CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
New City Seasons Hotel disappeared from sight as the three of us walked the bustling city. We weaved in and out of pedestrians dressed in their fashionable attire and laughing with their friends, completely unaware that the devil walked right next to them, the handsome face so many glanced at with appreciation and interest.
I wondered if one of them might die of fear if he happened to stop and whisper in their unsuspecting ear all the heinous deeds he had committed in his long, dark life. Would they stare into his eyes and see what true evil looked like, his eyes clawing into their soul so they would never be so innocent again, or would it reflect back at him if he found another black heart to commiserate with?
I shuddered and stuck close to the redhead’s side. “Where is he taking us?”
“Like I have any clue. Maybe to the edge of Hell.” Poppy’s laughter verged on hysterical. “Who am I kidding…he’s already done that to me. He wouldn’t repeat it. That would bore his fucked up mind.”
I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed. I turned my regard on the shifter five steps ahead of us. “Joshua, Poppy has some questions for you—”
“They can wait. I’m in a hurry,” he barked over his shoulder, and then he abruptly turned around and peered right at us, stopping our forward progress. “Actually, you two may be able to help me.”
The fuck we would. I almost laughed right in his face.
Neither of us responded, our mouths firmly closed.
Joshua didn’t notice. He lifted his hand and held up five fingers. “What would be the worst way for five people to die together?”
I really,reallywished Poppy would take one of her knives and shove it right through his left eyeball. It wouldn’t permanently kill him, but it would make me feel pretty damn good inside to see him not breathing for a while.
But she didn’t act. Not in public.
Though her fingers did twitch on her right hand.
She really,reallywanted to kill him, too. Rightfully so.
Poppy and I kept our mouths shut. Not answering him.
Joshua waved his hands in the air with flamboyant flair. “I see you’re not going to be helpful. No bother. I’ll figure it out myself.”
I ground my teeth together. Poppy barely blinked.
He spun on his heel and began his swaggered walk once more, a woman passing by craning her neck to stare at his ass. “Keep up. Or go. I don’t care either way.”
Poppy exhaled heavily, muttering, “I can do this.”
“You sure? Because I’m barely hanging on.”
“Yes, I’m sure.” She nodded her head decisively.
“Then we better hurry up.” I grabbed her bicep and made her move. “I think he’s heading into that hardware place.”
We jogged to catch up with him and slid inside the small store that the bastard, apparently, wanted to shop at. My eyes slowly adjusted to the inside dim lighting, the day outside full of sunshine and nary a cloud in the sky—even if the temperatures were dropping every day.
I inhaled the scents of rubber and grease. My gaze alighted on the closest shelf. All sizes of nails were available for sale, with cheap to expensive hammers on display across from them. The devil had disappeared deep into the store, and I whispered quietly, “I wonder if he comes here often.”
With a twisted mind like his, this would be like sweet temptation. A one-stop shop for all supplies to aid his corrupt activities. Hardware stores probably made a profit every time he walked inside their doors.
Poppy grunted and crossed her arms. “You don’t think he slipped out the back, do you?”
“Didn’t think of that. Maybe?” I speculated.
She sighed. “We should go check.”
We found him in the last aisle. Where the ropes were.
Joshua jerked one rope with his strong hands, mumbling under his breath, “This one should work…” He proceeded to grab four more coils of rope, five in total. “Simple but effective.”
