Page 80 of Devotion

That last line is particularly entertaining to me, considering I’m the insane man who’s about to end his life.

“Look at me,” I whisper, and then lean closer to his ear as the smell of fresh blood scents the air. “Unstable is my favorite fucking color.”

His scream rings out when a third blade he didn’t see pushes into his torso. I hold his gaze as I rip it higher, from his navel to his sternum, watching tears spill over the rims of his eyes.

“Let it out. I don’t blame you. It’s gotta be tough knowing this is the end. Especially when you imagine that little girl of yours growing up without a father.” I shrug. “Well, until her mother replaces you with a newer,betterversion that is. I mean, come on, it’s not like you set the bar all that high.”

He winces when I laugh, finding another source of amusement when blood spurts from his mouth.

“Not much longer now,” I promise, which draws more tears out of him. “If it’s any comfort to you, I’m sure the people in your life will mourn you, seeing as how no one knows what a piece of shit you really are.”

I look him over, the sudden paleness of his skin. If I wait much longer, he won’t be conscious to witness the finale.

“Come on. We’re almost finished,” I assure him, hoisting his body from the floor to his bed. He’s surprisingly limp, which means he may be further gone than I realized.

“What are you doing,” he chokes out, his gaze following me as I retrieve rope from the bag I placed near the closet.

“You’ll see.”

“God, please, no,” he begs, but his cries go ignored as I tie both his feet to the posts on his footboard. Then, he screams twice as loud as I pull the blades from his shoulders, allowing me to tie his hands to the headboard.

He shudders when I rip the towel from around his waist, exposing his small, flaccid dick.

“Please!”

“You know, I picked up on something about you when I tailed you the other day. Then again when I overheard you tell Layla that all you ever really wanted from her was sex.”

“No, it wasn’t true. I had feelings for her.”

The lie brings a smile to my lips. “You sure? Because two seconds ago you couldn’t find enough words to tell me howunstableshe is.”

He’s sobbing now, which pushes copious amounts of blood from the wound in his torso.

“But back to my theory,” I sigh. “I think you’re obsessed with your own equipment.”

He flinches and whimpers when I tap my blade against his dick.

“So, it seems fitting that I send you out in true Diego Martinez fashion. I mean, what manwouldn’twant to die with his cock in someone’s mouth? Although, I’m not sure how many of us will get to say it was ourownmouth we were balls deep in, but I suppose that’s what makes this so special.”

“Please! Please, no! Noooo!”

I ignore him, frowning when I have to touch his dick, but it’s all worth it, getting to hear his agony-infused shrieks as my knife cuts through, severing his prized possession from his body. Dripping blood onto his torso, I hold his cock high for him to see, wanting him to know this is real, wanting him to carry every horrifying moment of this ordeal with him into death.

Blood pours out of him, and he’s starting to lose consciousness. So, I act fast, forcing his mouth open, wide enough to shove his cock inside it, and then I hold my hand over his lips, mesmerized as he gags and struggles for air. There’s duct tape in my bag that was meant for this moment, meant to keep him from spitting it out, but this feels right.

It feels… more appropriate.

His eyes are fixed on mine, and this is the moment I live for.

The rush that feeds my blackened soul as a small part of a target’s life source becomes mine.

And just like that, the light drains from his eyes, and… he’s gone.

Done.

Finished.

Slowly, I pull my hand away from his mouth, and he’s perfectly still. My gloves are slick with blood, but I’m steady enough with my knife to control it while adding the finishing touch—my signature forever carved into his chest.

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