Page 87 of Terror Tuesday

Is vengeance chosen or divinely fed?

Does justice tremble or raise her head?

Mark the hour. Steady your hand.

This time, the lamb does not withstand.

On the back? A date. A location. And a time.

twenty-three

Sparklesof light fall from the sky as the rain patters in gusty waves. Thunder rumbles behind the clouds, promising a storm with teeth. It’s almost November, and the cold is crashing in.

As I wander into the alleyway to take up a spot on the metal fire escape, I pause. Someone’s already here. I slow my steps to a crawl, creeping around the stinking dumpster filled with leftovers from the Italian restaurant next door.

A glimmer off a puddle shows a shadowy figure on the other side. I’m early, but this looks like?—

Olivia jumps out with her knife at the ready and attempts to hold it at my throat, but I snag her forearm, twisting it up and over her head, then gather her wrists into one of my hands. The force of my chest pressing into hers causes a little woof to escape from her lungs. It’s so cute, I want to swallow it.

“Stalking me now?” I ask. “Tsk, tsk, Monarch. You’re starting to act like me.”

She growls, “Fuck you! Fuck you for making me do that!”

“Do what?”

Tears line her lower eyelids. Maybe tonight wasn’t the best for this plan… I thought she’d already be past this.

“I hurt him.” She blinks at me, and then, as if it’s the last thing she wants to admit, she shoves out her bottom lip and does. “And I hurt myself in the process.”

“You chose me. You chose wisely,” I tell her, though I can’t keep the smile out of my voice.

“You think this isfunny?”

“I think it’s inevitable.”

If her arms were free, she’d slap me—andgods, I hope she does. I want herwild. I want herreal. Unhinged andfree.

Seductive whimpers slip past her lips, along with her frustrated grunt. “I wassafewith Elliot.”

I can’t help but snort a laugh. “Wereyou?”

Her jaw clenches. She’s unraveling, and it’s the most beautiful she’s ever been. “I hate you.”

With a shrug, I answer, “You will.” I let it hang for a beat. “And then you’ll forgive me. And then you’ll beg.”

“You arrogant?—”

“Honest,” I finish for her. I step closer, pressing my rising erection against her belly. As she gasps, her plump lips part, but I interrupt her before she can say a word. “You don’t need me to besafe. You need me to betrue. And I’m the only real thing you’ve got left.”

As if she’s giving in without further argument, she grimaces. Our bodies press flush together as I hold her wrists above her head… I can’t help my hard-on. So I shove it deeper into her until she senses the entire length. Her breathing accelerates as she looks down.

“You feel that?” I murmur. “That’s not regret. That’s not guilt. That’sobsession.”

She’s breathing me in like smoke, even as it chokes her. “I should walk away right now,” she whispers.

With a glance at the end of the alleyway, I nod toward the parking lot. “Then why aren’t you?”

Her silence answers everything.