Page 72 of Dirty Behavior

My eyes kept falling to Vince beside me. His breathing still labored, chest sunken in except for the occasional gasp of stale air.

God damnit!

Was another man going to die because of me?

I hated the idea that two men had already lost their lives because of me. Bane was gone, and Vince didn't seem like he had much time left. It wasn't right.

A thick humming slipped in from the other side of the door. I held my breath, hands clenching my ribs to slow my chest.

“I hope you're playing nice in there, Vince went through a lot of trouble to help me.”

I stayed silent.

Fuck you.

“He went out of his way to give me that number after Dante got lifted by the cops.”

What?

The cops?

I didn't trust a fucking word he said. But what if he wasn't lying? What if it was true?

“Vince was quite the soldier, he had a hard time deciding where to lay his head; with the Pisani's or with me. It toyed with him enough, but it didn't stop him from screaming like a fucking whore. You heard that right? Every single tear he shed was bliss to my ears.”

Tapping his fingertips against the door, Remo played the same tune as his melody from before. “You didn't fall asleep in there, did you?” he said, pausing and leaving time for me to respond.

But I wouldn't.

“Of course you didn't. You're playing the quiet game, I like the quiet game. It makes it more fun when I finally get to hear your voice as you scream.” The first lock clicked free, his fingers dancing down to the second. “Haven't you missed our games, Ivy?Ivy,I still don't like it. Celia was better, but I know you don't care for it. What about. . . Gina?”

The second lock broke loose, the soft thunk ricocheted around my brain with a giant bang.

One more, one more lock.

My eyes darted around the room, searching for anything I could use. My eyes snapped back to Vince. He was shoeless, no belt, nothing to use against the creature outside the door. I didn't know what the hell to do. I needed something.

My eyes lowered over my own body, scanning my shirt, my pants and landing on my boots.

I could throw one, I could swing it at him.

Maybe I could hide on the side and wrap it around his throat.

But then what?

“I like Dalia. What do you think of Dalia?” The last lock chimed, twisting open. “I'll need to call you something, but Ivy is done. No more of that, she was gone the moment Dante said it.”

Pulling my shoe off my foot, I held it tight, arm peeled back. I'll throw it. I don't have time to undo each and every loop and coil it around my palms.

“I'm going to open the door now, let's not have a repeat of before. I'll warn you now, this time I'm better prepared.”

A loud scratching noise licked my ears, high pitched like nails on a chalk board. The handle turned slowly, opening out. The shine of metal peeked though first, a long thick blade twisted back and forth. And in the background was his blurry reflection, morphed and bleeding into one disfigured form.

I cringed instantly as his smile was still boldly lit against silver death.

“God, I've missed you, Love.” His shoes caught my eye, sparkling with a bright pop despite the dusty floor. “I'm sorry to leave you waiting for so long.”

I didn't want to look up, so I kept my head down, boot tightly clenched in my hand.