The Tattoo Artist (La Petite Mort #1)

38. Chapter 38

thirty-eight

Quinn

I was running fast, and my heartbeat pumped hard as I tried to leave the scene. You could hear ambulances and sirens in the distance. I cut through the alleyway, taking a sharp left and heading for the tube.

Once inside, I pulled my hoodie over my head and did my best to cover myself. I wiped the crimson color blood from my hands.

I killed her.

She begged me not to do it, tears running down her cheeks. The satisfaction I got from watching her kneel in front of me. She deserved to die after what she did. Nobody deserved to get their child stolen.

She needed to die. She and everyone who took part in such a horrendous crime.

The doctor was dead.

The county record clerk was dead.

The nurse was about to die.

And the judge was next.

I walked around, wrapping her hair around my fist, pulling her hair, causing her head to tilt up. I placed the tip of the blade under her earlobe. I gave her a sinister smirk, and then I slit her throat, severing the trachea as blood stained my hands.

I woke up sweating. My clothes were drenched from the nightmare. Why was I dreaming this?

It had been two months since Alexander and I visited the cabin. Sophie had been acting strange, but no matter how hard I tried, she wouldn't share. I just prayed and hoped my best friend was okay. Since our rendezvous at the cabin, I had returned twice without Alexander since he'd been out of the country for the past four days.

His brother Sebastian had been my bodyguard for the past four days. I had come to like him as a brother. He was funny and a romantic at heart. I had planned a trip to the cabin for later this week. The last time I was there with Alexander was New Year's. We rang the New Year by fucking like damn rabbits. I couldn't get enough of his cock.

He had corrupted me.

I was his dirty little nun.

Alexander was due to return later tonight, at least that's what Sebastian said. I was pretty sure I had an idea of what he was sent to do—well, more like what Deimos was sent to do. Since he was expected to be back today, I was counting down the hours I had left on my shift. I looked up as the library door slid open, and the smile that spread across my face when I saw Alexander enter had me jumping over the counter to get to him.

"Alex," I screamed, running towards him. He caught me, and my legs wrapped around his waist as I held on to him tightly. He settled me back onto the ground, and I pulled back to scan him from head to toe. I wanted to ensure he was okay. That Deimos didn't get hurt.

He closed the gap between us in two strides. I closed my eyes, feeling his fingers brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear. I leaned into his touch. His hot breath sent shivers down my spine, and his teeth nibbled my ear lobe.

"How long is your shift?" He mumbled against me.

"I close," I replied, kissing him quickly before returning to help someone. Alexander took a seat on one of the chairs that was directly across the counter. I finished helping a mother and her daughter check out a few children's books.

I returned to scanning books into our system and placing them onto the cart. I looked up to check on Alexander when I noticed his previous spot was now empty. Huh, that's strange. Where did he go? Suddenly, I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist, pulling me closer towards them. I startled only for a second before realizing and inhaling Alexander's scent.

"What are you doing?" I hissed, turning my body around with his arms still around me. "Alexander," I challenged, trying to make him believe he would be reprimanded. "You're not supposed to be back here. It's for employees only." I continued my speech, giving him the stink eye. "Plus, customers are supposed to be on the other side of the counter," I finished, my hands and eyes moving between him and where he should be.

He chuckled before wrapping his arms around me again. "Oh, princess. I don't follow the rules—" He paused, stepping away so that we were face to face. His green eyes showed mischief. "I break them," he uttered just before taking my lips and connecting them with his.I relaxed into the kiss, allowing him to continue to explore my mouth. I was the only employee working today since I was closing.

The kiss was getting heated very fast. His hands made their way to my ass as he slapped my right cheek before grabbing a handful. My hands snaked around his neck as my fingers tugged on his hair, making him groan. "As much as I would like to be in your arms and continue this—" I said, moving my index finger between us. "We can't," I added, walking around him and grabbing the trolley. "I have books to put away," I announced, pushing the trolley full of books, giggling at his pouty expression.

I had been at this for the past fifteen minutes, looking down at the trolley. I only had three books left. Pushing the trolley a few aisles down, I placed the last three books in their correct spot before I took the trolley back to the storage room. I could see Alex on a phone call; his back was facing me. I stopped only to gawk for a few seconds to admire his back—his muscles visible through his black T-shirt, his shoulders wide and broad.

I entered the semi-dark corridor, forgetting about the lightbulb that kept flickering. I was supposed to change the bulb before I started my shift, but the doors slid open, and I returned to help the woman and her daughter find some children's books.

I released a frustrated sigh. Retrieving my phone and turning on the flashlight, I opened the storage door and placed the trolley back in its place. Suddenly, I heard a crash, almost as if they had dropped one of the racks. "Alex. Alex," I yelled, gripping my phone tighter. I looked around the storage room, only to find it empty. Walking towards the door, I heard footsteps down the corridor.

"I swear to God if you're fucking with me, Alexander. I am done," I shouted.

There was no answer except for the footsteps that were getting louder. I could feel my heart pounding against my chest. It was probably stupid of me to shout and let it be known I was here, but it was also stupid of me to look down the corridor. I gasped, dropping my phone as my hands went over my mouth to cover the shriek that almost escaped my lips. A man in dark clothing with a scar from his right eyebrow down to his jaw was walking straight at me.

I shut the door and locked it before closing my eyes, breathing heavily, hoping Alexander would come looking for me. Dropping onto the floor on my hands and knees as I searched for my phone.

I needed to call Alexander.

My hands frantically moved around, feeling the ground for my phone as the man with the scar stood outside the door. He jiggled the doorknob, trying his best to unlock the door. Suddenly, the door slammed open, and the man with the scar stood before me, a wicked smirk taking over.

But this wasn't the first time I'd seen him.

His scar was something I had done.

He—he tried killing me two years ago.