Page 19 of Blood Lust

I sighed dramatically. “See, you’re in luck.”

Hope flared in his gaze that was quickly extinguished.

“I’m not like my grandfather. He would’ve sat here and reveled in the smell of your flesh burning from your still breathing body.” I held out a hand into which Pietro placed a pistol.

I made a show of screwing the silencer onto the end, then chambering a round, and flipping the safety. “I prefer to make a clear and concise statement.”

Pointing the muzzle at his head, I pulled the trigger. The sound was muffled, but the chair fell back, and Benito’s blood drained into the grate.

The cold that enveloped me as I stood up was a protection mechanism I’d cultivated at a young age. It chilled and settled the bloodthirsty beast that fed on my sins. Silently, I handed the gun back to Pietro, who wiped it clean and placed it back in the case.

“Get this cleaned up,” I told Pietro, who would handle the situation with the discretion I demanded. We had entered into a contract with the Royal Bastards in Ankeny, Iowa. It was a bit of a trip for them, but they specialized in biological cleanup. We were no longer in the Wild West, and bodies left a trail. I had no intention of going to prison, so I played things smart.

Vittorio and his bodyguard followed me out, and we got in the vehicle. Pietro wasn’t far behind. We left, but all of us remained silent.

“Do you ever question what we do?” Vittorio quietly asked me as he stared out the window.

“No.”

To question what we did meant allowing my conscience free rein.

And that… would be deadly.

“Royals”—Lorde

Arching my back, I stretched. Then I pushed back my chair, picked up my mug, and shuffled in my slippers to the kitchen. I’d spent the day in my pajamas—perks of working from home. By tomorrow, I should have completed first round of edits on Merin’s latest manuscript. Then the following day, I was slotted to begin on Verlene’s.

I dumped the cold coffee down the drain and rinsed the cup before putting it in the dishwasher.

A buzzing had me frowning. I realized it was my phone, but I couldn’t remember where I left it. Tossing pillows around, I search the couch where I’d started my day. Then I checked my desk. By the time I found it on the bathroom counter, it had quit ringing.

A text came through.

Mario: I was calling to see if you wanted to grab dinner

Mario: Call me. I can bring something by if that’s easier

“Ugh! Ignore,” I whispered to myself. I yawned as I tried to get my head straight after being immersed in my work all day.

My vacation had put me on a bit of a time crunch, which equated to some long hours over the past month and a half, but it was nothing I couldn’t handle. I should be back on track over the next few weeks.

After glancing at the time, I groaned. No time to make supper, and I sure as hell didn’t want Mario coming by. I pulled up the app on my phone and placed an order to be delivered. Dad had texted me earlier and said he’d be a little late tonight, so that had bought me some time.

Me: Sorry, I already ate, but thank u!

My phone rang and I answered, then hit the speaker button.

“I’m almost done!” I singsonged as I opened a bottle of water.

“And?” Merin nervously drew out.

I laughed. “It’s good. There were a few suggestions I had, and the typical grammatical stuff.”

The door opened and slammed shut. I heard my dad muttering, then the locks all being set.

“Gotta go, hon. Dad just got home.”

We ended our call, and I waited for my dad to come into the kitchen, but he didn’t.

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