When Doom Found Violet novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: Terms Broken

The detective stayed in Zane's shop for six minutes.

Doom stood in the clubhouse yard with the radio at his ear, listening to a prospect describe it.

The man had walked in, looked at the workbench and the lathe, and told my brother he was admiring the craftsmanship.

Then he left a business card on the sawdust and said one thing on his way out.

"Tell your sister I'd like a word on Friday."

Zane had said nothing, and nobody had touched him.

I stood beside Doom in the cold with a stolen gray phone in my fist.

"He's telling us the date," I said. "He wants me in that lot."

"No."

"Doom."

"You are not going near that man."

"You agreed I decide for myself."

"And you agreed you never leave this compound alone," he said.

"I left tonight with a prospect and a giant. That wasn't alone."

His jaw worked.

"You broke the other one too," I said. "No touching. How many of my terms have you kept?"

"One."

"Which?"

"I haven't touched you since the clinic," he said, "and it's been four hours."

I hit his chest with my good hand.

He caught my wrist and lifted it to his mouth.

"No touching," he said against my pulse. "Isn't that what you told me?"

"I told you a lot of things."

"You told me I couldn't touch you." He bent his head. "And then you told me to lock a door."

I didn't remember walking upstairs.

I remembered his room, the lock turning, and the lamp he never switched on.

He shut me against the wall of it and kissed me until my knees went.

"Take it off," I said. "The dress."

"I'm still not good at zippers."

"Learn."

He found it with his big fingers and drew it down my back slowly, one inch at a time.

The red silk dropped to the floor, and I stood in front of him in lace and a sling.

His eyes moved over me in the dark.

"Violet," he said, rough and low.

I tugged at his vest.

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