Page 68 of The Devil's Dilemma

“They’re not fucking fake,” I shouted. “Do fake horns do this?”

Had Conrad been here, he would have stepped in, but he wasn’t.

My horns had grown, and my face contorted.

Shouts from both men confirmed they now knew who I was.

“I’m the fucking devil, and you will show me the respect I deserve.”

“Y-y-yes, master.”

Seriously, I didn’t think I was going to get much more information from them, and once again, I was getting bored with the whole thing.

Even a torture session could no longer hold my interest. What on earth was wrong with me?

Pissed off and tired, I ended their lives and left them tied to the chair. The remaining bodies had all disappeared. Only a few blood splatters here and there indicated that something had gone down here.

The two men tied to the chairs displayed no outward signs of torture, but their insides would be liquid, their organs pulverised.

I’d perfected this torture many years ago, and I was quite proud of it.

Scared the hell out of the coroners when they opened them and everything oozed out onto the table.

Some people deserved everything they got.

I returned to the casino just as it was closing.

“Good night?” Conrad asked, knocking something off my shoulder.

“Eh, could have been better.”

“You’ve got some blood in your hair. You might want to get rid of that.”

Fuck, and I thought I’d avoided it. I’d best have another shower before going to sleep. Couldn’t have Austin waking up to see me with blood splatters. Not that he’d bother. He’d caused it earlier with his well-aimed headbutt.

“Wanna tell me what happened?”

“Nope, but let’s just say we won’t be bothered by the thugs from earlier.”

“Ah, I see. Do I want to know? Any clean-up needed?”

“No, you don’t want to know, and no clean-up needed. A message needed to be sent. Do I think they’ll stop trying? No, I don’t, not with the money they were offering. I’m going to bed. These days seem to run into one, and I need some decent sleep.”

Except with Austin in my bed, it was unlikely I’d get any.

“See you later, boss.”

The elevator ride to the apartment was swift. I nodded to the guy outside the door and let myself in.

It was silent. I checked the bedroom.

Austin lay sprawled on his front, his arms and legs outstretched, barely covered.

I took a moment to admire him, the defined muscles in his back, the elegant hands with long fingers. Things I would never normally notice in a man were front and centre.

I sat on the edge of the bed and watched as he slept. Yeah, I was being creepy, but I didn’t care. Mystery surrounded him, a mystery I was determined to solve.

His mark, his amulet, his luck.

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