21
“Pick a card.”
“What? No.” The child killer backed away from me. I moved slowly and deliberate. He was trapped.
“If you don’t, I’ll pick one for you, and I’ll make sure your death is as painful as possible.”
The fat sack of shit reached out and snatched a card from my deck.
The Tower.
I grinned and looked behind him.
“Happy?” He snarled and flicked the card to the floor. I flashed my fangs and lifted my foot.
“Very.” I kicked him as hard as I could. His arms flew up as he went through the window and down four stories. I heard his body hit the concrete and his screams stopped abruptly.
Twenty-five left.
I glanced around the hotel room. It was rather unimpressive, much like the stupid fuck who had rented it. I bent down, picking up The Tower and flicking it. I put it safely with the others and shoved them back in my pocket.
I bounced down the stairs rather than taking the elevator. He’d been a human. Evil soul or not, the human authorities wouldn’t appreciate him dead on their sidewalk. They’d be looking for the culprit.
I took the back exit and hopped into my car, flying out of there like I’d just murdered someone. Oh, wait.
Once I was on the highway, I called about my next mark.
It rang through my speakers, and the other line picked up after two rings.
“Already? That was fast.” Corrine clicked her tongue. “If you cut corners, I’m cutting you.” She threatened.
“Don’t worry about how I’m doing it. Just know that it’s done. Where am I going next?”
“Let me look at my book. You’ve been busy. Your bank account is filling nicely.”
“Stop snooping.” I laughed. “I’m not hard up for anything. I’m just- ready.”
“Aw, baby Desiderio, finally.” She teased.
“Don’t start with that shit,” I muttered.
She cackled, and suddenly I remembered why she was one of my least favorite of the sins. She was annoying as hell.
“Alright, I’ve got something in Chicago if you want it. I can probably line up a few while you’re there. Sound good?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” I said. I could almost see the icy glare she was giving me through the phone.
“Call me when you get there, and you’re settled.” She hung up without another word, and I was grateful. When I called her a week ago from Arsenio’s house, she had insisted on talking for an hour. She looked twenty-seven, just like every other vampire, but she acted like an old woman.
I typed Chicago into my GPS and then flipped on my music. Iron Maiden blasted through the speakers, and the knots in my stomach tightened.
I had known Scout for barely a speck of time. In a vampire life, where eternity is expected, days are like minutes, weeks- hours. Months are more like days. I had known her for a few vampire days, and she had me going fucking crazy. But still, everything reminded me of her.
Fuck, I hadn’t even been inside her yet, and I was jumping through hoops like her magic pussy had a hold on me. I guess, technically, it did. She was just that good.
It started with talking to Arsenio about her. After our argument at the theater, I decided to tell him and do what she wanted: break my curse. I went right over to my old friend's house and confessed everything to him.
He had welcomed me in with a smile and offered a drink, but I refused.
