Page 28 of Devour

“Some people can’t handle Vegas.” A man chuckles.

Shock. I’m paralyzed with shock. Nick opens his mouth, but I hold up my hand. “Stay away from me. Just because this is your club doesn’t give you the right to murder people.”

Tears threaten to spill out of my eyes. How could he? And with such finesse and control. That wasn’t his first time doing that. He’s evidently deadly with his hands.

Hands that were all over my body hours ago. I rush to the bathroom to empty my stomach. I have to get to Tristan. Alerthim of what happened. I’ll be safe with my cousin. Hopefully, I don’t bring danger to him, but if anyone can handle it, it’s him. When I peek out of the bathroom door, Nick – no Nicholas – is standing there waiting. Since he’s a sociopath, he doesn’t get to be called Nick anymore.

“You can come out, or I’ll come in there and get you myself.”

For fear of me bringing him into someone else’s path to be murdered, I step out. He takes me by the shoulders, but I cringe and try to pull free from his touch.

“Why are you being so cold toward me?”

Is he serious? “You killed a man.”

“Yes. I’ve killed a lot of men.”

“That’s a big red flag.”

“You know I love red. And I don’t regret it. I’ll kill every single person who tries to hurt you.”

I want to scream. “We were talking! He didn’t hurt me.”

“He roofied your drink. I watched the fucker do it. Wanna go watch the security footage?”

That revelation knocks the wind out of me. How could I have been so trusting? That man drugged my drink while I was distracted. I feel sick all over again. I start to flee, but Nicholas isn’t having it. He blocks my path. His words are harsh as he speaks.

“I gave him more than he deserved. His death was quick. When, believe me, what someone like him had in mind for you, it wouldn’t have been quick. So you tell me, who’s the real monster in this scenario?”

“You could’ve gotten the police. Security.”

“Not risking it. Besides, we knew he was a piece of shit and have evidence. Kill the fucker and be done.”

This is messed up. I can’t do this. He takes my hand and doesn’t loosen his hold for me to pull away.

“If I asked you not to kill again, would you?”

Nicholas tilts his head at me and seethes, “I’m not asking you to change?”

“I’m not killing people.”

“It wouldn’t bother me if you did.”

“Murder is serious,” I plead.

“Yeah, it ends a lot of problems.”

“Stop. Let me go. I can’t do this.”

He pulls me to him and wraps both arms around me. “Hey, calm down. I’m still the same guy.”

“I don’t want to be with a murderer.” I push against his chest.

“How about if I don’t kill anyone in front of you again? I won’t talk about it. It’ll be like I don’t do it.”

“But you don’t have to in the first place!”

“Yes, I do. In my world, in my line of work, sometimes a motherfucker has to be put down. I can do things the hard way and only do it as a last resort. Even though I can usually predict the ones that I’d be ahead killing right away.”

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