Page 14 of His Ruthless Match

The engine roared to life, and I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. There was nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of driving through The Below, weaving through its tangled streets with reckless precision. As I peeled out of the garage, the tires screeched against the pavement, and the rush hit me like a drug.

I navigated the twisting roads with ease, the headlights cutting through the darkness. The Below wasn’t pretty—not in the conventional sense—but there was a raw beauty to it, a kind of organized chaos. Buildings rose like jagged teeth, their neon signs casting eerie glows that danced across the cracked pavement. Creatures of all kinds roamed the streets, their faces a mix of wary and indifferent as I sped past.

Tonight’s job had been brewing for a while. Vazreth, a demon banker with fingers in every pie, had reached out about a week ago with his usual spiel: a client had defaulted on a loan, and Vazreth didn’t want to get his hands dirty. That’s where I came in. The payment was always handsome, and I wasn’t the type to ask questions.

My intel had pointed me straight to The Midnight Den, one of the largest casinos in Vincenzo’s territory. The place was a cesspool of excess, a haven for the kind of people who didn’t know when to stop. And my target? A vampire who’d gambled away every coin he’d borrowed under the table from Vazreth. The idiot had been spotted here every night, hiding in plain sight like he thought his sunglasses and stupid hat made him invisible.

I took a moment to collect myself after I parked. The thrill of the chase was always a rush, but I didn’t want to attract unnecessary attention. I stepped out of the car, adjusting my jacket as I approached the entrance.

Inside, The Midnight Den was alive with the sound of slot machines, the clatter of dice, and the low hum of whispered deals. The air reeked of sweat, alcohol, and desperation. Women perched at the bar and lounged against walls, their eyes scanning the room for easy marks. A few of them spotted me and straightened, their smiles turning predatory.

I ignored them as I moved to the side where I could get a clear view of the casino floor. My target wasn’t hard to find. He stuck out like a sore thumb with his half-assed attempt at a disguise. Sunglasses indoors and a black hat pulled low. The dark suit might’ve helped if he wasn’t jittering like a rabbit about to bolt.

“Fucking idiot,” I muttered.

I crossed the room in a few strides, ignoring the curious stares that followed me. The vampire didn’t even notice me until I grabbed him by the collar and hauled him out of his chair with enough force to rattle his sunglasses.

“Time to go,” I said, my tone sharp.

The bouncers were on me in seconds, their hulking forms blocking the nearest exit. I raised my hand and offered them acalm smile. “Relax. I’m not going to bloody up your carpet. Just need a quick word with this guy outside.”

They hesitated but stepped aside and allowed me to drag the vampire out the door. Once we were outside, I wasted no time shoving him against the nearest wall.

“Hello there, sunshine,” I said, ripping off his sunglasses and hat. “I bet you know why I’m here.”

The vampire smirked, but his eyes betrayed his fear. “You’ll have to be more specific. I have a lot of enemies in The Below.”

I laughed, low and dangerous. “Let me refresh your memory. Vazreth loaned you money.”

His smirk faltered. “The fucking demon banker? You can’t believe a damn thing that liar says.”

“Possibly,” I said, leaning in closer. “But I’ve worked for him long enough to know he doesn’t send me out without a damn good reason. Do you have what’s owed to him?”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few coins, holding them out like a peace offering. “Will this do?”

I glanced at the coins, then shook my head. “That’s what I was afraid of. You have seven days to pay up. If you don’t, I will fucking find you, and your life will be over.”

The vampire’s fear turned to desperation. He pulled a knife from his hip and slashed at my neck.

Big mistake.

My reflexes kicked in. I caught his wrist, twisting it until the knife clattered to the ground.

“Well, shit.” I sighed. “Guess I have to kill you now.”

Before he could even blink, I snapped his neck. His body went limp in my grip. I let go of him, and he dropped to the ground like a sack of garbage.

Pulling out my phone, I typed a quick message to Vazreth.

Jareth:He couldn’t pay you back. I took care of it.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and glanced down at the body. “Never borrow money you can’t pay back,” I muttered before turning on my heel and heading back to my car.

Another night, another job.

5

EVA