Page 103 of Visions of Darkness

The man was tall and thin, his light hair shaggy and unkempt. His hands were in fists at his sides, and all his attention was trained on where Aria slept.

It was the trucker from earlier today. The one we’d seen outside the diner. The one who’d sent a cold dread skidding down my spine.

Bloodlust seeped from his pores and infected the oxygen.

Deranged.

Half-mad.

In that moment, I realized the man didn’t possess half his senses.

He didn’t even notice I was there.

Brainwashed, his spirit sold on destruction.

His entire intention was on Aria.

He took another step forward.

Nausea churned in my gut and fury blistered just under my skin, but I forced myself to remain still.

To calculate.

To use his oblivion for my benefit.

Keeping as quiet as I could, I slowly shifted, and I climbed to a crouch in the middle of the bed. I cringed when the springs creaked, but he didn’t flinch.

Didn’t turn or observe.

No self-preservation.

No survival instinct.

Because the Ghorl had convinced his feeble, wicked mind this was the only thing that mattered.

His sole purpose was Aria.

The hammering in my heart intensified and became a thundering in my ears, and I swore silently when I realized I’d been stupid enough to leave my gun in the duffel bag tucked on the floor at the foot of my bed.

Sweat slicked my skin as each second stretched on.

A bated eternity.

Waiting for the perfect moment.

Ensuring the monster was completely distracted and unprepared before I struck.

He edged forward again, and the soles of his boots scuffed on the thin carpet as he tried to keep himself secreted as he came to the side of her bed.

The sick motherfucker stared down at her, but he had fully turned his back to me.

A mistake he was going to regret.

The second he reached out with his grimy hand to touch her face, I attacked.

Springing forward, I jumped onto his back, and I wrapped my arm around his throat and squeezed.

That was all it took to snap him out of the trance he’d been under, and he roared, clawing like a beast as he raged and grappled to take hold of my arm, the asshole spinning around in an attempt to knock me off his back.

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