Page 14 of The Karma Project
“An assassin’s most important skill is reading her targets.” I purr.
Brandon steps even closer. “Are you saying we’re your targets?” His breath coasts my skin as he lowers his voice. Heat pools in my lower stomach and I clench my thighs to relieve the pulsing in my clit. My treacherous pussy begins to quiver, but I at once swipe away the feeling of arousal and step away from him.
“Everyoneis a target.” I leave him with that and hurriedly walk out of the room.
I rush through the house and up the stairs to my appointed room, slamming the door behind me.
“What the hell is your problem?” I whisper-yell to my groin. “Thirsty whore, this is not the right time to get a mind of your own.”
I want more than anything to be back in my own apartment. I need to get away from these Greek gods and their sorcerer capabilities that enchant my vagina. I pace around my room trying to rid myself of this pent-up aggression, needing a release, air, or something.
Sex could help.
No. If I do decide to partner with the Karma men, it will need to stay strictly business. Sex will just muddy up the water and blur the lines, and I know I wouldn’t be able to limit myself to just one of them. I’m sure that would cause even more problems than I already have. They’re all crazy. There is no telling how possessive or jealous they get, so sex is off the table.
I shake out my hands and shoulders to cool myself down and get my nerves under control. Once I feel my heart rate slow, I exit my room again and slam into a hard body.
“Shit, sorry.” I mutter and look up at the man standing over me.
“Easy, there.” Max smiles and straightens my shoulders. “Where are you rushing off to, Harpy?”
“Harpy?” I ask, pinching my eyebrows together.
He ignores the question, and asks again, “Where are you going?”
“Just needing some air. Getting a little cabin fever locked up in this house.” I say, trying to maneuver around him.
Max puts his arm against the wall, trapping me against the bedroom door, “What are you holding?” He snatches the bag out of my hand.
“Hey! That’s mine!” I yell trying to snatch it back, but he pulls it out of my reach.
“What the fuck, is this a tongue? Is Brandon running around without a tongue somewhere in this house?” He studies the bag, still holding it out of my reach.
“Not to my knowledge, butthatwas a gift. Give it back!” I yelled, jumping to grab it.
“A- a gift?” He furrowed his eyebrows, but it's quickly followed by a sigh, “Teddy.” Max pinches the bridge of his nose before turning away from me, stealing the tongue.
I rush after him, but his steps are outpacing me as he barrels down the stairs to the mystery door that Teddy came from earlier. He goes through it, and without hesitation I follow him into the space behind the door, followed by more stairs. “More stairs? What the fuck,” I mumble.
“Filthy fucking rich, but you can’t install an elevator?” I huff, still trying to catch up to him to retrieve my gift from Teddy.
Once we make it to the bottom, I observe the converted basement. ‘Welcome to the Show’ by VOSTOK is blaring loudly from a speaker. The floors are a sleek marble; the walls are white—a stark contrast to the upstairs.
“Teddy!” Max booms, yelling over the song.
Teddy stands from his hunched position and looks back to us, brightening when he sees me. “Hi there, little devil.” He gives me a smile while he turns down the speaker.
When he moves, I see what he was hunched over. A limp and bloodied body lays on the floor, missing a few limbs. Only then do I notice the chainsaw in his hands and the fresh blood dripping from his body and face.
Max throws the bagged tongue onto a metal table and glares at Teddy, “You can’t do shit like this, Teddy.” He scolds.
Teddy looks from the bag to me, hurt showing in his expression, “Little devil, d-did you not like it?” His voice is low, and I can almost see a quiver in his lower lip. His expression pulls on my heart strings.
“I loved it!” I rush the words out. “This sourpuss,” I point at Max, “stole it from me.”
Teddy looks relieved but then hardens his face when he looks back at Max, “Give it back to her! She likes her gift!”
Max lets out a labored sigh then passes it to me without even sparing me a glance, “Fucking weird.” He grumbles.
