Hehehe. Chapter 69. Do you think that bodes well for our Redactward? ;)

I'm getting so excited for what's coming up. Don't worry, folks. We're getting close to that prologue and all is still going according to plan. It'll all come together, I promise!

Infinite thanks to you, Fran, and my prereading team!

xxx


-69-

Members of the FBI aren't always law-abiding citizens. We tend to get away with whatever we please simply because we know the right people in order to pull the right strings. I'm usually an exception to that rule.

Not only is my life already exceedingly boring, but until Bella came along, my type-A personality didn't allow me to be anything but a strict rule follower. I always wore my seatbelt, always followed the strict parking laws of Seattle, and never went a mile over the speed limit.

I'll let you guess if that still stands true as I make my way to Bella's apartment.

I got a strange look from the Chief when I stopped in his office and told him I was heading out. I slept in my office again last night and was logged back into my computer—feeling unbalanced and unsettled when there was no Isabella Swan icon to check in on—by five this morning. So I still managed to put twelve hours in and therefore didn't feel all that bad for ducking out a little 'early,' by my standards.

Not that he actually said anything to me. Still, guilt gnawed at my stomach that I was leaving, but I had to remind myself that I was doing nothing wrong.

Well, aside from going to meet a former subject.

I digress.

The hallway leading up to Bella's apartment smells spicy and enticing, a scent you would expect to find more on the streets of an exotic country than the building of a twenty-five-year-old musician. It instantly made my stomach rumble, reminding me that I really hadn't eaten anything today. I had survived on my usual diet of cigarettes and coffee. But tonight, I will feast.

And not just on the delicious food filling the corridor with the aroma of it.

I'm ready to devour Isabella Swan; spread her wide and take everything she'll give me...and does she ever seem so willing to give.

I texted when I made it to the parking lot, so by the time I make it to Bella's door, she's already standing in it looking all sorts of tempting. Her plain, black leggings hug close to her legs, and she has on this dusty pink sort of oversized knit sweater that hangs off one shoulder to hint at the dark gray lace of one of those bra thingies that aren't quite fully a bra. I think I may have heard Mom call it a bralette when we were shopping for Christmas last year?

It doesn't matter.

Her hair is hanging loose and pulled over one shoulder, the one that's still fully covered by her sweater, leaving the bare one just out in the open like it owns the place.

It's not indecent in any manner, but it feels like it is. I want to bite that shoulder while I'm driving into her.

"Do you stand in your doorway waiting for just anyone to come take advantage of such an innocent-looking little girl?" I ask her with a teasing smirk as I stalk towards her.

She hums. "Not just anyone, but it looks like tonight's my lucky night. Looks like the Big Bad Wolf has come to eat me all up."

With an uncharacteristically playful growl, I crouch a bit to grab her by the waist and flip her over my shoulder. The momentum brings me inside her apartment, and I kick the door closed behind me, walking over to toss her on the couch while she squeals.

"Well, my little lamb, now that I have you all alone...whatever will I do with you?"