Page 95 of Saving Her Vampire
My hands are steady and sure as I slice and cut across his body. I pay no attention to the blood that flies across my face. I take out all the hurt and fear with every slash of the blade. I’m transported to another place, hyper-focused on sending Sammy to hell.
Swing, cut, bleed. Swing, cut, bleed.
“Marie,” Bash calls to me. “He’s gone.” He grabs my hand, which is still in motion. “You did it, baby.”
I blink and realize that Sammy has stopped trying to move. He stopped whimpering, and all was quiet, except my harsh breathing. I let Bash take the knife. He drops it to the floor and turns me towards him. He bends his head to catch my gaze, and his hands land on my shoulders. He doesn’t say anything but grounds me with his presence. I take even breaths and match them with his. I hold onto him; my bloody hands are tight on his shirt. I focus on nothing but Bash.
“I killed him,” I state, a weird calm settling over me.
“He got what he deserved,” Bash says roughly. “You were magnificent.”
Only Bash would think killing him was magnificent. “Thanks, I think.” I laugh shortly. “This has been a weird day.” Killing him was easy. It felt right to dispense justice for myself and all the others he hurt.
“Welcome to my world,” he mutters.
“I like your world,” I respond.
“Marie, I won’t ever get on your bad side,” River says, standing and stretching.
“Fierce, Marie,” Bishops says and winks.
“Do you need help with him?” River asks.
“No,” Bash says. “Thanks for being here, but I got it from here.”
“Cool. I have to get home to my mate. Kerian’s had her all to himself for too long.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “It’s my turn now.” He ruffles my hair before leaving.
“Thanks for the entertainment,” Bishop says. He gives me a soft look and then nods at Bash.
“I have to deal with the body. Are you alright to wait?” he asks.
“Yes.” I sit in the chair. “You do this a lot.” He has hinted before about some of the people he brings here but hasn’t told me much.
“You will be the only one that has seen how I get rid of the body.” He narrows his eyes. “Can I trust you?” he asks playfully.
“I won’t tell a soul.” I cross my fingers over my heart.
“It’s a messy process,” he warns.
“I can handle it,” I say firmly. He could do just about anything, and I would still love him. “While you work, tell me about what you do here.”
“I got bored. I got bored and decided I needed a purpose. Because of my father, I need to do something to stop the men that abuse those who are weaker than them.” He hesitates. “I have a contact that I work with. I don’t know who they are, but they get me the information on the targets. I, of course, make sure the files are correct before taking them. When I started, I was very leery. I didn’t know if I could trust whoever it was. We don’t speak on the phone, and I don’t know their name. I don’t know if they have their own agenda, and I don’t give a shit. They don’t know where I take the targets, what I do with them, or when. Once they give me a name, they are out of it. It could be months before it’s done.”
“How did you find them?” I ask.
“I have a guy that is the middle man. He connected me with them, and I trust him. He’s a vampire but is a loner and not part of any coven. He does the same work and uses them as the research team.” He shrugs, not paying any attention to the blood that pours on his shoes. “The system works, and I expect it always will. I don’t plan on giving it up. The men that I kill are the lowest of the low. They have evaded any punishment and operate under the radar. They deserve it,” he defends.
“I believe you,” I say.
“I have two files sitting on my desk, ready to be taken out, but I haven’t had the time.”
“Since you met me.”
“Yes.” He sighs. “Will it be a problem?”
“No, Bash.” I look away when he picks up the saw. “Does it fulfill you?”
“Yes. It helps to steady me. It makes me feel like I’m making a difference in a demented way.” He laughs without humor. “Some kind of sick superhero.”