Page 24 of A Wild Darkness

CHAPTER SIX

SEBASTIAN

When I heard Lux mention she was meeting Stevie for coffee this afternoon and River was dropping her off, I knew this would be the perfect opportunity to check out Stevie’s condo. Which meant I was free to break into her place. If she’s going to be my partner on my first solo project, I need more information about her to make sure she’s all in and there’s not a chance she’ll fuck up everything.

Sure, she lived with us for a short time, but what else is there to Stevie Levinson, mortuary and funeral home owner? Is she seeing someone? Why do I want to know? Also, what are her interests outside of being a mortician?

I pull my car around the back of Stevie’s condo. Only a few minutes pass before the text I’ve been expecting from River buzzes in my pocket.

River: The girls are still in the coffee shop.

A brief sigh of relief that her apartment is still empty.

Me: Great, thanks. Heading in now. Text me when they’re done.

River: Will do.

River: I can’t believe your stalker tendencies are coming out. I’m so proud of you, cousin.

Me: I am not stalking her. I have trust issues and I need to make sure I know everything about her.

River: Christian already did the background check.

Me: I don’t care.

River: Obsessive much?

Me: It’s called being cautious.

River: When I did it, you called me crazy.

Me: You did it for different reasons.

River: Are you sure about that?

Me: Fuck you.

Annoyed by his comment, I slide my phone back into my pocket, then reach over the center console to my laptop and click into TI’s security software.

In no time, I’m walking through her front door with a bouquet of white roses clutched in my hand. I thought she could use a fresh bunch, since the last time I was here the ones she had were bent and brown and looked extremely sad. But also leaving the bouquet is a little sign of how easily I can break into her apartment and is sure to piss her off—which is an added bonus.

No wonder River wanted Lux to stay at Thompson Manor—these women aren’t safe behind simplistic alarm systems.

I drop my backpack by the door and head straight to the sink to fill up the vase with water. After quickly arranging the stems, I place the full bouquet in the middle of her small circular dining room table. Then I walk back through the small modern kitchen and into the living room where I check out the set of French doors leading to a modest balcony that I didn’t get the chance to see the last time I was here. The balcony has a few low-hanging trees in front of it, with a few potted green plants scattered throughout.

I breathe in a sweet scent, which I imagine she smells like. It tickles my nostrils and fills my thoughts with inappropriate things. I shake those off, too. Continuing to make my way around, I find a stack of books next to the couch. Crouching down, I pick up a few of them. They’re heavy in my hand—definitely not light reading. Turning them onto the side, I tilt my head to read the titles printed on the spines.

“Grave rubbing?” I mutter. “Hawkmoths?”

A couple of unique hobbies, but who am I to judge? I murder serial killers in my free time. Well, I guess full time since I stepped away from my leadership role at TI over a year ago. I was never much of a suit guy, anyway.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out to answer.

“Hi, Christian. I meant to call you last night.”

“No worries. Did you get to speak with Lux’s sister?” he asks, eager for an update.

I walk over to the bed, sliding one hand between the sheets. “Yeah, I spoke with her yesterday, and she agreed to do it.”