Page 26 of Ruthless

“It’s my turn, not yours,” he quipped, giving me an amused smile. “I wanna know, so tell me.”

I took a deep breath, hating what pathetic thing I was about to say. “Please don’t turn me over to him.”

His eyes gave away his true colors in the moment, flashing with a sympathy I thought was impossible for him—but it was fleeting. “Not turning you over to him. I just wanna know. He might come creeping around or something.”

“I don’t think my brother will let him off the leash,” I said, hoping that was the truth. If Chaz wanted to find me, Victor was his best asset… But if he wanted me to come home alive… Yeah, I was better off with the ruthless motorcycle gang.

“And if your brother dies?” Ghost Eyes tilted his head in a way that made a chill run down my spine.

“Then I’m going to have to run like hell, and hope I’m faster than him.” I had thought of it happening. It had crossed my mind Chaz passing and then not being able to protect me… But deep down I had always hoped that Victor would…move on.

His jaw twitched. “I can offer you protection.”

“That’s rich coming from someone who fucking kidnapped me,” I snorted, shaking my head. I laid back against my pillow, letting the book drop to the floor.

“You still haven’t told me about your experience with him. Did you date him or something?”

I popped my head up to raise my brow at him. “Are you serious? Who the heck would date a sadistic creep like him? He’s pure evil. I know he is. Everyone knows he is. And if you think he’s not, you’re just like him.”

“Some women have a thing for that serial killer shit.”

“Not me,” I muttered, though the term made me wonder if Ghost Eyes might be one. Maybe that’s why he was asking. I had thrown myself at him more than once now.

“Alright, so spill.”

I laid my head back on the pillow again, letting my eyes stay focused on the ceiling. “There’s not that much to tell. I met him when he came to work for my brother. I always got an off vibe from him, but I knew he was proficient at his job. And anyone who can kill people with little to no remorse—and in his case, none at all—is a psychopath.”

“I’m a psychopath.”

“Maybe,” I shrugged, not buying it, honestly. Ghost Eyes had one thing that Victor didn’t—and that was a conscience. I could tell he had morals…even if there weren’t many of them.

“So then, what happened?”

“He likes toplaywith his victims,” I began slowly, “playing mind games with them—stalking them. Chaz knew that, and so when signs started showing up, he started watching him. Eventually, he found the journals of what Victor wanted to do to me. Chaz put his foot down, and then, yeah.”

“I’d have fuckingmurderedhim.”

“My brother is too scared of Victor to try and kill him. He knows he won’t win… He keeps the bluff of money and safekeeping as a way to hold him back. Victor does whatever he wants, and Chaz covers it up.”

“Only thing I’d be covering up is his body with a shovel full of dirt,” Ghost Eyes growled, his eye growing cold. “If he ever sets foot on this property, he’sdead.”

And so am I.

Chapter 12

Axle

I hated the thought of him putting his sights on Rachel. I only knew Victor through his killings, having seen his handiwork more than once over the years. I had never met the guy, but I didn’t have to meet him to know what kind of monster I was dealing with. No matter what was decided with Rachel, Iwouldkeep her safe from him.

Sure, he was more sadistic than me, but that didn’t make him more deadly.

“You good, man?” Gunner kicked me under the table in my kitchen.

I jerked my eyes from my hands, meeting his gaze. “Yeah, I guess I’m just tired of being stuck in this house. Cabin fever or whatever.”

He shrugged. “Why don’t you take a break then? I can babysit her.” He glanced over at the camera monitor. “She doesn’t really seem like she does much of anything.”

I knew she was reading, though I hadn’t paid much attention as towhatthat was. The screen was too grainy to make out most things, and I was still exhausted from staying in her room until nearly four in the morning.

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