赤裸裸的滑稽故事

“There are certain rules we agreed to long ago to have a successful working relationship, Roman…. Do you need help remembering them?” Holden asked, pressing the blade against Roman's throat.

“No,” Roman smiled. “I remember them, just fine.”

Roman's eyes roamed to Alice, who hadn't moved. She stared back at him with fury, and he could see it was still her. He felt relieved.

Holden caught the look in Roman's eye.

“Alice,” Holden said, without turning his attention away from Roman. “Return to your room.”

Alice didn't respond right away.

“Alice!” Holden growled.

Roman watched as her jaw relaxed, and her eyes lost their shine. Finally, she took a breath and straightened her back.

“Of course,” she said. Placing the small knife back in her boot as she turned to leave.

But Roman knew she was already gone. He clenched his jaw and then looked at Holden with boredom and irritation.

“Either cut me open or get the fuck off me, little man.”

“You're not as irreplaceable as you think you are!” Holden snarled.

Roman leaned forward, leaning into the blade and feeling the prick of his skin.

“Neither are you,” he whispered._.

With an angry scoff, Holden pulled his hand away. Then, clenching his jaw and retrieving his handkerchief, he wiped the blade clean of Roman's blood before putting it away within his jacket.

“Why are you back so soon?” Holden asked. “We didn't expect you for another month.”

“Because someone sent me on a wild goose chase,” Roman replied, “and I came back for real answers.”

“How do you know it was a wild goose chase?” Holden asked. “Maybe you're just bad at following directions?”

Roman growled.

“My father lied,” he said. “And the videos that he showed me were fake. I confirmed them with the owners of the originals.”

Holden clenched his teeth and glanced back in the direction that Alice had left.

She had no reason to help Tomas, surely.

“And they were just willing to share?” Holden asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he turned back to Roman. “Lending you a helping hand by showing you private security footage?”

Roman smiled.

“They were willing once they stopped breathing.”

“Uh huh,” Holden sighed. “And did you clean them up properly?”

“It's not my first time, Holden,” Roman chuckled. “I haven't needed a clean-up crew in at least five years.”

“How proud you must be,” Holden replied with disgust.

Roman sneered.

“You seem awfully judgmental of my hobbies for someone who has made use of them before.”

“I never had you kill anyone,” Holden said, smoothing his jacket.

“Only because Alice interrupted the game,” Roman smiled, and his eyes flickered with delight.

Holden snarled.

Roman growled.

After a cleansing breath, Holden straightened his jacket once more.

“Alice is not yours or anyone else's concern,” Holden stated firmly. “Remember that.”

He turned to leave the corridor when Roman's laugh stopped him.

“What?” he asked, knowing damn well that Roman's laugh implied knowledge he would hold over Holden.

“Oh, nothing,” Roman replied in a sing-songy voice. “It's just that… her mate… might disagree.”

Holden's eyes widened, his jaw clenched, and the weight of a lead ball dropped into his stomach.

“What did you say?” he asked quietly.

Roman stepped forward, a smile on his face.

“I said,” he repeated. “Her mate… might disagree.”

“She doesn't have a mate,” Holden said, barely above a whisper.

“Oh, yes,” Roman nodded with an agonizing delight. “She does.”

Holden looked up at the other man, searching for any sign of deception or manipulation. But the bitter jealousy that stared back at him, hidden beneath the joy of making Holden squirm, confirmed the truth in his words.

“How could you know that?” Holden asked with a growl.

Roman narrowed his eyes and took a step toward Holden, a low growl rising in his chest.

“Did you know already?” he asked. His words held a thinly veiled danger that Holden was not oblivious to.

Holden took a deep breath and settled his mind.

“No,” he lied. “But I knew something had changed in her.”

Roman continued to eye him with suspicion.

“We lost her for a time,” Holden said. “While I went to retrieve you.”

Holden gave Roman an angry look. Roman crossed his arms, waiting for the rest of the story.

“Someone broke her. Left her wandering, without knowing who she was or where she belonged,” Holden said sadly.

“Who?” Roman growled.

“He's dead already,” Holden replied, knowing the reason for his question.

Roman huffed.

“But during her absence, Alice went places I still don't know about,” Holden continued. “And when she returned, she was different.”

Roman growled.

“Different?” he asked with an angry scoff.

Roman straightened his back and uncrossed his arms. His eyes grew fiery and angry.

“Some piece of shit wolf out there has claimed her!” he snarled. “Put his filthy hands on her, marked her!”

Holden furrowed his brows.

Marked her? He knew she had been with Axel when she had called. But it had only been a day or two, and it hadn't been a full moon.

‘Can't even keep your own traditions?' He growled to himself.

Roman looked at Holden. This conversation was tiring and infuriating. He didn't want to think any more about the details of Alice and her mate. The thought alone made him itch for a hunt.

“I'm going out,” he sighed, walking past Holden.

“Wait,” Holden called softly, glancing up at Roman.

He hated him. Found him disgusting and irredeemable. He was a monster with an unhealthy fascination with Alice, which was something he could not allow. But he could use it.

“I don't know what it is you are searching for, Roman,” Holden said. “What it is that your father had kept from you.”

Roman turned back, listening to what the little weasel had to say.

“But,” Holden continued. “I assume it was hidden from you all those years ago when you left home.”

ɴ[0)ᴠᴇʟ Roman nodded but said nothing.

“Well, I don't know if it helps,” Holden said. “But back then, your father was quite close to the Alpha of Winter.”

Roman furrowed his brow. He remembered the large man with the knotted and braided hair. He had come around several times before Bell ‘died,' even the night before.

“He is no longer alpha,” Holden continued. “But he does still live and remains in Winter. Then, perhaps, he will know something of what you seek?”

Roman tilted his head and gave a gentle nod before turning and leaving Holden alone in the corridor.

“I don't know what you want, Roman,” Holden whispered as he grinned his Cheshire grin. “But I know that you will recognize Axel as the toy you lost and as the one who has claimed Alice. Neither of which you will be able to ignore.”