's time to move on. He would want me to if nothing else.
When the movers leave, I take out my checkbook and march down to Roger's office. He grins when he sees me. "I see you've come to your senses and are ready to discuss my terms," he says, his smile a lascivious sneer.
He licks his lips and I shudder. I clench my fist around my checkbook, then smile. "Why, that's so sweet, but you see I've come to pay off what I owe."
His face pales. "Well, that's great news, but surely you don't need to spend all that money when there are other ways to satisfy the debt."
I slap the check onto his desk. "Here is my payment in full, plus interest."
He looks at it and the sides of his lips curl up. "It seems you're several thousand dollars short."
"About that," I say, shoving a letter into his hands featuring The Night Firm letterhead. "It seems it wasn't contractually legal for you to hike the interest after we'd signed an agreement. I've paid what was originally agreed upon. Nothing more. It's also not legal to extort sexual favors as payment for a debt, you miserable sleaze-ball. If you have any questions, you can contact my lawyer."
I let myself gloat as I walk out of his office, leaving him gaping.
I owe Derek a big thanks for that one.
Tomorrow my new life begins. Today, I'm going to pamper myself and use my new expense card to make sure I have the right wardrobe for this job.
I want to enjoy the shopping, the makeover—god I've needed a new haircut for ages—the pampering. But my mind keeps turning back to Sebastian and his brothers. They mesmerize me even as they confound me. And I still don't really know what this bloody job is. My life feels entirely too surreal.
Back in my hotel for the night, I push myself to stay awake until morning. It's time to get used to my new sleep schedule.
I spend the night sketching Sebastian in different poses. Tired of my