Page 40 of Craving Venom
“Yeah,” I say, stretching my arms behind my head. “But at least I’m not losing a fight to a goddamn bolt.”
His nostrils flare again, but then, finally, with a sigh that sounds like it physically hurts him, he jerks his chin toward the car. “Fine. Get your ass over here.”
I push off the wall, shaking out my hands as I saunter over. “See? Was that so hard?”
Mark glares. “Shut the fuck up and get this thing off.”
I crouch next to the car, rubbing my fingers together before wrapping them around the bolt. It’s rusted, but I know the trick. A little twist, a little pressure, and—
Pop.
The bolt gives way.
Mark scowls. “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”
I wipe my hands on my shirt. “Guess you just don’t have the right touch. Maybe that’s why your last girlfriend ran off.”
He flips me off, muttering curses under his breath. I chuckle, leaning back on my heels. “Don’t take it personally. Not everyone’s got magic hands like me.” I lift my fingers, wiggling them. “These? These make bitches weak in the knees.”
Mark gags. “Jesus fucking Christ. Keep that shit to yourself.”
I laugh, but before I can make another sleazy remark, the sound of approaching footsteps catches my attention. Some new guy steps into the yard.
Another newbie. Great. How many of these motherfuckers am I gonna have to deal with? The kid’s too young to be in a place like this. He hesitates when he sees me, then squares his shoulders.
“Hey,” he says, nodding at Mark first, then at me. “I’m Devin.”
I stare at him.
He smiles awkwardly. “Uh… I just got transferred here.”
I still don’t say shit.
Mark sighs, wiping his hands on a rag. “Yeah, we figured. Welcome.”
“I heard there’s going to be a Halloween party around here. Is that true?”
“Yeah, there’s a party planned. Should be something different for a change.”
I bark out a laugh. “Oh yeah? Are you going to hang a fucking ghost from your bunk? Maybe leave out a bowl of candy for the guards?”
Devin hesitates. “Uh—”
Mark rolls his eyes. “Ignore him.”
“No, no,” I grin. “Halloween is a special time in here. See, they say this place is haunted. Full of ghosts of the men who nevermade it out. The ones who got their throats slit in their sleep. You know, guys just like you.”
Devin shifts, and his confidence shakes for a second.
“You believe in ghosts, rookie?”
He swallows. “Not really.”
“Good,” I murmur, stepping closer. “Because the only real monsters in here are flesh and blood. And you might not see them coming until it’s too fucking late.”
“Relax, Zane,” Mark sighs. “You’re not helping.”
“Just offering some words of wisdom to our eager friend here. After all, one man’s monster is another man’s mentor, isn’t that right?”
