Outrun the devil, p.17
Outrun The Devil, page 17
Olivia's mind was overwhelmed with exhaustion as she drove through the deserted streets of Phoenix. She could feel the weight of her failure bearing down on her shoulders. The air in the car was stale, and the only sounds were the occasional hum of the engine and the steady rhythm of her breathing. She tried to shake the feeling of defeat, but it clung to her like a thick fog.
As she entered her apartment, the familiar scent of lavender filled her nose, and she paused for a moment to take in the peaceful atmosphere. The soft lighting and the gentle hum of the air conditioning were a soothing balm to her frayed nerves. Olivia moved towards the couch, sinking into the plush cushions as she began to sort through the endless details of the case.
Her fingers were tired, aching from hours of scrolling through files and photographs. The cold metal of her laptop stung her fingertips as she clicked through each image, searching for a clue that would break the case open. She sipped on her coffee, feeling the warmth of the liquid seep into her body and ease her tension.
She closed her eyes, her mind drifting to the other night when she had been face-to-face with Xavier Knight. She had been so close to finding the missing piece of the puzzle, but it had slipped through her fingers like sand. Olivia clenched her fists, frustration mingling with exhaustion to create a potent cocktail of emotions.
As she opened her eyes, she realized she needed to clear her head. She stood up, stretching her arms above her head and letting out a deep breath. She moved towards the balcony, pulling open the sliding glass door and stepping out into the warm Phoenix air.
The city skyline stretched out before her, the twinkling lights of the skyscrapers creating a beautiful sight. Olivia closed her eyes, letting the gentle breeze brush against her skin and mess up her hair. For a moment, she forgot about the case, about the victim, about the suspect. It was just her and the peaceful night.
The night was hot and muggy, the air thick with the scent of blooming flowers and freshly mowed grass.
Olivia lay in bed, her skin sticky with sweat and her senses heightened. She could hear the hum of the air conditioner, the rustling of the sheets as she tossed and turned, and the distant sound of a siren outside.
As she closed her eyes, she felt the coolness of the cotton pillowcase against her cheek and the weight of the duvet covering her. She could taste the metallic tang of fear in her mouth, and her nostrils flared at the familiar scent of her sweat.
As she drifted off to sleep, her mind was filled with thoughts of the case and the responsibility she carried to solve this case. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she could feel the tension in her muscles. But despite her exhaustion, she continued to pray for guidance, for a sign that would help her solve the case.
And then it came, like a bolt of lightning striking her mind. A vivid vision filled her mind's eye, sending shivers down her spine.
The chase had begun in the damp alleyways of the city. Olivia's heart pounded as she sprinted after the suspect, the sound of her footsteps clacking against the concrete. The smell of rotting trash filled her nose, and she could hear the distant sirens of police cars. The suspect was fast, too fast for her, and she felt a growing sense of desperation as she lost sight of him. Panic surged through her veins as she stumbled into an unfamiliar room, and the door behind her slammed shut.
The room was a horror. The walls were stained with grime and dirt, and the air was thick with the smell of decay. There were no windows, no doors, no way out. Olivia's chest tightened with fear as the walls began to move, closing in on her at an alarming speed. The pressure grew and grew, crushing the air out of her lungs.
Suddenly, she heard a low growl that made her blood run cold. The growl grew louder and louder until it was a deafening roar. She spun around to face the sound, and in the darkness, she saw a pair of glowing eyes. They were the eyes of a massive wolf, its black fur bristling, and its jaws dripping with saliva. Olivia's legs refused to move, and she was frozen in place as the wolf leaped toward her.
The wolf's hot breath washed over her face, and its teeth gleamed in the darkness. Olivia screamed, but her voice was drowned out by the sound of snarling and growling. The wolf's jaws snapped shut, and she thought it was the end, but then something strange happened. The wolf hesitated, and its eyes flickered with uncertainty. For a moment, the wolf seemed almost human, as if it were struggling with something internal. Then, with a sudden burst of movement, it disappeared into the darkness.
Olivia woke up, her heart pounding in her chest. It was just a dream, she told herself again, but the fear wouldn't go away.
Olivia rose from her bed with a jolt, her chest heaving and her heart racing as she struggled to escape the clutches of the nightmare that had ensnared her. With a trembling hand, she reached for the lamp on her nightstand and flicked it on, illuminating the darkened room in a soft glow.
Her legs carried her unsteadily to the bathroom, her mind still haunted by the terrifying images that had played out in her subconscious. She approached the sink, gazing at her reflection in the mirror with eyes that betrayed the fear that still lingered within her.
Desperate to rid herself of the lingering terror, she splashed her face with water, the droplets cold and refreshing against her clammy skin. As she gazed into the mirror, she willed herself to push the dream from her mind, though the memory of it still lingered like a shadow at the edge of her consciousness.
But she couldn’t shake those eyes.
Olivia Collins knew those eyes.
Chapter Seventeen
Olivia needed clarity. With all of the weight of the case pushing down on her, she wasn't sure how much she could take before walking away. The detective rarely met a case she couldn't solve. Thanks to that neat little ability of hers, it was nearly impossible for her not to solve a case. But it was like something was blocking the frequencies and she could barely get glimpses let alone anything she could use.
Going to her captain's office, at her home station, made the most sense to the redhead. Failure of catching the murderer and the realization that things that go bump in the night exist, she had a perpetual headache and no answers.
Captain Mike Colson had been her mentor when she came on as a beat cop and worked her way up to detective. He was more like family than her boss, and because of that, she had to pick his brain about it all. The vampires and werewolves, the unsolvable serial murders, and her need to push everyone away as if it was some way to save them from death.
Olivia sat in front of Captain Colson's desk, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her mind racing with all the unanswered questions that lingered within. She knew that her captain had seen her like this before, that he knew the look of a detective who was on the brink of collapse.
“Talk to me, Liv,” Captain Colson said quietly, his voice filled with concern. “What's going on?”
Olivia took a deep breath, the weight of the world resting heavily on her shoulders. “I can't solve this case,” she admitted, her voice cracking with emotion. “I've tried everything I know how to do, but... it's like something's blocking me. Like I can't see the whole picture.”
Captain Colson nodded thoughtfully, his eyes fixed on her. “This case is unlike anything you've ever faced before, Liv,” he said finally. “We're dealing with creatures that hunt us for fun.”
Realization flowed through every fiber of her being. “You knew?” Her words were barely a whisper, the feeling of betrayal ached heavily in her chest.
The captain sighed deeply, his eyes filled with sadness. “I'm sorry, Liv. I didn't want to put you in danger, but I also knew you were the only one who could solve this case. You have a gift, and it's our responsibility to use it for the greater good.”
Olivia shook her head in disbelief. “And you thought it was okay to keep this from me? To not tell me that vampires and werewolves were real?”
“I understand if you're angry with me, Liv,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “But you have to understand that we're dealing with something beyond our understanding. These creatures have been around for centuries, and they're not going to stop hunting us anytime soon.”
Fury consumed Olivia, igniting her like the blazing embers of her red hair. "And let me guess, you thought you were protecting me?" she spat out, her voice laced with bitterness.
"Don't do that. You are like a daughter to me, Liv," Mike responded, his tone torn between concern and guilt.
"That doesn't give you the right to keep something like this from me, Mike," Olivia shot back, her emotions swirling like a tempest inside her. "Especially when I am a part of this world. I've been searching for answers for years, and you knew. You knew, and you kept it to yourself."
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she fought to hold them back. This was not a time for vulnerability. It was a time for confronting the painful truth that Mike, her trusted mentor and father figure, had withheld crucial information from her.
"I faced dangers, Mike. I've put my life on the line countless times, and you thought sheltering me was the best way to keep me safe?" Olivia's voice trembled with a mix of anger and hurt. "All this time, while I was searching for the truth, you were... What? Afraid I couldn't handle it? That I'd break under the pressure?"
Mike's eyes flickered with a mixture of regret and understanding. "I never wanted to hurt you, Liv," he admitted softly. "I thought I was doing what was best, but I see now that I was wrong."
Olivia felt her anger waver, replaced by a profound sense of disappointment. She had always trusted Mike, and now that trust felt shattered, like fragments of a broken mirror reflecting a distorted image of their bond.
"Mike, you should have given me the choice," she said, her voice tinged with sadness. "I deserved to know the truth, no matter how difficult it might be to accept."
He reached out to her, his hand hovering in the air, but Olivia stepped back, needing space to process the emotional turmoil within her.
"I can't change what I did, Liv," Mike said, his voice heavy with remorse. "But I promise you this: from now on, I won't keep anything from you. You have a right to know, and I won't stand in your way any longer."
Olivia looked into his eyes, searching for sincerity, and found it there, mixed with profound sadness. She knew Mike cared for her deeply, but that realization only made her heartache more acute. She didn't want to fight with him, she just wanted the truth and the freedom to make her own choices.
"I need to find my own path," she said, her voice raw with emotion. "I can't keep living in the dark while you decide what's best for me. This world, the supernatural world, it's a part of who I am, and I need to face it head-on."
Mike nodded, a mixture of resignation and pride evident in his expression. "I understand, Liv. And I'll be here for you, every step of the way. Just promise me one thing… Be careful. The dangers in that world are real, and I don't want to lose you."
A tear escaped Olivia's eye, and she wiped it away with the back of her hand. "I promise," she whispered, her voice breaking. "But I need to do this, Mike. For myself, and for those who need someone to stand up for them."
Mike nodded again, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I know you'll do great things, Liv. You always have."
Olivia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. “Okay,” she said finally. “What do we do now?”
“We keep working the case,” Captain Colson said firmly. “You're the best detective I've ever trained, hell, ever met. I can't take credit for a naturally born talent.”
“But not alone.” Her eyes met his.
“No, not alone. Nathan's a good man and a good detective, and I think you know what else he is.”
She nodded. “I do.” Olivia had yet to confront him about it but all the signs were there. And she couldn't deny that dream she had the other night. Chewing on her cheek, Olivia knew what she had to do.
No more pushing people away.
Leaving Captain Colson's office, Olivia's resolve ignited like wildfire within her. She refused to evade the confrontation any longer. Nathan's hidden supernatural nature beckoned for answers, urging her to cast aside the hollow pretense of independence. The truth resonated deeply within her core – she needed a partner.
Stepping out of the Phoenix Station, an ominous shiver slithered down Olivia's spine. Unveiling her guarded heart to anyone had always been a distant notion, but entrusting herself to someone who could be both her shield and her peril? It was a treacherous leap into uncharted territory.
Chapter Eighteen
Olivia stood in front of Nathan’s door. In truth, she didn’t know if this was the right move but she had to tell someone about Xavier looking in her head. And she didn’t think it was safe to tell her daughter. The more she could keep her out of this, the better.
Nathan looked surprised when he opened the door.
“Got any bourbon?” she asked as she pushed inside. Not giving him much of a choice, she came into his home because she didn’t know where else to go.
“Sure. Come right on in,” he said sarcastically.
“You owe me at least that much,” she pointed out as she took in his home. Keeping a secret from her the way he did. But she kept secrets too.
Regardless of if it was his personal life or not, they could have used his insight for the case. But now all she could think about was who was he protecting.
The thought was shoved away. Hating to admit it but Olivia thought she knew Nathan well enough that if he knew who the murderer truly was, he’d bring them to justice. She couldn’t trust much anymore but she could trust that.
Nathan lead the way to his living room and gestured to the couch before he poured out two bourbons.
Seated on the couch, she couldn’t help but watch him and how every muscle in his body moved. The shirt fit just the right way so that there was no wondering about the wall of muscle that led beneath it. How much of that was because he was a werewolf and how much of that was because of his lifestyle?
He handed her the glass and for a moment she was quiet. Staring at the blank TV, she contemplated what to even say to him. Anger still boiled from the betrayal but he was still who she came running to the moment she needed something lately.
She inhaled deeply.
"First, I need an answer to something," Olivia's gaze locked onto him, a determined intensity that seemed to anchor him in place. The questions she sought answers to were a weight upon her shoulders, and she was resolute in her pursuit of truth.
"You and Rachel," she continued, her voice unwavering, "I saw the two of you arguing, and it was about me." Her ears had caught more than just her name in that heated exchange, but she held back that detail. The strategy was clear in her mind - the less she disclosed, the more she might glean from him about the topic at hand.
“Rachel and I are old friends from childhood. Whatever you think you heard…”
“Don’t try to lie to me. I know you are a werewolf.” Olivia held his gaze, daring him to deny it.
Olivia scoffed and took a drink, the brown liquid burning its way down.
“So what were you two arguing about?” Olivia asked unwilling to let this go.
“Rachel is trouble.”
She could have told him that but Olivia wanted something she didn’t already know. She wanted answers.
“Olivia…” Nathan’s voice was soft, pleading. “I should have told you when you realized what our killer is.”
She shook her head, Nathan wasn’t answering the question but there were other answers she wanted as well. Which answers did she want more? This was too exhausting. And the onset of a headache prodded at her temples.
“I get why you didn’t. You didn’t want me to question your loyalty.” Forgiveness wasn’t going to be given freely but she could at least recognize why he kept it from her.
“It’s more than that, though. Yes, that was the main reason. And I should have trusted that you’d have my back regardless.” It was true, though. Olivia didn’t like having a partner, but they were too deep into this for her not to have his back. Even if they weren’t knee-deep in this, she still would have had his back. She’d never leave one of her own out to dry despite how she felt on the topic of a partner.
“Your reasons are your own.” And she believed that.
“How long have you been a werewolf?” Olivia's voice carried a hint of disbelief, searching for answers that had eluded her for far too long.
Nathan met her gaze, his expression serious yet tinged with a trace of vulnerability. “Since I was born,” he confessed, his voice steady. “I come from a long line of werewolves, and it's a part of who I am.” Which meant his brother was a werewolf too.
Her mind raced with questions. “Do you know other werewolves? Are there more of you?”
He nodded, understanding the depth of her curiosity. “Yes, there are others. There are three packs in Tolleson alone, each with its own alpha and territory. And there's a larger pack in Phoenix as well. Rachel is one.” His eyes watched her. “But from a different pack.” As if the clarification made any difference in how she felt.
Olivia's eyebrows furrowed as she tried to process the information. “And is that why you two were arguing about me?”
She wasn’t going to let that go.
“Yes,” he answered. “She’s jealous. Her and I…” he paused as he looked down. “We used to date before we had this falling out.” Olivia waited for him to continue but that’s all he gave her.
Olivia’s lips tightened into a thin line. She’d get the truth eventually but tonight wasn’t it. Perhaps Xavier, with his knack for delving into every corner, held the answers she sought.
“What about Liam? Is he a werewolf too?”
Nathan nodded once again, his tone grave. “Yes, he belongs to one of the packs. But not all werewolves are the same. Just like humans, we have our differences, our alliances, and our conflicts.”
She absorbed his words, the world around her expanding with newfound knowledge. The intricacies of the supernatural world intersected with her reality. Olivia couldn't deny the weight of the revelation and the impact it would have on their investigation.
