“How do we make sure she doesn’t scream? We can’t threaten her if she knows she’s going to die.”
Menace smiles. “Threaten her dogs.”
A surprised laugh leaves my throat as Menace threads his fingers through mine and pulls me toward the nice beach house.
It’s really pretty, all open windows, gossamer curtains, and whimsical decor. For someone that’s probably worth millions,she doesn’t live like it. Then again, I’m sure property in this area runs around a million dollars.
I’ll ask Menace more about her back story after she’s dead. For now, I want to watch him work. He’s seen what I can do, turnabout is fair play.
Menace jimmies the door lock and we slip inside. All the lights are out, but the moon is high in the sky, illuminating the room. Two dachshunds rest on a doggy bed, their heads peeking up when they see us.
Sinking to his haunches, Menaces makes apspspsnoise and the two cuties come over, circling around us and licking our hands. I kinda regret leaving them orphaned.
Menace sets my mind at ease when he says, “She has a sister that loves these dogs. They’ll be fine.”
I scoop one up while Menace grabs the other and we head to the back of the house where the primary bedroom is.
When we step inside, Menace motions for me to have a seat, then places the second dog in my arms. Then he hands me a serrated blade I didn’t even know he had on him and winks.
Okay, I think I’m in love with him.
Dragging out a second blade—seriously, when the fuck did he have time to strap them to his body?—he uses the tip to poke the woman in the back.
She sits bolt upright, and her eyes land on me. She opens her mouth to scream, but I tsk and show her the blade, placing it on the dogs back. “You don’t want to do that. Not unless you want me to gut him in front of you.” I’d never do that, but I sound convincing enough.
Her bottom lip trembles and she looks from me to the dog, shutting her mouth.
She’s a striking woman, with dark brown hair, brown eyes and those upturned lips that makes her look as if she’s always happy. I can see why so many men were taken with her. Shehas that timeless, classic beauty that plastic surgeons have been trying to emulate for years.
Too bad she used her beauty to take lives of men that didn’t deserve it.
“Good,” Menace says and she jumps and whirls around, getting caught in her blanket. “Now, Marlene, tell me about your husbands.”
“Fuck you,” she sneers, spitting at Menace’s feet. “They fucking deserved it. They?—”
“You’re about to lie and I don’t like liars,” Menace interrupts, making her snap her mouth shut. “You give that excuse that they were abusive or manipulative, but that’s been you, huh?” He sits on the edge of the bed, tapping her on the knee with the blade. “But no more. Your last husband was your last kill. I’ll make sure of that.”
“Wait,” she calls when Menace stands. “What about my babies?”
“Your kids will be taken care of. I understand your youngest is at university? They’ll?—”
“No,” she spits, then points to me. “My babies.”
Of course, the woman that doesn’t value human life doesn’t value her human children. I roll my eyes and flick the blade between my fingers. “They’ll be taken care of.” I smile when her eyes widen. “Don’t worry.”
“No!” she yells, trying to scramble out of bed. “You can’t! Don’t!”
Before she can get to me, Menace pulls her back by her hair, tips her head up, and slits her throat.
Marlene gargles, holding her throat as she falls onto the bed. With her last breath, she looks up at her pups and holds her hand out, as if reaching for them.
I scoff and stand, leaving the room so she can’t have what she wants in death. I want her to go to hell thinking her dogs will cross the rainbow bridge right behind her.
Menace joins me a few moments later, sliding a clean blade into a holster under his jacket.
“I love you,” I blurt out, not wanting to hold it in anymore.
All evening, I’ve been telling myself I was falling in love with him, but seeing him kill, seeing him in his element, pushed me right over the edge. Menace is perfect for me, the man that I want to grow old with, the man that I want to spend the rest of my life with.
