Publication date: December 18th, 2024
Synopsis:
"Be honest with me, Brian. Are we going on a cross-country killing spree?"
"I'd hardly call it a spree."
Brian Sloane is a pure psychopathic monster... to everyone but Mina.
She was looking for a good man to scratch a particular itch but instead ended up brought by the violent enforcer of a submissive training house.
Against all odds, the villain became her hero. She was the light to his dark until the lights went out, and the darkness inside her came out to play.
Now they're both killers, chasing the blood lust, running toward their demons, each hit job more dangerous than the last. From a twisted Easter hunt, to an explosive Fourth of July, from a deadly masquerade ball, to an even deadlier Krampus run, culminating in the Do or Die Valentine's Day Kill that will either seal their doom or their happily ever after.
Do killers even deserve a happy ending?
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Excerpt
"Brian, maybe we should leave," Mina says, tugging on my arm. That absolutely will not happen. This loose end has to go, along with any paper evidence that might tie back to us. I knew there's no paper trail around the payment, but there is that fucking master list Benjamin kept.
"Are you kidding me right now? You believe in this shit?" I say to Mina, not taking my eyes off our new target.
"I mean... no... but... I don't know... maybe..."
"I-I could read your cards," Benjamin says, clearly attempting to buy more time to live and to sway Mina against me.
"Mina..." I say, "he's a threat. He's already proven he can't be trusted. I don't do loose ends. You know this. And I'm not going to risk you for this fool."
"You should have all the information before you make a choice," Benjamin says. As though tarot cards count as information.
Mina takes her mask off and gives me the puppy eyes. Fuck. I swear.
"Fine, read my cards, but it won't change your fate."
I back off of him and remove my own mask as well as the heavy costume. I have a black T-shirt and jeans underneath and easier access to my weapons--exactly what I need with this slippery eel. I watch him carefully to make sure he isn't going to try some sleight of hand magic trick to gain control of the situation. If he sells so much of that shit, he probably knows how most of it works.
Mina also removes her outer costume. These costumes are fucking hot, and while they felt nice and cozy in the cold winter air, they are much more claustrophobic and stifling indoors.
Benjamin sits at the table and gathers up the tarot cards. They are black with intricately designed hyper real artwork. Pale alabaster nude figures are visible before he turns them face down and shuffles them into the deck.
"I need to add your energy to the cards, so cut the deck," he says.
I can't believe I'm engaged in this foolishness. But I cut the deck, trying to figure out what this guy has up his sleeve and how he'll try to wriggle off my hook. Surely Mina must know we can't leave this man breathing. That's the real danger, not his spooky ambiance and fucking tarot cards.
He holds my gaze for a moment, and then draws a card and lays it out on the table.
The Lovers.
I don't know what any of this means, but, The Lovers seems like a positive card, at least. The second card he turns out is The Devil.
Well, that's for sure me. No mysteries of the universe uncovered here.
The final card he pulls and flips over... The Tower.
His eyes widen a fraction as he takes it all in. I glance over to Mina and her gaze is riveted to him. Okay clearly The Tower isn't a good card, but who the fuck cares? They're just cards. They don't have any magic powers. They can't tell your fate or destiny. They're just cards.
Benjamin locks eyes with me and says in a way far more solemn and creepy than he should be able to with his life on the line, "Tell her before it's too late."
I feel Mina go still beside me. She's buying this shit. I know she is. I glance down to see she's unconsciously twisting her grandmother's ring on her finger--the one she was told has protective power.
Benjamin's proclamation is exactly the kind of vague bullshit you'd get in a fortune telling tent. No clairvoyance required to set ambiance, pull out some cards, and say something that sounds almost wise. He assumes I have some sort of secret and is just trying to sow discord so he can barter with Mina for his life. Not a giant leap to make with a sequence like: The Lovers. The Devil. And The Tower.
"Oh yeah? How about we read your cards and see what fate and all the powers that be have in store for you."
I take the cards from the table, insert The Lovers, The Devil, and The Tower face down on top, and shuffle them.
"Cut the deck," I say, sneering at him. "It needs your energy."
I see him swallow visibly now that he's in the hot seat. He cuts the deck and I pull and flip over the card on top.
Death.
I look up at him and smile. His eyes widen, the blood draining from his face as he sees his little stalling technique didn't work after all.
"The death card doesn't mean death! The death card doesn't mean death!" he says frantically, waving his hands in front of me as if performing some warding protective magic.
"Well, in this case it does." I pick up the sharp pointy knife that looks like a mini jeweled sword off the table and jab it into his carotid.
He grabs at his throat, his eyes wide. "That was a mistake."
Or I think that's what he said. The blood is gurling and choking him, muffling his words so I really can't tell. He could have said anything. A moment later, he's dead, his sightless eyes staring up at the ceiling.
Mina snaps out of whatever trance she was sitting in just now. "Brian! My God, what did you do?"
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