Page 143 of Like Grim Death: Part One
Nox, in downtown Alexandria—which, the more I get to know her, the more she reminds me of Gotham City—is secure, but me being here is not.
“He taught me to fight,” I finally mutter, still feeling my heartbeat where Cain’s fist collided with my face. I know he held back. I don’t even think it’ll bruise, but Cain is massive. The son of a former professional fighter.
Yethedoes this shit forfun.
“Yeah, well he sucked at it. Anyway, we need to wrap it up. I can’t skip Council completely.” Cain takes two steps back in his minimal black sneakers, then snakes an arm through the ropes of the boxing ring, grabbing a black water bottle and squeezing it into his open mouth. Sweat glistens along his broad chest, his tight abs, dampening the gray shorts slung low around his hips.
I clear my throat and turn around, walking over to the water fountain tucked against the wall just before the lavish bathrooms. I lift up my black T-shirt and wipe the sweat off my face with it before I lean down and press my fingers against the sides of the fountain, gulping down cold water from the stream.
I feel a little nauseous, but I’m not telling Cain that or he’ll stop training me. Still, I close my eyes, unsteady on my feet as my stomach churns, and I don’t realize I’m about to faint until a strong arm bands around my waist and yanks me back into a hot, hard body.
I snap my eyes open and whirl my arms, planting my feet to try and spin around but Cain’s low voice comes to my ear as he stops me from turning.
“Chill, we’re done practicing. Just take some deep breaths.”
It’s not in my nature to submit, but spots are popping in front of my eyes from our grueling workout today and the run I had this morning while Lucifer was with Rain.
Brooklin is at our house now. It’s the first time I’ve left Corpus Ave with her babysitting, and the anxiety comes back in a hot wave, but for the hour I was training with Cain, I was able to forget about everything aside from staying alive and dodging his blows. He doesn’t go easy on me like Lucifer would, and I like that.
Cain presses something cold to my temple and I flinch a little until I realize it’s his water bottle, filled with ice based on the temperature. It feels good, the faint, sick sensation receding as I lean against him, our sweat between us, melding our bodies. His big hand is splayed over my abs, overtop my sticky T-shirt, and I let my own hands stay by my side as he keeps me conscious.
“You gotta eat more,” he says calmly, his chin resting on my head as he holds me. His fingers glide back and forth over my shirt, making my stomach muscles jump. The sensations of hot—from sweat, and his body at my back, and his touch—and cold—from the water bottle—have my body coiled tight, but I think that’s the point. He doesn’t want me to pass out. “You need to stop going so hard. You’re still only a couple months out from giving birth.”
“I’m fine. Besides, you’re the one who pushed me,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Only because you came to me. You don’t want me to be gentle, do you, Sid?”
My chest heaves as his fingers dance along the hem of my T-shirt. I have not forgotten what it felt like to fuck him. I don’t say anything because his words sounded entirely too sexual.
“We won’t be able to keep this up,” he continues, ignoring my lack of a response.
“I think I could keep it up just fine,” I counter without thinking.
He doesn’t even stiffen behind me as I keep leaning into him. He just sighs, like he expected me to say that. “At your house was straight, but now Brooklin knows you’re gone—”
“I told her I was going to the grocery store, and I’ll stop by on my way back. Besides, Lucifer will know I left anyway. I can’t back my car into the garage.” I drop my voice with the last words.
Cain doesn’t laugh, but he says something that sounds likehemar,under his breath. Before I can ask what he means, he keeps talking, still trailing his fingers around my lower abs. “I know we had to come here since he’s keeping tabs on the street, but let’s skip next Sunday so we’re not too predictable. Practice on your own. Or fight him. I think he’d like that, don’t you?”
I roll my eyes but a flash of violence plays out in my head. Lucifer’s body pressing against mine, his forearm on my throat, a knife in his hand.God, yeah, he’d fucking love that… and so would I.
I feel steady again and slowly I straighten, putting space between me and Cain. His fingers lazily trail around my waist as I spin around, and he brings his water bottle back to his open mouth, thick lips and straight teeth visible as he drinks.
I rake a hand through my sweaty hair, pushing off the black bandana I had on to pull my hair back, then grip it in my hand. “How did you find out? That he’s watching Corpus?”
Cain said Lucifer was more paranoid than usual, more cautious since RC is in town. But he only texted I needed to meet him here tonight instead of him coming by the house like he has the past couple weeks. He never told me how he found out Lucifer was talking to the guards at the guardhouse on Corpus Ave, and potentially having video footage taken of our street.
Cain’s black eyes meet mine as he squeezes the water bottle in his fist, the one with the Unsaint’s brand tattooed over it. I twirl the bandana between my fingers, waiting for his answer.
Finally, he just says, “Don’t worry about that.” Of course I want to push him but he shakes his head once, his perfect, dark brows lifting as I open my mouth to argue. “Don’t, Sid.”
We hold eye contact for a moment, but I know Cain won’t give me anything if he doesn’t want to. So I nod, accepting his non-answer.
I glance at the dark windows and the storm outside. I don’t want to drive in that shit, definitely don’t want to stop by the grocery store, but this is important to me. Feeling strong, prepared. For anything or anyone who might come after my family. I mentioned it to Lucifer and he wanted me to wait, but for some reason, I don’t think that’s wise. My thoughts flash to Sevryn, and almost as if he’s reading my mind, Cain speaks again. “What do you think of the new kid?”
I cut my gaze to him, plucking at my shirt with my free hand, trying to cool myself down more. “Lucifer keeps him in his room. It’s not like we’ve bonded or anything.” I narrow my eyes and jerk my chin. “Why?”
“You didn’t answer my question at all.” Cain licks his plush bottom lip, raking his gaze up and down my body. He smiles a little, then shakes his head. “Try again, Sid.”
