Page 23 of A Game So Reckless

What I do know is that he’s got his gaze glued to Valentina’s pretty tits. He stands stock still, as if one tiny movement will dispel the vision he’s been lucky enough to stumble on.

Orunluckyenough. Because when he frantically undoes his belt and takes his cock out to stroke to the sight of her, he’s sealed his fucking fate.

I approach in silence, stepping soundlessly on well-watered grass. Despite my size, I don’t find it difficult to move quietly. Boxing and more than twenty years of taking lives in the shadows tends to keep a man nice and light on his fucking feet. Besides, the man is too hard and horny and focused on being quiet himself to notice me. He’s practically holding his breath, trying not to wheeze too hard as he tugs on his cock.

Pretty fucking pathetic to die with your dick in your own hand like that.

Disgust mingles with a throbbing rage as I take my knife out of my back pocket and flick it open.

By the time I step up neatly behind the other man, he’s on the verge of coming. I can hear it in his hoarse breathing. See it in the tension of his repulsive body.

I’m not going to let him. This moment with Valentina in the darkness was mine.

Only fucking mine.

A groan builds in the back of his throat.

It never escapes.

Because my knife is there instead. A flick of my wrist. A hard drag of the blade. A gurgle and a river of blackish blood.

I don’t let him fall. It would be too loud, and I don’t want to draw Valentina’s attention just yet. A quick glance through the shadows and trees tells me she’s completely oblivious to what’s going on, the sound of falling water covering up any small noises she otherwise might have heard. She’s sitting on the edge of the fountain with her back to me, kicking her legs languorously through the water like some fucking siren in a Renaissance painting.

I drag the man – now corpse – into a thicker stand of trees and dump him in darkness. I straighten up, then stare down at him in distaste, giving him a couple swift kicks until he’s rolled over onto his stomach and I don’t have to look at the putrid dick that was his death sentence.

I’m breathing harder than I should be.

Messy. Too fucking messy. I might be known in this town as Mad Darragh, but I’m not stupid. I don’t make a habit of slitting the throats of random assholes in public places if I can help it.

But I guess I just couldn’t fucking help it.

And that pisses me off. If it had been any other woman, I wouldn’t have even looked twice. I would have walked right on by and let the idiot have his furtive orgasm. Nobody compels me into doing anything I don’t want to.

I’ve never killed someone over a woman before.

It almost makes me want to kill her, too. As punishment. And a fucked-up form of self-preservation.

Because there’s something inside Valentina Titone that’s calling to me. It’s been calling to me ever since she sank her sharp little nails into my arm and locked those teary, fire-gold eyes on mine.

I think she’s interesting.

I think if I get to know her any better, I may even find her fascinating.

And that sort of fascination is fucking dangerous.

Alreadydangerous. Already making me messy.

Now, I’ve got an unexpected body to deal with and blood thick as paint on my hands.

I turn around and head straight for the fountain, not entirely sure if I’m going to wash my hands in the water…

Or drown her in it.

Chapter14

Valentina

Irise and turn to face him.

---