Page 119 of Just Between Us

I laugh. “Did you stop when Levi asked you to?”

His eyes flicker and I know I only need to keep this up for a couple of minutes, watching life seep out of his eyes slowly before he passes out. I ease the pressure around his neck, giving him a split second to allow air to flow into his lungs.

“C-cole—” he manages but I tighten my grip again, watching as he struggles in my hold, eyes rolling back as his entire body thrashes.

“And by the way, Kai is a million times the person you are. He’s everything to both Levi and I.”

My heart races in my chest, euphoria surging through me. Having Adam’s life in my hands feels better than I ever thought it would. As much as I’ve always known I was capable of killing someone, I never imagined the thrill of it to be this much. I could get drunk on the fear in Adam’s eyes. I want to bottle it and keep it to myself.

But I know if I killed him, I couldn’t return to the Cole both Kai and Levi love. I don’t think I’m willing to risk that.

“You’re dying tonight, Adam,” I say, “I hope you know that’s your own doing.”

I let him go and he sags to the floor, sucking in a loud breath as he claws. His entire body tremors as he coughs, resting on his back I look down at him for a second then at my watch. It’s nearly three in the morning. I need to end this and get back to the hospital before Levi wakes up.

“You’re crazy,” Adam says, still clutching his throat as he struggles to get up on his feet, like a newborn fawn. “This is fucking insane. I’m going to call the police.”

He tries to move past me, but I shift my body in time, blocking his way. He stumbles, falling forward, and landing on his stomach. A loud thud sounds through the room when he knocks his head on the hardwood floor.

Adam groans loudly, writhing on the ground like a worm. “Ahh, fuck! Just leave me alone. I don’t even know what you want!”

“You aren’t listening to me, are you?” I kneel, digging my knee into his back and tugging at his sweat-damp hair again. “I told you I want you dead and if I had it my way, I’d tie you up in here and cut you piece by piece as I drain you of your blood slowly. And before you died, I’d get Kai and Levi here and let you watch me fuck them in your blood.”

He shakes under me, and I realise he’s crying. “Okay, Cole. Okay. Fine, I’m sorry, okay? I won’t come near Levi again. Just let me go. You don’t have to do this.”

It’s a pitiful apology but we’re way past those now anyway. “Your pathetic apology is not mine to accept. You’re right about one thing though, I don’t have to do this, but I want to,” I tell him.

I stand, leaving him on the floor. He squirms, his body shaking with soft cries. I don’t feel any hint of sympathy as Daniel picks him up and deposits him on the couch again.

He whips his head around, that wild, desperate look back in his eyes but before he can open his mouth to say anything, one of Daniel’s guys puts a thick clear plastic bag over his head, gripping at his neck tightly so no air escapes.

Adam's hands fly up, trying to claw at him but he doesn’t let up, glove-clad hands only squeezing tighter.

I watch the plastic fill with air, the condensation turning it white. Adam watches me, eyes wide with terror as he continues to twist and thrash, muffled panic ringing around the room.

I cross my arms, as his body slowly stops fighting, twitching once before he slumps against the grey couch.

Outside, the sound of stray cats and London foxes fills the air but it’s completely silent in here. I watch as life drains out of Adam Roth’s body and my only regret is that I didn’t get to watch him bleed.

“You should get back to the hospital,” Daniel says. “We’ll clean this up.”

I give Adam one final look, his plastic bag-covered head lolled unnaturally to the side on the couch. By the time the police come to speak to him tomorrow, he’ll be dead. Levi won't ever have to waste his time thinking about him again.

Now I just need to figure out what to do with Kenny.

Chapter Thirty-Three: Levi

Light spills into my eyes and I wince, lifting my hand to block it. Everything feels heavy and my head hurts. I groan, twisting in the gauzy blankets as my eyes adjust to the room around me. I’m in a hospital bed, I realise, which means I didn’t dream about what happened with Adam.

Kai is resting his head on the bed and his breathing is quiet. I move my eyes, and Cole is sitting in another chair, scrolling through his phone. He’s in a blue sweater, not a single hair out of place and despite being in a dreary hospital probably running on a few hours of sleep, he still manages to look so perfect.

I shift to try and sit up but it’s like my head is full of water and my throat is made of sandpaper. I groan and Cole looks up, eyes wide.

“Hi, baby,” I say, trying for a smile. “You’re back.”

He stands immediately, coming over to kiss my forehead and pushing my hair out of my eyes. I really should cut it. “I got in last night,” he whispers. “Wanted to surprise you.”

Last night, before everything went to hell.

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