Page 4 of Run From Me

The rest of my words were cut off by two familiar and unwanted arms wrapping around me. Fucking hell.

“Hey there, beautiful.”

I swallowed back the vomit his presence always seemed to elicit.

“Ripple, what are you doing here? I checked in already.”

His hands slid from holding me to groping me. I threw an elbow, but at this point it was pointless. He was ready for damn near every self-defense move I’d been taught in the few classesI’d been able to attend between working and hiding from the Vipers.

“Yeah. You did, beautiful. I just missed your sweet little ass.”

I closed my eyes and tried to envision my happy place as he licked the side of my face.

“Mr. Johnson was real juicy; hope you enjoy the splatter that squirted on my cheek earlier.”

He snarled something unintelligible as he grabbed my upper arm and pulled me around to face him.

“Fuck, you are such a bitch.”

I smiled like there was an ounce of confidence or sanity left inside me.

“Yeah. And it’s what keeps you coming back, even though I wish you wouldn’t.”

He smirked and stepped back, looking around the morgue.

“I hear there’s a big party for the Spectors. You wouldn’t happen to be going, would you?”

I swallowed.

“Why would I go?” I asked.

He pulled out a blade and started to flip it open and closed.

“You’re friends with the new Spector head whore, aren’t you?”

Ripple asked like he didn’t already know.

“What do you want, Ripple? I need to change. No one likes uninvited intestines at their wedding reception.”

Fucking hell. I looked at the clock. The reception was about to start, and Rylee had begged me to come. She didn’t know my mess of a life and I liked her. I liked pretending I could have that fairy tale. Someone who worshipped me enough to kill.

“Need a date, beautiful? Boss would really like for a Viper to be present at this reception.”

My stomach soured.

“I, uh, I already accepted a date. Besides, I don’t think they would welcome a Viper. Or maybe I really don’t have any idea how your little tiff works, anyway.”

He looked around the room.

“Sweetheart, Ripple here is a much better date than any of these stiffs.”

I rolled my eyes.

“It’s always such a turn-on when you talk about yourself in third person. Besides, I am not dragging any of these bodies to a party. But thanks for thinking I might have a thing for necrophilia,” I said and took a few steps forward, attempting to look like I wasn’t on edge as I ran a finger over his cheek. “I’m sure they would all be better lays than you would, though.”

I smirked right before the burn across my cheek brought a tear to my eyes.

“Fuck you, you bitch. Maybe it’s time for old Ripple to show you just how I fuck,” he said.

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