Page 92 of A Wild Darkness

“I get it.” His long, intense stare is intrusive, and I have to fight every primal urge not to run in the other direction because that’s what any sane person would do. But I’m not any person. I’m here to trap and kill him. To make sure he never hurts another innocent woman again.

I can do this.

“I’d love to talk with you about it,” I say, giving him a slow wink.

His back straightens while his head whips back and forth. “You would?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“I guess we can step out,” he says. “It looks like the entertainment will go on for some time still. I don’t really want to miss any of it.”

Rising to stand, I let my fingers graze over his arm to get his attention back. “It’ll just be for a minute.”

Larry painfully peels his eyes away from the stage and climbs to his feet.

“Meet me in the hallway.” I turn on my heels and walk away.

Larry is only a few steps behind me before I hear him stop.

I whip my head around to see he’s quietly gesturing toward a small door to the left of the empty bar. With panic slowly creeping in, I make a split decision to follow him instead. If Sebastian is watching me like he says he is, then he’ll see we’ve changed course.

Dammit.

Taking each step in stride, I’m behind Larry as we round the bar. Then he slowly opens a side door to a balcony made of stone and with no outside lights. One foot at a time, I leave the safety of the building and head into the dark night. A full moon hangs low in the sky, providing more precious light than usual.

“This is much more private.” Larry’s grin is menacing. My muscles flinch, wanting to run back inside, but I can’t. I have to trust Sebastian will find us.

“It’s quieter out here.” My voice shakes.

Larry moves closer to me, but I step back, forcing the distance between us. “So, what’s going on with your boyfriend?”

“Oh, like I said, he doesn’t understand me.” I give him an empty response. His proximity to me is alarming.

“You know why, right?” he presses.

“Why?”

He brings his face only inches from mine. The alcohol on his breath and food stuck between his teeth makes my skin crawl. “Because maybe a man like me is the only one who can understand a woman like you.”

I stumble back a few feet before hitting the stone edge of the terrace, glancing over my shoulder at the fall below. The height of this chateau reminds me of how far we are from the ground. If I were to fall, I’d plummet straight through the trees and down the side of the cliff—leaving no chance of survival.

Fear constricts my throat, but I remain in character, hoping Sebastian will find us soon. “A man like you?”

Larry leans in closer, his pupils dilated even under the night sky. “Oh no, sweetie.” A chubby finger traces down my jawline. “A killer like m⁠—”

Suddenly, his head jerks back, and his body is ripped away into the air.

Sebastian appears from behind with a belt tightly wrapped around Larry’s neck. Panic seizes every bone in my body, locking them in place. Short, muffled whimpers escape Larry’s reddened face as Sebastian grips the leather, pulling the sides in opposite directions, cutting at Larry’s windpipe.

My fingernails grip the stone ledge behind me, and all I can do is watch Sebastian end Larry’s life, slowly and with his bare hands. Larry struggles for a bit, but is no match for Sebastian’s skill, because the belt only grows tighter.

“You don’t get to hunt any more women,” Sebastian growls. His voice is deep, menacing.

Larry lets out a few more garbled noises before the air surrounding us is suffocated in silence. Not even the sound of crickets chirping in the distance can be heard.

“Sebastian,” I whisper, his name spilling out like a plea.

He doesn’t answer as he deadlifts Larry’s withered body and carries him over to the ledge. Lowering him to the side first, he shoves the body off, sending it slicing through snapping trees and down the side of the cliff.