Page 112 of Freaks Of Nature

“There’s a question that’s been burning on my mind forever,” he says, his right hook crushing the reinforced knuckles of his glove into my cheekbone. “What’s your kill count for DeMarco?”

The ringing in my ears picks up. “What?”He’s never ordered me to kill anyone.

“Mine’s 32.”

I suck in a clipped breath.

“I don’t even blink anymore,” Ash boasts. “But there were a few extra ones I did on the side for free. Personal reasons, you know? Like Vince.”

“Youkilled Vince?” My trapped hand fists his sweatshirt at the collar while I push against his leg with my other in an attempt to free myself. My boots get no traction.

“I really had you convinced you did it, hadn’t I?” He snickers proudly. “I was just coming back to the club after silencing that rat Bates when I saw you with Vince.”

I went to the Lotus?My muscles relax with the shock.

FUCK!

Jillian.

An image of my hands around the unconscious brunette’s neck comes into focus.

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

“Man, I thought you were going to gut him right there,” Ash continues, his legs giving me another squeeze. “I was so psyched to watch you hit him… but you didn’t. You just walked away. What a bitch move. I couldn’t believe it.”

Ididn’tkill Vince! I want to feel relieved at that, but more images suddenly flood my mind.

“Well, I figured, if you weren’t going to slice him up, then maybe I should,” Ash rambles on blithely while my head is in a tailspin. “So I did. Shanked him real good. And then I went to see our girl here.”

My attention snaps back when he nods toward Emily. “Left a little love note on her mirror while she was sleeping. I might have copped a feel too. She looked so peaceful. I wanted to hear whose name she would moan, yours or mine.”

“And how did that go for you?” I quip in a knowing lilt.

Ash’s high spirits drop. His jaw clenches, and the growl forming in his throat confirms my suspicion.

A spark of pride warms my chest.That’s my girl.

“You don’t fucking deserve her,” he grates out.

“So you killed Vince, and you were going to frame me for it to get rid of me?”

“You made it too easy, brother. When I got home, you were sleeping. I switched our clothes. We’ve done it so many times, you didn’t even notice. The gloves, too.” He lifts his hand in the air in a taunting motion. “Can’t even tell, can you?”

“Why, Ash?”

“You’re weak, Mason. Ely saw it, and so does DeMarco. That’s why he callsmewhen he needs someone to disappear for good.”

To make a point, Ash stops fucking around. The triangle choke of his legs around my neck and arm lock tight.

“Don’t forget.” His voice drops into a low whisper. “You let me fuck her first… and all it cost me was a couple of donuts.”

His words hit their mark. My rage rekindles with new fuel. I clench my left fist and ram the plastic covering my knuckles into his balls as hard as I can.

Ash howls again. His hold loosens.

The second I feel the release, I push up and scramble toward the knife I kicked away. It slid across the hardwood and came to a stop by the knocked-over nightstand.

Grabbing hold of my boot, Ash pulls my leg out from under me before I can reach it. I hit the ground. He dives for the blade and beats me to it, already twisting. I can’t even draw a breath so fast. He reaches back and buries the knife in between my ribs.