Page 82 of Forever Midnight

He shrugs. “She wanted the drugs, man. Where’s the money?” Something is really off about this dude. Like he’s checked out, only going through the motions.

Midnight scoffs but otherwise remains silent.

“I’d like to renegotiate your terms, Vinni,” I say, stepping closer. “How about you give me all the stuff and I kill you?”

Vinni looks both startled and confused. I’m guessing whatever drugs he’s on are fucking with his head. He gazes around the room at vampires literally feeding off his friends, but he seems detached from it.

“You can’t kill me. I’m fucking Malice, man.”

“Yeah? Well, I brought something way better than a bunch of drug addicted gang members.” I smile, nudging Midnight with my elbow. “I brought vampires.”

Vinni’s brow crinkles, his bald, tattooed head shiny with sweat. “You don’t make sense, man.”

He reaches into his duffle bag, producing a gun and pointing it at me, but before I fully process that, Midnight grabs the gun, squeezing it in his fist until it’s nothing but a ball of metal. Vinni takes off running for the window, and I let him go for a second, enjoying the fear on his face.

Midnight chuckles, walking in that direction like he has all the time in the world. He grabs Vinni by the collar of his t-shirt as he struggles to get the window open.

“What are you gonna do, Vin? Jump from the second floor?” I ask, approaching him.

His breathing is heavy as Midnight slams him up against the wall. I pull the knife from my pocket, unfolding it methodically.

“Tell me, Vinni. Tell me why you did it? Why did you take a pretty young girl and abuse her like she was trash?”

Vinni narrows his eyes, puffing his chest out a little. “You think your sister was special? She’s just another drug addict. She didn’t matter to us except to pay off her debt. It wasn’t personal.”

His casual disdain for what he did to her makes my blood boil. “Maybe it wasn’t personal for you, but it is for me. She’s a daughter and a sister. She’s a friend. She’s smart, and you nearly ruined her.”

“If she’s so smart, why’d she get caught up with us, huh, big man?”

I plunge the knife straight into his gut, almost surprised by my own actions. The smile on Midnight’s face makes me feel weirdly proud.

Vinni grunts, bending forward to clutch the wound, but unable to move much thanks to Midnight’s grip. I step closer, yanking the knife out of him before pressing the blade to Vinni’s thick neck. He reeks of body odor and cigarette smoke, making my eyes water.

“Apologize,” I demand. “Tell me you’re sorry for hurting her.”

“Fuck you,” he sneers, revealing decaying teeth. “I ain’t no punk bitch.”

I dig the blade into his skin hard enough to draw blood. Vinni groans in pain, his eyes darting wildly as the other vampires literally play with their food, tossing the barely living men around, allowing them to get loose before descending on them again.

“What is this?” Vinni whispers, his tone revealing the fear he’s trying to hide.

“I told you. Vampires. I’d let Midnight drain you, but he promised I could be the one to end you. We’re going to wipe out your entire gang tonight. By morning, no more Malice. No more Vinni. No more nightmares for my sister.”

Vinni trembles, staring at me with wide eyes.

“Is there anything else or is it all on the table?” I ask.

Vinni sets his jaw, clearly intending not to speak. That is, until Midnight uses a sharp nail to split his cheek open. Vinni yelps in pain.

“We can do this slowly,” Midnight growls. “Or you can end your suffering. Either way you’re dying tonight.”

That’s my man. All dangerous and sexy.

Vinni, shaking now, looks back and forth between us before he makes a decision. “It’s all there. Everything the club has. It’s there.”

“Good boy, Vinni.” I pat his chest. “Now apologize and I’ll make it quick.”

He seems to hesitate again, and something about him must shift, because Midnight slams his fist into the window, shattering the glass. He hoists Vinni halfway through the window, facing the ground.

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