King of Depravity: Chapter 23

The alley is eerily silent as I enter. Frequently the kitchen door is propped open as crates are being loaded in, employees hustling in and out.

But not tonight…

Monday is one of our quietest nights, it’s part of the reason I chose tonight. But I hadn’t considered that quiet meant…no one would be around.

I pause, wishing that Killian was by my side.

Which is ridiculous. I just ran from his home without a word of explanation, and now I want him here… I’m such a chick. But the story about Preston…

The reporter had said it was an accident. But I can’t help but recall that night over and over. Killian tucking me in bed, telling me he had business to attend, and then leaving my apartment.

My steps slow. What frightens me about the idea of him killing Preston? Do I feel safer in a world where Preston doesn’t exist? I do.

If Alexander were dead, I know I’d feel better.

But it’s what I don’t know about Killian that frightens me. How violent is he? And would that violence ever turn on me? I can’t ever be in that position again. At the mercy of a strong man who has the power to break me.

I take a steadying breath. What do I know about Killian?

I know that he feels a deep connection with me, one that I share. I also know that he feels isolated from the world. Different.

I absolutely know that when I ask him about his feelings or his needs, he always answers with a stark honesty that many wouldn’t like, but I appreciate. Adore even.

I asked him, Would you hurt me? And he answered. Can I trust his answer? My hands leave my waist and relax around my sides for the first time since I left his place. I think I could.

He tells me the truth. And what he doesn’t tell me, is also for my protection. I’m sure of that.

Drawing in a deep breath, I straighten my shoulders, starting toward the back door. I’m going to quit and then I’m going to return to Killian’s. I don’t need to know his family’s business, or even what he did or didn’t do to Preston. I just want to understand his nature.

But a low moan from the shadows makes me stop again.

Peering into the darkness, I see the crumpled shape of a man. Stepping closer, he moans again, moving just enough that I catch the puddle of blood by his head.

I let out a scream, the shock catching me off guard.

But that’s when a hand clamps down over my mouth, an arm locking about my arms and ribs. “If it isn’t my favorite waitress.”

It takes me a few beats to realize who has his hand over my face. Alexander.

My heart, which was beating loudly in my ears, freezes. I try to unlock my muscles to run, to fight, but I can barely get them to work.

He pushes me toward the body, toward the outer wall of the bar. That, at least, brings some life back into my limbs as I start to struggle, trying to twist from his grasp.

His fingertips dig into the skin of my face and my arm as he sidesteps the pool of blood and pushes my front against the wall.

The puddle is only an inch from my feet as my chest and face are crushed into the brick. A sob fills my mouth, but Alexander’s hand is too tight for the sound to escape. With his body pinning mine to the wall, he works his arm down my torso, catching my leggings and ripping them down my hip.

“Ahh,” I manage a small moan between his fingers even as he pushes me harder with his chest so that he can loosen his belt and undo his pants.

“You’ve been tempting me for far too long, Printcessa,” he spits in my ear as he tugs at his pants.

I look down at the crumpled man near our feet. Did Alexander kill him? Is that what he’s going to do to me?

I try to fight again, but his hips press into me, his cock straining against my ass as he inserts a knee between my legs. I let out another half moan half cry struggling uselessly. I know it’s going to happen.

He’s going to rape me and then what…will he kill me? I look down at the body, crying through the stench of Alexander’s hand.

A gurgling cry fills my ears, and for a moment I think that the man at my feet is still alive. I’m going to listen to him die, my death moans joining his.

But then, Alexander’s body is just gone…

I spin, my brain trying to catch up as night air hits my exposed skin.

But my back collapses against the wall as I just stare. Killian stands just behind Alexander with his hands around the Russian’s throat.

My eyes are wide, my breath coming out in short gasps, but Killian doesn’t look at me. He looks at Alexander, his teeth grit, his lips tight over them. “How dare you touch her like that.”

Alexander tugs at Killian’s hands, but Killian doesn’t seem to notice as he tightens his grip, Alexander is making these gurgling noises. “Stop,” he chokes out.

“Mercy? Is that what you’re asking for?” he spits in Alexander’s ear.

“Yes,” Alexander chokes out.

I just stare as Killian drags Alex toward the dumpster, both of them disappearing behind the giant structure.

I hear the crash, the loud sound of something hitting the metal, before Killian appears again. Alone.

He still doesn’t look at me, as he bends down over the dead man and reaches for his hair, pulling a bunch from the man’s scalp. I let out a little yelp and his eyes finally meet mine. “Hush.”

My mouth drops open, my eyes wide. Hush? He takes the hair and walks back behind the dumpster. I see the light of his flashlight on his phone. It must only be minutes but it feels like hours before he reappears.

Distantly, I hear the sound of sirens.

Killian must hear them too. He appears again, coming straight for me. I don’t run. Neither my body nor my brain are working at all.

He saved me, but did I just witness him kill a man?

What does that mean for me? He doesn’t say a word as he bends down, wrapping his arm around my naked ass and lifting me into his arms. I haven’t even pulled my pants up. He doesn’t pull them up either as he starts out of the alley and down the street.

He keeps to the shadows, stopping at the slightest noise. I have no idea how long it takes before we reach his car, but when we do, he drops me into the passenger’s seat and then tosses a jacket over my lap.

He climbs into the driver’s seat and pulls the car out, reversing direction with three quick lefts. He slides into traffic, going exactly the speed limit and I look over at him, the motion of the car turning my stomach. “I think I might be sick.”

My body has started to shake, and I can’t shrink myself small enough for his jacket to warm me.

Killian looks over at me, his eyes filled with concern. “Can you hold it in until we get back? Five minutes, luv.”

“I’ll try.”

He reaches for me then, his hand cupping my cheek. I close my eyes as the tears start to roll down my face. This touch unlocking the fear and revulsion of the past half hour.

I just want to curl into him, and I find myself leaning over the center tray to press my face into his shoulder. “Killian?”

“Yeah, luv?”

“I’m sorry I left,” I sob out, clutching my hands around his bicep. “I’m so sorry.”

He slides his hand to my thigh, in a gentle but firm grip. “I’m sorry that motherfucker touched you.”

Me too. “What does this mean?” I ask, my tears soaking the sleeve of his T-shirt.

“Not sure yet,” he answers quietly. “But I can tell you one thing for certain.”

“What’s that?”

“I will not let anyone hurt you, sweetheart. Not ever. You’re my girl to care for. Always.”

I lift my head. “Would you…would you ever hurt me Killian?” He just murdered a man. “I know I asked yesterday but I need a straight answer. A promise.”

I’m pretty sure he’s killed two men since I’ve known him. “I know how important promises are to you.”

A little sob escapes my lips. He didn’t promise, and that scares me. I know his secrets. Does that mean I’m a problem?

His hand slides across my thigh in a soothing motion as he presses his cheek to the top of my head, kissing my temple. “I told you I was your soldier, luv.”

I look up at him then, my brows knitting.

“If you want to call the police right now, I won’t stop you.”

“You won’t?” I shake my head, trying to understand.

“I would never hurt you, Chloe. Never. It’s not a promise, it’s a vow. You could burn me to the ground, and I’d still give you everything.”

“What does that mean?” But some of my shaking subsides at his calm reassurance. There is not an ounce of hesitation in his body, his words, his demeanor.

“For starters, you need a better place to live. If I die, you become the executor of my will and the beneficiary too. My loft, my petty cash, it’s yours.”

“You…your loft? You’re giving me your loft?” I pull back to stare at him. “What are you talking about?”

“I meant what I said, Chloe. You are my forever. It doesn’t matter if you never speak to me again after tonight. You could curse my name. You could turn me into the police and leave me to rot in prison. You’re imprinted inside me, and I will be yours until my last breath.”

I stare at him, at a loss for words, overwhelmed by the sincerity I hear in his voice. “Killian.” His name comes out broken and teary.

He puts his arms around my shoulders and pulls me into his chest. I wrap my arms around his middle, knowing a few truths.

Killian’s feelings, in some ways, are far purer than mine. His dedication and commitment have been there, I just couldn’t see past my own issues.

I rub my nose in his side. “You’re my forever too.”

“Don’t say that…not yet.”

I look up at him, my brows knitted in confusion. We’ve reached the garage under his building, and he pulls in, parking the car in his usual spot.

He slides out of the SUV and comes around to the other side to open my door. I hesitate for a second, nothing but tatters of clothes on my bottom half, but Killian holds out his arms to me. I slide into them as he lifts me out and then wraps his coat around my waist, before lifting me off the ground again.

I burrow into him as we make our way to the elevator and then up to the loft.

Once we’re in his place, he heads straight for the bedroom, not setting me down until we’re in the bathroom.

Finally lowering me to my feet, he turns to the tub, opening the taps. I watch as the water fills the tub, and I let out a sigh. Soaking in the tub would make me feel a million times better.

My eyes meet Killian’s as he steps toward me again. He pulls off the tattered leggings and then my tank top, handing me into the tub. I sink down into the hot water, a groan escaping my lips, it feels so good.

He starts shucking off his clothes too and lowers himself down in the other end of the tub. Shutting off the taps, his legs tangle with mine under the water.

I rest my head on the lip of the tub, letting my eyes slide closed. “I would never go to the police.”

“Chloe.”

“First, I don’t trust them.”

“Stepfather,” he says his voice dropping so low, it would frighten me if it were any other man.

“Yeah,” I open my eyes again to meet his. “If I had the chance, I think I could do it. I could put his head in a bucket of water and…”

Killian shakes his head. “Some are born into violence, others are made. You are not the first, I would never want you to become the latter. That’s my job.”

“But some things in life hurt so much, they need to be exorcised.” The way Alexander tried to hurt me was awful. And maybe I should be disturbed by what I know Killian did to him in return, but I’m not. Alexander killed that other man first, and he would have killed me too. I know it. Knowing that he’s dead now, I feel safer.

Killian’s eyes hold a darkness that makes my breath catch as he shakes his head again. “I need you to understand.”

I feel the emotion that bunches his muscles. I reach out to touch his knee. “Understand what?”

“I want to tell you about my past.”