Page 108 of XO Karma

“They’re my souvenir.” I pat my pocket, and her jaw drops open.

“Souvenir for what?”

“Our first date.”

“Really?” she scoffs, folding her arms over her chest. “My panties? That’s what you’re taking to remember this evening?”

I grip her chin tugging her to me, and the pupils of her eyes dilate. “Would you rather I take that pretty mouth of yours and put it to better use.”

The corner of her lips quirk. “Actually, yes.”

“Fuck.” Every muscle in my body curses at me, as I use immense will-power to release her, and retreat out the door. “Stop forcing my to be the rational one.”

She giggles, trailing after me until we’re back in the service corridor. “Sometimes it’s fun to role play.”

I halt in place glaring at her. “Karma baby. I’m a strong man.” My eyes trail her beautiful body. “But I’m not that strong.”

She hooks her arm through mine, tugging me forward. “Come on, then. Let’s return to the investigating part of our date.”

“Thank you,” I reply, trying to shake away the very fresh memories of what we just did.

“What the hell was that about with Jude?” she asks.

“Oh, so you were listening? Guess I wasn’t distracting enough.”

“It wasn’t easy.” She glares teasingly. “But yeah, I picked up a few words here and there. Like the fact that they’re mad about Vetrel’s death.”

“That guy also said, ‘We kept him alive and offed the bitch.’ Do you think they were talking about Karolyn?”

“It would make sense,” she says as we near the end of a hallway with a steel door. Lily reaches for the handle, but it doesn’t budge, so I dig in my pocket, retrieving a mini lock-picking kit.

“Well, someone came prepared,” she teases as I pass it her way.

“Baby, I’m always packing.” Lily rolls her eyes with a chortle, returning her attention to the door, and a moment later she’s pulled it open. A dim light illuminates a staircase going down.

“Jackpot,” she mutters.

“Do we shut it?” I ask, pulling the door behind me. She glances at the handle.

“Yeah, it only latches from the inside.”

We descend the stairs, and my chest tightens with every creak under our feet. When our soles hit the bottom, I breathe out a sigh of relief for the sheer hope that we can be quieter now.

Or so I thought.

The basement is dark and dingy and smells like mildew. Occasionally, puddles splash under our feet when we pass near small windows. Crates of wine, very expensive wine, line the walls. It’s vast, seemingly expanding the entirety of the estate. After walking for what feels like ages, we find another door, light emitting under it.

Lily presses her ear to the metal. “I don’t hear anyone.” She pulls it open, and we walk inside. Lily clutches my arm, and we both freeze in place as the hair on the nape of my neck stands.

“Oh my…” Lily trails off as we take in the sight. Four skeletons lay on separate tables. One complete. Another with the arms missing. We walk closer. The third skeleton has its head missing, and the fourth is also fully intact.

Nope, never mind.

The teeth are missing.

“What the hell…?” I mumble, leaning for a closer look.

“These are either incredible fakes⁠—”