Page 11 of Madness

She was twenty-five, only a few years younger than me, had worked at the club for two years, and was only friendly with Tessa. Her favorite color was purple, and she read romance novels in her spare time. All of that had been easy to find out.

What I hadn’t found was anything to use against her. She didn’t even have a damn parking ticket. She had no skeletons, no secrets. A smile pulled on my lips while she had one secret.

The little dove liked pain.

I didn’t find any indication she’d ever acted on those desires before I touched her. I’d looked into all her past boyfriends. They were a bunch of worthlessPezzo di merda pieces of shit. I doubted any of them had seen behind her quiet exterior.

A burning rage simmered low in my gut. I wasn’t used to feeling jealous, but I felt it for Kincaid. It had to be because she was a challenge.

She was going to be harder to break than I first predicted. I thought after a little punishment, after I gave her a taste of what could happen when she defied me, that she would’ve crumbled and told me her name. But she hadn’t. She was strong and smart. Smart enough to try and run from me. Not that I was going to let that happen.

The flick of a lighter brought me back to the alley. Tristan placed another cigarette between his lips and inhaled. Acrid smoke filled my senses, reminding me of my mother.

I hated the smell. And the habit. It was a weakness, and I didn’t allow myself to have any weaknesses. Tristan shouldn’t either.

“Put it out.” I growled at him. “You’re giving our position away.”

“He already knows we’re waiting for him.” He grumbled but dropped it and ground the last ember between his boot and the sidewalk.

“Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be ready.” Bash said. I watched as his eyes roamed around us. Unlike Tristan, who was lounging on the wall, Bash was upright. His body tensed.

He must have sensed it too. The change in the air. I no longer felt like we were waiting for a contact. Instead, it felt like we were waiting for an ambush. I wasn’t sure what had set it off, but it was there. The tingling of restless energy made the hair on my arms stand on end.

My eyes scanned the alley. We’d chosen to meet on neutral territory, but I wasn’t unfamiliar with the area. There were abandoned warehouses on either side of us. The alley ended at the water on one side and an empty parking lot on the other. The buildings weren’t high or far enough apart for a sniper. And Tristan had checked them when we arrived.

Still, I sensed the attack coming.

Gunshots rang out, cutting through the silence. The sound of a bullet pinging off the metal dumpster next to us echoed in the alley. Bash moved in front of me and raised his gun as I reached for my own. Adrenaline coursed through my body. Giving me the rush I’d been looking for.

Three figures crossed the parking lot towards us, guns drawn. The darkness concealed their identities, but they moved like they were comfortable with their weapons. Comfortable taking a life. But I wasn’t just comfortable with it. I reveled in it. Savored the feeling of controlling someone’s fate.

As they closed in on us, the largest of the group centered in the middle raised his weapon, and my hand moved without having to tell it. I aimed and pulled the trigger. I shot the second before the first even touched the ground. I could see the third’s eyes widen slightly as his steps faltered. Bash shot him in the knee before he could fire his weapon. Tristan advanced and kicked the gun away as the third fell to the ground.

Silence descended onto the alley. The smell of gunpowder lingered in the air.

Bash grabbed the live one by the back of his neck, forcing him to meet my eyes. His hair was light brown, and he’s features were soft. He might know how to use his weapon, but he wasn’t as hard as the rest of us. He obviously hadn’t been born in this life. He might even be new. But he wasn’t going to have the chance to become old. He’d signed his death certificate when he shot at me.

My steps were measured as I approached him. Enjoying the feel of his fear. I knelt before him and looked into his eyes, letting him see the emptiness in mine. I wanted him to know there was no escape.

“Name?” I asked in a tone that left no room for argument.

He hesitated for a second too long. I smiled internally. I was hoping he would resist. I wanted to play with him a little. It was so much more fun when I could spill a little blood.

I handed Bash my gun, and he placed a knife in my waiting palm. I preferred it. Guns were too quick. A knife could be slow. I could live in the last moments when I killed with a knife.

“Daniel.” He sputtered when he saw the blade glinting in the streetlight.

“Too late.” I sliced a line in his cheek. Daniel yelled at the sharp sting.

I tilted my head and watched the slow trickle of blood down his face. I frowned. For some reason, I wasn’t getting the thrill I usually got from inflicting pain. I ran my knife along a ring he had on his right hand. It was a frog. Interesting.

“Did Louis send you?” Whether I enjoyed it out not, I needed information. I needed to know if my contact betrayed me.

“I don’t know who that is.” This time he answered right away, and I didn’t have to hurt him. Disappointing.

So I did it anyways. I pushed the blade down until I cut through the skin around the ring. I sliced until it fell from his body, dropping to the floor.

He screamed in agony and pulled his hand to his chest. He tried to stop the blood, but it was already soaking his shirt. Still, I felt nothing. No interest in the blood pattern or the sounds of his pain.