All Hail - J. Bree Page 0,13
but in the light of day I really don’t want to see him.
He was the one to find Aodhan and I in the Jackal’s rooms.
Don’t think about it, Avery. Harley’s words echo in my head, don’t drown.
“We need to talk.”
I frown at Atticus but he looks at me, unrepentant for his lack of niceties. “You have my number, a phone call would have done the job.”
His hands slide into his trouser pockets. “Can I come in or are you going to insist on doing this out here? I’m not going to hurt you now you’re alone here.”
I roll my eyes at him and step aside. “Just you, I’m not having your men walk their dirt through my house.”
It’s only Luca outside but I can’t look at him, let alone say his name. Atticus frowns slightly but when he glances back at Luca he’s already leaning back on the car with his sunglasses back on, looking up at the clouds like that’s a useful pastime.
I understand he’s being kind and giving me space but Atticus doesn’t. He’s keeping his word to me and lying to his boss.
I’ll need to remember to tell Ash and Harley to ease up on him a bit.
I walk Atticus through the foyer and into the kitchen. He looks around politely but I have no doubt he’s already got the layout of this place on file. I once invited him here to see it when the renovations were still underway but he’d told me he was too busy. It hurt back then… still stings to think about but at least now I know why.
He was trying to keep his distance as much as possible so no one would ever find out about me.
I sigh just thinking about it and he casts me a look as I gesture at the table for him to take a seat as I fix us a cup of coffee each. He doesn’t make a move towards it, just stands there within arm’s reach of me like this isn’t my home, like it isn’t wired to the hilt with security that a member of the Twelve himself monitors for the Wolf.
“I can go out if I want to. It’s none of your business who I spend my time with, Crow.” I speak firmly but quietly, keeping my eyes on the task at hand.
“It’s not as simple as just going out, Avery. I’m not trying to control you but there are bigger things at play here.” His irritation at me using his Twelve name darkens every word and mentally I give myself a point for it.
I tilt my head at him. “Fine. Tell me what these bigger things are and I’ll promise to take them into consideration.”
His eyes narrow just a little bit and he stops to look me over properly. I’ve taken too much care in my appearance to be worried about him noticing a goddamn thing wrong with me. If there’s anything I can do perfectly in this world, it’s dress to impress no matter the state of my world.
“I came here to do just that. I wasn’t expecting you to be on your way out though. Spending the day with the Stag again? Or is the Butcher taking you out to some hovel in the Bay?”
I turn to face him as I turn the coffee machine off, wiping my hands on a clean towel even though my skin itches to wash them properly. “Neither. I’m preparing myself for the night ahead of us. Why shouldn’t I look my best to represent the Wolf at the Twelve meeting?”
He grimaces and I give myself another point. Of course, I’d be wearing this stunning white suit, full of lace and skin bared in the most unlikely places for the Twelve meeting.
I’m not exactly subtle when it comes to my loyalties.
He finally takes a seat, sliding the file across the table to where I take my seat after I place our coffees down. He picks up his cup like it’s been years since he last touched one. I’m sure it has been but I don’t start my mornings without caffeine. Not ever. My eyes drift down slowly to the words written in his perfect lettering in black ink across the front of the file.
The Lily Heart Killer.
I shuffle through the pages but all of them show the same thing over and over again. A serial killer who kills indiscriminately, men and women of every race and age. No pattern in victimology to be found, none