Page 11 of Bleed for You (Bloody Desires #6)

J inx sat in his van watching the man he’d been asked to track.

The man appeared to be in his mid-thirties, with light skin and short blond hair.

He was the kind of man you glanced over, the kind you didn’t pay too much attention to.

A man who blended in so seamlessly that you forgot all about him.

Jinx knew differently, though. He was a man who preyed on those who were younger, vulnerable.

A man who abused and murdered, destroying lives.

A man who hurt those too young to be able to defend themselves, too young to run away and hide.

Jinx despised him and he would make this man suffer for a long time before he ended his miserable life.

And he would enjoy it. There was nothing better than listening to these kinds of people beg and plead and scream as he sliced and diced.

Did this man listen to his victims? Did he let his victims go?

No, so why should he?

Moving in his seat, he grunted when his back twinged.

Sitting in his van for over an hour watching this man meant Jinx did suffer some discomfort, but it was nothing compared to what this man had done to innocent children.

Jinx could easily endure more if it meant he got his hands on this man and punished him.

He had a list provided to him by one of the families he’d devastated, and Jinx would follow it to the letter.

He’d escaped the law due to a technicality, but he would not escape Jinx.

Once the job had been completed, he’d make sure word reached the family. That justice had been served.

Shifting again, he picked up his can of soda and took a long drink.

Sighing, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and continued to watch.

From the look of it, this man had his eyes on a young boy.

Jinx had seen these kinds of people in action before, seen how they operate.

He’d been doing his extra job for a couple of years now and had learned the tricks they employed to succeed.

The park he’d been staking out was beautiful.

The trees in bloom, flowers along the paths, children playing.

The perfect place for people like this man to roam.

Perfect to find the perfect victim, who they could tail, talk to and isolate from their parents, then disappear with when a moment of distraction meant a parent had turned away.

He’d seen a lot doing this, and each time the revulsion he felt for these kinds of people gripped him.

When his job was complete, there would be one less alive, and Jinx could live with that.

Their deaths didn’t stain his conscience.

He enjoyed it. There was no better sound in the world than their agonized screams. Smiling, he licked his lips, his eyes tracking his prey, and when he walked deeper into the park, Jinx left his van and trailed behind him.

Never too close to arouse suspicion, but close enough that Jinx didn’t lose him.

And he didn’t want to lose this man because he had plans for him.

Rafe Constance. Thirty-six years old. Single. Lived alone.

The man who Jinx would kidnap, torture, and kill, then dispose of his body in Jinx’s normal manner.

An addition to the hole he would dig, especially for Rafe.

A grave no one would know about, and no one would visit because men like Rafe didn’t deserve it.

No, men like him deserved to experience extreme pain and fear before Jinx took their life.

In his mind, he was already preparing his plan, incorporating what the family wanted as well.

Not that much compared to some requests he’d had, but he did like the skinning of Rafe’s balls…

while he was awake and forced to watch. Jinx would have to look into it a little more to ensure he provided maximum pain while doing it.

Nothing but the best for Rafe. Make him watch, make him feel every slice of his blade…

if he used a blade. There were other instruments Jinx had at his disposal.

He could use one that would tear the skin and flesh rather than slice it. He’d have to give it some more thought.

Strolling slowly after Rafe, Jinx whistled some silly tune.

He didn’t want Rafe or anyone to realize what he was doing, so he would periodically call a dog’s name.

The leash he held in his hand also added to the illusion he was walking his dog, and it helped him to blend in more.

Rafe didn’t look back once, but then again, he was on the hunt.

He had his eye on a boy; one he would never touch because Jinx would stop him.

Rafe left the path and walked over to a wooden bench, sitting and watching the young boy play on the swings and other equipment.

Jinx slowed, glancing around the area, and noticed the path circled the play area.

Walking on, he kept the leash on display, casting glances at Rafe to make sure he didn’t up and leave without Jinx noticing.

He didn’t think Rafe would. The young boy held his complete attention, and Jinx wondered how none of the parents had realized there was a predator in their midst. It was obvious to Jinx that this man wasn’t a father and wasn’t there with a child, but he wasn’t a parent, and he saw the world differently.

He doubted the parents here would sing and dance as they slowly tortured someone to death.

Around thirty minutes later, Rafe pulled his phone out and snapped a few pictures, then appeared to note something.

Jinx had seen phones from these people and knew he would no doubt have hundreds of photos of children.

Probably more. He may have details of children too.

Some did keep descriptions, and some didn’t.

After he’d done that, Rafe stood, putting his phone away, and walked away from the play area.

Jinx followed at a distance, noticing who Rafe would give a second or third glance at, and it appeared he had a type.

Young, slim, dark hair, pale skin, large eyes.

Male. Rafe only looked at boys. Never the girls.

Only boys caught his eyes and held his attention.

Gritting his teeth, Jinx watched Rafe leave the park and walk over to where he’d parked his car.

Jinx slipped his phone out of his pocket and snapped a couple of photos of the car, then got into his van and followed.

The black station wagon left the parking lot and Jinx waited a few seconds before doing the same.

He wasn’t scared of losing Rafe. He’d placed a tracker under the wheel arch so he could easily find him if he did lose him, but he wanted to watch Rafe in action.

Jinx tailed him for close to an hour as Rafe went to one school, then another.

He’d get out of his car and take photos of the children before leaving.

Jinx also knew the spots Rafe liked to go to so he could jack off to the photos on his phone, but he had yet to locate the place Rafe took his victims. That hadn’t been found by the police either.

It appeared Rafe was careful that there was nothing that linked him to this place.

The only reason he’d been caught was because he’d been seen picking a boy up and trying to leave with him.

A mental health crisis and incorrectly completed documents had meant Rafe had to be released, but his arrest had meant the family who now employed him had seen him and recognized him as the man they’d seen near the park where their son had disappeared from.

They’d informed the police, but nothing had happened.

Months of waiting had eventually taken its toll and now Jinx would finish the job.

No other child would be this man’s victim.

Feeling his phone vibrate, Jinx ignored it.

He stayed focused on the job at hand and didn’t want any distractions.

Rafe. Now he was at another park, strutting his stuff as Jinx saw it.

Strolling along the path like he owned the place, eyes scanning the area and only slowing when he saw children.

“Hmm. You do have a type, don’t you, Rafe?

Maybe I’ll show you photos of little boys and every time you get hard, I’ll shoot nails into you or slice a piece of skin off your body.

” Jinx smirked. “Listen to you scream and beg. Then I’ll make you wish you were dead, but you won’t be, because I’ll make sure you stay alive for a long time. ”

Jinx sauntered behind him, never closing the gap but making sure he never truly lost sight of his prey.

Rafe appeared oblivious to his shadow, but this man had escaped justice and knew the police would think twice before going after him again.

Not Jinx, though. He’d go after Rafe and catch him.

Hmm, the metal table in his cabin was going to get a workout with Rafe.

The dentist chair had featured in a couple of ideas, but Jinx changed his mind.

The table that he’d customized would be perfect instead.

All naked and spread out. Completely helpless and at Jinx’s mercy.

Rafe headed toward a play area and sat on a bench, legs spread, eyes on the children.

Jinx continued walking by, eyes on Rafe, the kids, and passersby.

He didn’t want to raise suspicions, but if people could ignore a man who sat watching their children, then they would ignore Jinx. But he wouldn’t risk it.

Jinx found a spot where he could watch Rafe unobserved, and had to grit his teeth at the way Rafe touched himself as he watched them play.

The parents didn’t seem to notice, or they did and didn’t want to risk a confrontation.

It was mainly women at the play area, and Rafe was a man who could easily overpower a woman.

Rafe wasn’t built small. The T-shirt he wore was tight across his broad shoulders.

He had to work out, and as such Jinx formulated his plans on how to take him that lowered the risk of him having to fight Rafe.

After another forty minutes Rafe was up and leaving the area, but not at the slow pace he’d used previously.

This time he moved at a faster pace, but like he was desperate to get out of there.

Jinx had a feeling he knew why. Too much excitement for Rafe to handle, and he needed to find an isolated place for some relief.

Again. “Sick bastard.” Jinx got in his van and waited.

Rafe had parked in an isolated section of the parking lot, and this was the reason why.

Jinx watched him get in. Then there was very little movement for a minute or so before Rafe sagged forward. “Dirty mother fucker.”

When Rafe drove off, Jinx again followed him all the way to Rafe’s home.

He parked farther down the street and watched Rafe dash inside.

A minute later, the lights came on and the curtains were pulled shut.

Jinx sighed and relaxed in his van, rubbing the stubble on his jaw as he stared at Rafe’s house.

Did he wait or did he go home? Rafe made the decision for him.

More schools, more play areas, and Jinx knew he had a very sick man on his hands.

One he would enjoy taking to pieces. Eventually Rafe went home and stayed inside, and by eleven at night, Jinx drove home as well.

He’d taken some photos of his own, all of Rafe, and printed them off, then pinned them to a board.

A board Craig didn’t know existed and would never know existed.

He could never know about this part of Jinx’s life.

Grabbing a beer from the fridge, Jinx stared at the photos he’d printed out, then picked up the darts and threw them.

They all hit their mark, which was Rafe, and Jinx chuckled.

Tearing the label off the bottle of beer in his hand, Jinx contemplated where he would take Rafe.

What the best location would be, the best time.

The house was out. It was on a residential street which Jinx had discovered was far too busy.

That meant somewhere else. A few more days—when he could—of following Rafe and he would have a time and a place pinned down, then Rafe was his.

His toy to play with, his toy to make scream, to bleed. His toy to break.