Page 37 of Devour

An unamused sound comes from the back of her throat. “Don’t play coy, Miss Goodman. I don’t like having my hand forced or to be bullied.” She sighs. “But if they’re willing to throw millions our way for you to get your five seconds of fame, who am I to complain?” I open my mouth to speak, but her voice only gets louder and more firm. “Let’s hope you at least prove yourself as well as you’ve proven to be a master manipulator. That’ll be all.”

“Miss Bowman.”

“That will be all, Miss Goodman.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I somehow make it back to my cubicle. I don’t look at anyone or speak to anyone for the next several hours. When my cell vibrates on my desk, I about fall out of my chair. My nerves are frazzled. I flip it over and almost burst into tears.

UNKNOWN: New VIP client. Congratulations.

Twenty

Nicholas

“Eliminate that one. He knew there’d be no second chances with us; yet, he chose to fuck around,” I say into the phone as I look over my documents in the back seat of the SUV. People who betray me, ortryto get one over on me, end up with a most misfortunate demise. “Moving on. What’s the source telling you?” I nod as I listen intently to all the information my people are digging up. “Good. How’s construction?” I’m informed we’re still on schedule.

Everything is going according to plan. Which is how I always conduct business. And if anyone derails my plans, they’re eliminated. I end the call and swipe on my phone until I find the live feed of the security detail I have on Maeve. I know I should leave her alone, but the moment I try to block her out of my mind, I feel the loss. She’s an addiction. My sweetest obsession. I’m a man who typically takes what he wants, and what – morewho– I want is Maeve Goodman. There must be a tiny shred of decency within me. It has to be the only thing stopping me from chaining her to my bed and fucking her until she finally submitsto being mine forever. She’s the one person I truly, truly like. I typically find most people annoying or tire of them after so long. Not Maeve.

I’m pleased to see that she’s not as scattered as she appeared to be that first meeting in Vegas. She’s cautious of her surroundings. Remembers to lock up. She even checks the back seat of her car before getting in. After following her around and digging into her life, I find myself drawn to her more each day. The most surprising information is that she has no involvement with the KO Club other than the advertising and helping with events. Maeve is more or less clueless of the underground world. If I were to take her, she’d be in the thick of it. She would be the queen of my dark empire. The risk for both of us is that I’d poison her world, and in return, she’d finally give my enemies something to use against me. She would be the key to my downfall, my ruin. I may not know her, but I know she’s worth the gamble I’m about to take.

I’m slightly disappointed that she didn’t catch me the other night. I’m ready to get caught, but I wasn’t going to make it too easy by stepping out of the shadows. She probably wouldn’t have been too happy to find me in her house in the middle of the night.

Her hips sway as she leaves her car. Our favorite douche employee, Mr. Kane Bradly, comes into view as he approaches her. They walk side by side to the entrance of the building. He opens the door for her and the smile he gives her as his eyes rake over her body has me seething. She returns his smile with a little too much enthusiasm. I might not be able to have Maeve, yet, but that fucker certainly won’t ever have her.

Although I want to blind Mr. Bradly so he can never ogle her again, I have enough restraint to know I have to be very careful in my next moves. I have an inkling that she wouldn’t appreciate my efforts to keep her co-worker from eye-fucking her. Eventhough he’s in the wrong, I know she wouldn’t see it that way.He definitely wouldn’t see it that way.I chuckle to myself at my own cheesy pun.

For some reason I doubt she’d approve of me stalking her. Call it a hunch. I’m not sure why. This is simplyHide and Seekon a higher level. Soon, I’ll come out of hiding. And soon, I’ll be the only person she seeks. I pull out my other phone that’s reserved just for her.

ME: That color is beautiful on you. No wonder he couldn’t take his eyes off you.

I keep the thought of me taking his eyes off her permanently to myself.Three. Two. One.And right on cue, Maeve darts back outside. I’m pleased to see Mr. Bradly must’ve gone on to the elevator. The idea to have someone shut down the power and have him trapped inside is tempting. I could also cut the cord and have it drop to his death. Or simply have someone go in and inject him with the right medication to trigger heart failure. So many possibilities.

MAEVE: You like watching me. Why not come closer and get a better look?

ME: I’m closer than you think.

MAEVE: Then let me see you. Come out of hiding.

ME: Come find me.

MAEVE: You won’t like it when I do.

No! Stop it! Leave him alone! I can’t get out of the car. All I can do is watch as the two guys beat my father. Over what? Money. They already took his wallet, but they don’t stop hurting him. He fights them back, but he’s outnumbered. I bang on the passenger back glass window. I don’t have enough strength tobreak it and the lumberjack leaning against the door prevents me from opening it. Three against one. Cowards. Finally, sirens wail and the three bad men run away. I jump out of the car and rush to my father. His face is swollen and there’s so much blood everywhere. I cry and beg him to speak to me. But he never does.

I jerk awake from the nightmare. I was nine-years-old when my father died in our driveway. Our fucking driveway. We were coming home after a night out at the movies. Ironically, we’d gone to see a superhero movie. No heroes appeared that night to save my father when three guys jumped him. They were seventeen, juveniles, so the punks only received light sentences. But I’ll never forget their names. Not only are those names forever sketched into my memory as the men who destroyed my life and took everything from me that night, they were also my first kills. It took me a decade, but I found them and extracted my revenge. Every so often that damn night comes to haunt me in my dreams.

That night, along with finding Cleric and him taking me under his wing, is what shaped me into the monster I am. It’s why I never allow for second chances. I don’t tolerate threats of any sort. I know firsthand the dangers of letting your guard down. And I’m all too aware of how quickly and easily your life can be ruined. Or altered forever. Cleric gave me the nameLe Loup,the wolf, for my ability to hunt and be ruthless. It’s because I learned at heart, we’re all still animals. It’s either be the predator or the prey. I know how it feels to be hunted. Followed. Attacked. Safety is an illusion, unless you’re the most powerful person is the room. Never again.Never.

I swipe my phone screen to watch my favorite little reality show – Maeve Goodman. Not only do I have two of my trusted employees following her – both women – but I also installed cameras in her house. There is the off chance she’ll be angrywhen she learns I’ve been invading her privacy. But I’ve survived worse. I’m actually looking forward to her claws coming out. I’d enjoy her sinking her claws into my shoulders and down my back.

My eyes feast on the scene before me. Maeve’s on her back with one hand over the blanket fisting the sheet while the other one is underneath.Well, well.I watch her hand come out from under the sheet to reach over to her nightstand drawer and retrieve a vibrator. My hands clench into fists. I need those sheets stripped from her. Knowing what she’s doing without seeing is almost more erotic than actually getting to witness it. Teasing me with only the jerky movements and her facial expressions. I turn the volume all the way up so I can hear her soft whimpers and sweet pleading moans. Soon, she won’t need anything else but me to give her what she needs. I’ll be her only source of pleasure.

“I want – I need –” Her eyes fall closed as her body arches. I bite my fist as I wait for her to continue. My ears strain to hear her. For the first time in years, nerves spike within me. If she speaks another person’s name it will be the final push into pure darkness. I’m not sure what I’ll do. My name. I need her to call out my name. Mine. She’s mine. All of her, including – no especially – her orgasms.

Maeve’s words come out choked. “Yes. You. I need you.”

The buzzing sound grows louder, and her movements increase in speed. “Call out the name of who it is that you’re imagining,” I growl at the screen. If she says Kane, he’s dead before she even comes.

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