Page 63 of The Circus

“As long as you take me with you,” I say to the darkness.

And I hope he knows just how serious I am.

THIRTY-SIX

TEDDY

“You two took your sweet fuckin’time.”

The waiflike form of Vic wavers into view amidst the thick evergreens that dot the property of the man I just killed. To Eden’s credit, she evaded me for longer than I thought she’d be able to, and he died choking on his blood while I watched, a sick smile plastered to my face the entire time. Hand in hand, we sneak from the house, sticking to the edge of the forest that surrounds the ostentatious mansion, my bloodlust and lust for Eden sated, my voices humming in contentment.

Her hand stiffens in mine, and I tug her after me, knowing she’s shocked at seeing Vic here of all places.

“Teddy,” she hisses, obstinate as I lead her through the darkness. Vic stands, arms crossed, shoulders pressed against the sturdy trunk of an oak tree. His eyes glow through the darkness, silvery orbs like crystal balls. He’d discovered me snooping through Daniel’s laptop, but when I’d shown him what those two fucks were forcing Eden into, we’d formed our plan.

Turns out, I was right in my assumptions about the gaunt, semi-frightening circus master. He is a killer, born and bred in the slums of London, working for a family as their…clean upcrew, so to speak. His track record was flawless until the family was massacred, and he fled to the states for a new life.

It ultimately led him to Dick and Daniel, and the old curmudgeon took it upon himself to stay and work there, silently keeping the girls safe from worse fates. He has an obvious soft spot for Eden, so provoking him to help me was rather easy.

We come to a stop before him, Eden glancing between us with worry in her eyes, her brows scrunched together. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Vic raises a brow, a bemused expression on his dry lips. “What’s with the tone, little missy?”

I can’t help but smirk, staring down at her. That silky, ebony hair is a mess, her pale cheeks are flushed pink, her eyes shining with the remnants of lust. She looks well and thoroughly fucked, and she is. There’s no way Vic can’t tell.

So teasing Eden a little more won’t hurt.

“Thought I fucked the brat right out of you, but maybe you need another round.”

Slowly, tremulously, she turns her furious gaze up to me, her cheeks crimson in her embarrassment.

“Teddy,” she hisses through clenched teeth, a warning in her tone. I quirk my brow and my smirk deepens, my cock awakening again. I could fuck her until dawn, and still get hard the moment she asked it of me. The way she’d ground her ass against my hips, the way she’d begged me to make her come, the way her tight little ass devoured my knife handle…

“What? Wanna go again?”

She makes a disgusted sound and wrenches her hand from mine, turning her ire to Vic, who’s glaring at me with death in his eyes.

“What are you doing here?” she presses again, and he tears his angered gaze from my face, focusing on the wrathful little sprite between us.

“Cleaning up the mess laddie over here made, and keeping you two safe. Now get out of here, and speak of this to no one, understood?”

She glances quickly between us, a terrified glint in her violet eyes. I reach for her hand again, clasping it in mine and squeezing. “It’s gonna be okay, Eden. He knows what he’s doing.”

She shakes her head, mouth open, incredulous look wavering on her slender features.

“No, it’snotgoing to be okay. Because Dick and Daniel are just going to keep selling me, idiots, and then what? You’re just going to kill everyone who pays for me?”

She has a valid point, and I glance over her head toward Vic. The voices gnash their teeth and hiss at the prospect, keen to sink their canines into anyone who tries to take what is ours. It won’t happen. Not as long as I draw breath.

“If that’s what it takes, then so be it,” he says with finality. Her shoulders droop, and she shakes her head, misery etched into her ethereal features.

“You can’t risk yourselves like this for me.”

“We’ll figure something out, Eden. Just…hold on a little longer,” I say, squeezing her hand again. Her eyes find mine through the darkness, and the terror that swirls there is a punch straight to my guts. I know she trusts me, otherwise she wouldn’t find it so joyous, me killing for her and then fucking her the way I do. It’s the unknown she doesn’t trust, and she’s already lost so much in her short life.

It would crush her, to lose me in any capacity. The pressing need for us to get the hell away from Dick and Daniel is worse than ever before.

“I should just kill them,” I muse aloud, gaze drifting into the darkness of the forest. Vic shakes his head.

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