Page 95 of Toy No More

My eyes burn and skin hurts as I watch the carnage unfold. The room fills with the scent of death. Pure, unmistakable stench of death that no pheromone could ever overpower.

Jasper stands over the body, now spread lifelessly on the ground. Wiping the blood off his face with his sleeve, he’s catching his breath like he was just in the middle of a completely different ordeal. To him, maybe it was close. I see the outline of his cock in his pants; not entirely hard, but definitely excited.

Insane fucking psychopath.

Still panting, Jasper looks up. “Gibbs?”

“Yes, boss?” he replies without a hint of emotion.

“Take his body. Make sure his whore of a sister sees it. Make sure it is in her room at all times. And tell Joseph to do whatever the fuck he wants to ensure she and the others suffer.”

A smirk passes over his lips. It sends shivers down my spine. “Will do,” he says, coming up to grab the limp body. Gibbs throws it over his shoulder like it’s nothing and walks out.

Everyone else stands around hesitantly. A few of those who were laughing before now look close to turning green. I guess they aren’t as tough as they believed themselves to be.

“If there’s any other vermin in this room, I guarantee you’ll end up the same way, so end yourself or get your fucking shit together. Because I always…alwaysfind out.” Jasper throws that warning into the void, voice gruff and low.

Anxiety is palpable in the air. People share unsure, nervous looks.

“Now get out,” he barks, licking his lips with the final, deep exhale before his breathing returns to normal and his back straightens up proudly.

I want nothing but to escape this room of death. I want nothing else than to get somewhere alone and collapse against a wall, letting my hands tremble as much as they want and maybe even throw up. I want to chain smoke the entire pack on me and I want the cold outside air to smack me in the face…but my brain stops, buzzing with an idea. As absolutely insane as it is,thisis a perfect opportunity.

While the guys pour out into the hallway, I make careful steps toward Jasper. “Want me to clean this up, boss?” Maybe it’s just fear that drives me when I ask that question. Bone chilling, terrifying fear of ending up the same. With every passing second, I risk Jasper finding out. Somehow. Some way. Ineedto do this now.

He looks up at me from cleaning his knife into his shirt, face marked with suspicion, but only for a moment. His eyes stay narrowed for a few seconds before he tilts his head and glances down at the absolute mess of blood and various body…matter…that’s seeping into the carpet.

“Right,” he mutters. “This shirt’s fucking ruined. Fuck. Gotta change…” Anger returns to his voice, almost like the thrill of the kill faded and now only the ugly reality remains. But I don’t want to think about that. I don’t care about his twisted psyche. As long as I can use this opportunity.

“I’ll go fetch the cleaning stuff,” I say with a firm nod. This could be my chance to be left in the office alone, without suspicion.

I head downstairs. My plan is shaky at best, but it’ll have to do. I need to hope to get enough time to put that USB in. The tech person on the feds’ team said I will only need to confirm it and let it download. It shouldn’t take long. Still, it’s going to be risky.

My stomach twists on itself again. This entire ordeal will give me ulcers.

I stop in my tracks when I see Apollo through the door into the Dollhouse on my way to the cleaning room. Everything inside me screams, my every instinct urging me to act. I burst in a little too loudly, so people turn in my direction with dissatisfied glares. But so does Apollo. He sees me and thankfully pays attention to the frantic manner I dart my eyes to the side, signaling him to come.

To not raise suspicion, he takes a while to follow me, meeting me in a quiet hallway behind the door.

“Kobe?” he asks, stopping by me with his brows furrowed.

He looks concerned. Not as concerned as he’ll be after I ask him what I need. “Listen to me,” I say, grabbing at his hands. I look around us, swallowing hard before speaking, hoping no one’s nearby to overhear. Those beautiful eyes fixate on me, and I can’t help but draw in the scent of him. The touch feels so nice. “Jasper just murdered a man in his office. He was a spy for another gang. I’m cleaning the mess he left behind. He seems to be in a…curious state. A state you could use to distract him.”

“Distract him?” Apollo’s concerned expression changes to one of alarm. “Wh…what do you want me to do?”

He’s not asking me for details. He trusts me.

Oh, I need his help so badly right now.

I lean in and lower my voice, mainly as an excuse to be closer. “He said he was going to change. Wherever that is, I need you to make sure he takes longer than a minute or two. Can you do that? Can you…soothehim while I do this?” I feel disgusted asking him that. Like it’s wrong and dirty of me to do that. Jasper might have been his lover for some time, but this is different. I’m asking Apollo to use him and to use his own body the way it isn’t meant to be used. To lie and pretend.

“Okay,” Apollo says sharply.

I anxiously study his face for signs of hesitance. His eyes dart across me with worry, but he seems determined. In his gaze, I see he understands this is a part of some greater plan and he…just trusts me on it.

“I’ll go get him. It won’t be hard to tempt him, believe me,” he remarks with a faint smirk.

I can’t help myself but to reach for him and press my lips against his. Apollo breathes into my mouth, almost a sigh of relief, as we both close our eyes and lean into each other, even if only for a few moments.

---