Savage Monster (Boys Without Remorse #2)

Chapter 4

four

Onyx

Korain nodded at whatever the officer he spoke to said. Search teams were gathering to look for signs of someone camping out in the woods. I highly doubted they were going to find the fucker who’d killed that girl and slaughtered that deer, but I’d give them points for trying. At least, they were attempting to do their jobs.

Turning from the officer, Korain faced me, crossing his slim arms over his chest. “I’m going on the search, too.”

Immediately, I scowled. He’d lost his fucking mind—clearly. “The fuck you are.”

His eyes narrowed, his stance immediately becoming defensive. It would’ve been hot if he wasn’t getting ready to throw himself into danger. “You’re not the boss of me, asshole. This is my state park. Someone died?—”

“You weren’t even on duty,” I coldly reminded him, matching his stance. He shivered, his shoulders dropping a little, some of the defensiveness leaving his posture at the dominance in mine.

“She still died here, Onyx,” he said quietly, sympathy for the dead girl leaching into his voice. Goddammit . Feelings were a pain in the ass. “That poor animal was killed for absolutely no reason. Whoever killed it didn’t even respect it enough to harvest all of its meat.” His chin quivered, and I stepped forward, cupping his jaw and stroking my thumb over his cheek. I didn’t like seeing him so worked up. So upset. It made me feel…volatile. Uncontrollable.

“That doesn’t mean you go throwing yourself into danger,” I growled.

He jutted out his chin, being so fucking stubborn. It was as adorable as it was frustrating. “I’m going, Onyx.”

My teeth audibly ground together in annoyance, but he stood his ground. “If you’re going, then I’m going with you.”

He opened his mouth to protest, concern leaking into his dark eyes, but I narrowed my eyes at him. “Remember, where you go, I go, baby. Don’t forget that.”

He huffed. “Fine.”

He spun away from me, forcing me to drop my hand. My lips twitched with a smirk. He was so easily riled. I fucking loved it.

After Korain pulled on a reflective vest, was issued a pistol, and given a flashlight, we set off. My own pistol rested comfortably at my back, whereas Korain’s was clutched tight in his grasp. Unlike him, I was well-trained, and my reflexes were incredible. If we came across that fucker, Korain wouldn’t have time to lift his gun before I put a bullet in that murderous creep’s skull.

We were silent as we trekked through the woods. My footsteps were quiet, whereas Korain’s were loud. I didn’t utter a word. Maybe his obnoxious steps would keep this asshole away from him for fear of being killed or arrested—if he was even here.

Chances were, he was still lurking. Relishing in his last kill. Enjoying the attention he was getting. It was a usual thing with these types. They liked to…soak in the aftermath of their murders.

Darkness began descending. Korain grew increasingly more tense, but he never said a word, and he never attempted to turn back. So, I stuck by him. I didn’t understand guilt. It wasn’t an emotion I was capable of feeling, but I kind of understood what it was like from Dad and how it made a person feel.

Korain needed this, even if I didn’t fully understand why.

A twig snapped to my left, and I reached out, snagging Korain by the back of his shirt. He made a small noise, but I lifted my other hand, smacking it over his mouth as I yanked him back against me, plastering our bodies together. And right at that moment, his fucking flashlight flickered and died.

His petrified whimper was silenced against my palm as I scanned the darkness around us, straining my ears to listen over Korain’s rapid, heavy breathing.

Another twig snapped, this time a few feet in front of us. I released Korain’s shirt and snatched out my gun, the safety off and pointed in front of us in mere seconds. When I heard more shuffling, it was farther away—like whoever was with us was retreating.

I stayed stock still, straining my ears for any other sounds. And a few moments later, someone screamed right before it broke off into garbled gurgles—as if someone was choking on their own blood.

Fuck .

I was done playing these fucking games.

I snatched Korain’s wrist in my grasp, my gun still in my hold, and sprinted back the way we’d come. I didn’t normally run from a fight, but Korain was more important. I’d never do anything to risk him, and with nothing but a bunch of trees and darkness surrounding us, there were too many variables I couldn’t control. It was too dangerous for him.

We burst from the woods a few minutes later, the officers in charge of handling communication looking at us in alarm. For a moment, their eyes flickered to the expensive gun in my grasp, wariness entering their gazes, especially since they hadn’t issued me the weapon.

“I think you just lost an officer,” I told them as Korain panted next to me. He was shaking, clearly going into shock. Today had been way too much for him. I needed to get him back to his cabin, so I could take care of him. “Someone is in those woods with us. I suggest ending the search until there’s daylight again.”

“If one of our officers?—”

“Did you not fucking hear me?” I growled, dropping my mask. I was so tired of this shit, and I needed to get Korain somewhere safe. The officer stepped back, fear flickering through his eyes. “There’s no mistaking the sound someone makes when they choke on their own blood,” I snapped. “You leave your men out there, and you’re risking their lives. No doubt, your man will be left right where he was murdered. It’s this fucker’s MO.”

Korain’s teeth chattered. Without another word, I tugged him down the asphalt toward his cabin. He didn’t even protest, just followed me like he was lost and didn’t know what was truly going on around him.

He was still—shaking but still—as I fished the keys to his cabin out of his pocket. After I unlocked the door, I tugged him with me, doing a sweep of the place to make sure we were alone. Once I was positive we were safe, I tugged him toward his bedroom, only one thing on my mind.

Clearing the horrors of the day out of his head.