Page 97 of Bound to a Monster

“How did you meet?”

“We were an arrangement.”

His eyebrows raise. “Wow. People still do that?”

“Sometimes. If they have to.”

“Must’ve been a nice surprise to see her that first day then, eh?”

“You have no idea.” I smile slightly at the memory of Carmie in her wedding dress. I hated her and loathed what we were doing, but my god, she was radiant.

“We’ve got that much in common. I almost gave up on finding a good partner until I met Isabella. We bumped into each other by chance at a bar, got to talking, and now here we are, hitched and with babies. Funny how life is, yes?”

Olivier appears at the table just then and slams his fists down, practically frothing at the mouth. “That whore just sucked me off for fifty dollars.Canadiandollars, too. My god, what a good woman. I need more money, Lev. I need her again.”

Simon grimaces. “You know they’re going to talk about this. Amelia’s going to hear.”

“Amelia? Fuck her. She’s nothing to me.” Olivier stares into my eyes, deranged and sweaty, his ruddy face pink. “Money now, please. Then maybe if I’m nice and satisfied by this worthless whore, we’ll talk business later.”

I toss him a stack of hundreds. “Enjoy.”

He shouts a loud laugh and storms back into the private room. Simon’s watching him go, and for a moment, there’s true loathing in his eyes.

I let the moment pass and ask him more questions about his kids.

Olivier doesn’t emerge for another hour. This time, he’s practically staggering, and I don’t even bother asking for change. Simon helps him out the back door. We emerge into the night in a dank, empty alley. Clouds cover the moon and our footstepsare muted by the close brick walls. I shrug on a light jacket and tug on a pair of thick leather gloves.

“Fuck, hold on,” Olivier groans and says something in French. Simon pushes him away and the stocky man leans up against the wall with one hand and starts pissing all over the ground.

Simon looks disgusted as he walks out of the alley, mumbling to himself. Curses or what, I can’t really tell.

Olivier’s stream slows and stops. He’s shaking himself when I stand up close to him.

“The fuck are you doing?” he grunts at me. “I’m all dried up now, if that’s what you’re looking for. Not interested in men usually, but you’re pretty. Maybe some other time.”

“You have no clue how much he hates you, do you?” I say very softly.

Olivier looks up. He seems confused and angry. “Who the fuck are you talking about?”

I knee him hard in the gut. He gasps, his eyes bugging, as I slam the heel of my right palm directly into his chin. Olivier’s head snaps back and his eyes go unfocused as I grab the front of his shirt and swing him hard into the wall.

His head thumps against the stone and leaves a smear of blood as he collapses to the ground. I kneel on his chest and wrap my hands around his throat, digging in tight.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Simon shouts, standing a few feet away with a gun wobbling in his hands.

“Doing you a favor.” I squeeze tighter. The darkness in me screams for blood and feasts on Olivier’s death. The stockyasshole is only half-conscious, but he’s trying to struggle out from my iron grip.

“Let him go.” Simon’s voice is small.

“When he’s gone, the crew will be yours. Think about how much better things will be. No more Olivier to get into trouble. You’ll have more money, more freedom.”

“Let him go or I will kill you.”

“Think about your daughter. Think about Celine. Keep your finger off that trigger for thirty more seconds and she’ll have enough money to go to college and then some. Olivier won’t be in the way of our deal. You and I, Simon, at the rate you originally agreed on with my father. No bullshit, no more problems.”

Olivier gags. He chokes and gurgles and claws at me. His eyes roll as if he’s searching for Simon, and I know what he’s thinking.Why won’t he shoot? Just shoot! Save my life! I’ll pay!

He can’t beg because I’m crushing his windpipe.

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