Because for the first time in twelve years, I desired a man. Chadrick Niiveux. The rakehell who murdered my parents. A smooth killer. Affiliate of the Devil. A red-horned demon.
And I. Desired. Him.
Aman.
I was so screwed.
The low dinning of my cellphone brought me back to the now. Caller ID: Unknown. Except I knew exactly who was calling.
The Voice.
The voice that had a face I’d never seen. The voice that owned me, that had been ruling me since the night of my family’s death. The voice that sent shivers down my spine. The voice that made my heart tremble.
Taking a deep, calming breath, I answered, “Allo?”
The conversation progressed in Russian…
“Any closer?”
Any closer? Any closer? I was fucking straddling him! My tongue was in his mouth. His nail-hard erection was pressed against my stomach.That’show close I’d gotten.
“No, sir. The target doesn’t have a shadow, nor footprints, nor habits. Which makes him an almost impossible fish to catch. Are you sure I’m the right person for this assignment? It’s been six months, sir. Maybe…maybe I’m not experienced enough for a fish as big as him.”
Trying to buy your way out of this, Jhay?
“A dozen men have tried. A dozen men have died,” The Voice said in a lazy drag. “Of them all, you have gotten the farthest. Get the job done.”
When I remained quiet on my end, he said, “This is not for me, Byrd. This is for you. This isyouavenging your family. This assignment is not for my benefit at all. It is for yours.”
A load of shit that was. But still my head nodded over and over, even though he couldn’t see me. Because I needed that reminder. I needed to remember what killing Chad meant forme.
“And you’ll keep your promise? You’ll free me if I succeed?”
“You have my word,” The Voice assured me.
“Okay,” I replied with renewed purpose. “I’ll get it done.”
Ending the call, I tossed my phone on the nightstand, then got out my bug detector from the closet and swept the entire apartment for planted cameras or listening devices. I did this every time I left my apartment and came back. Let’s just say I didn’t trust Sydney all that much. Or anyone for that matter. Anything at all could go down when I wasn’t around.
Fifteen minutes later, I detected nothing and decided the place was still clean, so I took a long, hot shower to clear all the dirt and grime from my body, and all of Chad’s tasty blood from my tongue.
After showering, stark naked I climbed into bed, masturbated, came hard, then slid under the covers, feeling a little cold without Sydney there.
Sleeping alone was no hobby of mine. Being alone, period, intimidated me. Loneliness tormented me. It haunted me. Gave me chills and anxieties. It blended all my emotions into one confusing vortex and drove me mad.
Loneliness was the monster I feared.
Slapping my palms together, I clapped the lights off and dragged the covers over my head.
And then I felt him.
His eyes. I could feel them on me.
Weird, because I was pretty sure no one had followed me from Empty Cage. I’d done a heat-run for twenty minutes before taking the direct path home. Plus I just scanned my apartment for bugs. So how could he be watching me?
Paranoia was definitely getting the better of me. This was the kind of shit that happened whenever I was alone.
Yet…I couldn’t shake the feeling that those dark eyeswereon me.
