Page 2 of Breaking Sanity (Hell’s Asylum #1)

“I hit him with a cast iron pan hidden underneath my couch. He collapsed and I ran. Does that answer your question?”

I tear my hand from his callous one, while stepping closer to look him dead in the eyes. His hypnotic eyes are rapidly going from side to side like he is scanning every millimeter of my face searching for a lie. I can promise he won’t find one.

“Okay then.” He backs away, taking his vanilla bourbon scent with him.

Killer stalks to the bathroom and Titus replaces his spot. His hand reaches for my face, but I punch him in the gut. Titus simply grunts and squeezes my cheeks together while yanking me to him.

“You seriously called this prick?” Titus seems to just ignore me and keeps examining the wound.

“This prick came to help you,” Killer responds, tossing the first aid kit on the bed along with a bottle of super glue. “What do you know about the Fallen or Hell’s Asylum?”

Instead of answering him, I focus on the sting of the super glue as Titus moves it down the open wound. He uses the Butterfly bandages to hold it in place while it sets.

“Alley, your attitude isn’t helping,” Declan says.

“How about we don’t provoke her, yeah,” Titus advises, shaking his head.

“It’s not provoking,” Killer states.

“It is if you know her,” Titus retorts.

“I don’t know anything,” I snap, trying to hold still so he can finish bandaging my face.

“See was that so hard,” Killer says, amusement lacing his voice.

Oh, fuck this guy!

“Titus, what’s going on?” I ignore the agitating giant.

“It’s better if you don’t know,” Declan says, coming into view. “Start from the beginning of what happened today.”

“Ugh, fine!” I pout like a five-year-old because they aren’t going to tell me anything. Pushing past Titus and Declan, I start to pace.

How much do we tell them?

Not sure, but I don’t like that guy.

Both of you hush!

“Well, I was supposed to go for a weekend getaway with this guy I met on a dating app,” I begin.

“Please tell me you had met him in person prior?” Declan uses his exhausted dad voice while pinching the bridge of his nose.

“No, but that’s not the point,” I continue.

“Jesus Christ,” Titus exclaims.

“Anyways, he showed up at my apartment because he said that the park and ride was full. H-”

“Did you give him your address,” Killer butts in.

“I don’t remember, honestly.” I cross my arms back over my chest and pop out my hip. “Do you want me to finish? Or are you just going to keep interrupting me?”

“Proceed.” Killer gestures.

“I opened the door when he knocked and turned my back, which was a terrible move because he tackled me before I could get to my phone. He whispered that he was here to collect for the Fallen. He sounded familiar but I couldn’t place his voice.

” I awkwardly laugh before continuing, “well once I got out from underneath him the first time, he pulled a bandana over his mouth so I couldn’t see his whole face, just his eyes.

I swear he had to be smiling with how his eyes lit up.

We fought and after Babe Ruthing him in the stomach with my vacuum cleaner, he threw me on the floor next to my couch.

My very reliable cast iron skillet was underneath, and I hit him a few times, knocking him out. ”

“Well from the looks of it you did put up one hell of a fight,” Titus says.

“You always leave kitchenware under the couch?” Killer sounds suspicious.

“I’m a woman. I have weapons stashed throughout my apartment in case of shit like this,” I defend my oddness.

I have done it ever since I moved out on my own. I go around the house reenacting home invasion scenarios just to hide weapons that are easy to grab. You can never be too careful.

“This happen often?” Killer cocks his head.

“With her,” Declan laughs. “A lot.”

“Okay, rude. A lot is an overstatement” I throw back at Declan.

“What else,” Titus asks.

“I searched his cargo pants pockets but only found a set of car keys. I bolted after he started to stir, so I wasn’t able to pull the bandana off to see his face.”

“Back track, what do you mean he sounded familiar?” Killer sits down at the table chair.

It creaks underneath his perfectly toned ass but shockingly doesn’t snap.

With him sitting on the chair, it almost looks like the remastered cover to Kindergarten Cop.

Though, Killer is way sexier than 1990’s Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“Like I know I’ve heard that voice and seen those eyes before, but from the brief look at his face I didn’t recognize him and the ones on his profile were blurry. But I would never forget a deep panty-” I cough, interrupting myself. “I mean his voice was one no girl could forget.”

“So, you think it’s someone you fucked before?”

“Okay, no need to be crass about it, Declan,” I snap back at him.

“That list isn’t very big, plus it’s a guy so that deletes a third of your body count, right,” Titus snickers.

“Oh, fuck you both! Both your body counts are triple what mine could ever be.”

“Which one of her exes would work for them,” Declan asks.

“Not sure but she has perfected the art form of pissing a guy off in .2 seconds so any of them could have volunteered.” They both chuckle like they are the funniest guys in the world.

“Okay, before we keep ripping on my oh so glamorous dating history and not-so-stellar personality traits, can someone tell me who they are?”

“They’re a secret group that are paid to kill people, women specifically,” Killer explains, interrupting their laughter.

“But it’s not the typical killing contract.

The payor chooses the duration starting at minimum a year then goes from there.

The Fallen get to decide how the woman suffers and ultimately dies. ”

“So, someone hired these guys to kidnap me and torture me for however long they pay for,” I ask. Killer nods in response. “Fantastic!”

“The man who attacked you, what color were his eyes?”

“They’re an aquamarine, why?”

“We’re done here,” Killer says. He stands up and struts out the door without another word.

“Shit,” Declan mutters and follows Killer out the door.

“What?”

Titus follows, closing the door behind him. Plopping down on the rock-hard bed, I sit there and wait. I’m not sure if they are going to come back but it does give me time to process the information. I try to go through the list of possible suspects.

Honestly though, that list could be endless.

I am far from being a saint and have made too many enemies throughout my life, the majority of them, being men.

The top of the list could definitely be my ex-husband, but I don’t think he has the balls to do this.

My mind starts to spiral trying to think of another person who’d want me dead and who I could have dated that would collect for them.

Fuck me in a rug on a bed of snakes!!

There is no way!!

“Sebastian,” I whisper into the empty room.

I start to pace again pulling on my unruly hair as I try to remember every detail about the man.

He was tall with an athletic build but no tattoos. We dated for three months before he disappeared. He murdered his roommates without me knowing.

The door slowly opens and all three come back in. Though it seems that Killer is not happy about it.

“Declan, it has to be Sebastian,” I all but shout.

“The serial killer?” He cocks his head and stares at me as if I have grown an extra head.

“What the fuck?” Titus looks between us.

“It can’t be him,” he exclaims, running his hand through his light sandy brown hair.

“It makes sense though,” I say, grabbing his arm. “We dated for three months and then he ghosted me.”

“Just because a guy ghosts you doesn’t mean he’s a serial killer. If I was dating your crazy ass, I would probably ghost you too,” Titus states.

“You did that, and we didn’t even date,” I jab.

Fucking asshole! Plus, you aren’t crazy, you’re just insane.

Is that better or worse?

Ignoring the voices in my head, I continue “You were there at my apartment when that FBI guy showed up and asked me all those questions. He said that they don’t know his true identity or where he is from.”

“But he butchered his roommates and stalked you after he ghosted you. That doesn’t fit. The men who collect don’t have lives outside of the Fallen,” he argues.

“Or it could,” Titus suggests. “Think, man, what would’ve put him on their radar in the first place?”

“So, you think he slipped up, and they got wind of it? Then what Titus, covered it up? You can’t cover up that type of brutality,” Declan yells. I catch the tremble of fear in his voice, like he is trying to convince himself that it’s not possible the two are linked.

“Happens all the time,” Killer finally speaks.

“They aren’t you guys.” Declan shouts at Killer.

What does that mean?

Um, who the fuck is this guy? And what the fuck are they doing around him?

“You’re right, Declan, they are fucking worse,” he retorts.

“You’re right, man,” Declan concedes, taking a calming breath.

“Okay then let’s say that this is all connected. What are we supposed to do,” Titus asks.

“There is nothing we can do.”

“Seriously?” Declan goes back to shouting.

“Dec he’s right. Plus, we have families, we have to worry about,” Titus shouts back. “We can’t risk them.”

“But she-”

“First off,” I butt in, getting between all three of them, “do not speak like I am not even here. Two,” I hold up my middle and pointer finger.

“Titus is right, you have families and there is no saying that if you guys interfere, they won’t come after you or your families.

I texted for advice not to put y’all in danger.

Which was a long shot anyways. Because in all fairness, I haven’t seen either of you in years!

! You guys weren’t there for the divorce, or the trial, or the fucking funeral!

So, let’s not pretend that you dicks fucking care, that much. And-”