Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 160041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 800(@200wpm)___ 640(@250wpm)___ 533(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 800(@200wpm)___ 640(@250wpm)___ 533(@300wpm)
I’m listening to the words coming from his mouth, but nothing really registers except for the way he speaks them so eloquently, the frown on his face so … serious. Haunting.
“I come to you, the public, to ask for any and all information you can give us that will lead us to the offenders of these heinous crimes.”
Heinous crimes? Nonsense. Necessary eradications are more like it.
“Crescent Vale City is fraught with dangerous criminals, and we have all had enough of the harm they cause to our beloved city. They must be stopped.”
More camera flashes ensue as he pauses for a moment.
“Considering the gravity of the situation, I feel like it is my job to inform you all of the truth.” He looks directly into the camera. “There is a killer among us.”
Audible shocks erupt in the crowd, but my focus is entirely on him and those bright, icy eyes.
“We will do everything in our power to find them.”
He’s still staring straight into the camera, and I can’t help but gravitate closer to the screen, enamored by the way he’s almost looking right at … me.
“And bring them to justice.”
Justice.
But what exactly is justice?
The one privileged White men entertain?
Or the one women like me seek?
“Make no mistake, we will no longer be terrorized by these mobs that refuse to obey the law. Enough is enough.”
He pauses again.
“We’re opening up a tip line and advising people to stay away from the docks and the outer parts of the city. If you see something, call us. We are stronger together. United, we will defeat this evil.”
I can practically see the divine judgment dripping off his face, and my nipples instantly harden.
“And renew the fate of our city. Follow the law, and you will be rewarded.”
An immoral smile slowly forms on my lips.
Rewarded?
“The tip that leads to the arrest of the individuals responsible for these murders will yield five thousand dollars. Thank you for your time.”
“Sir, sir, one question please!” The crowd of journalists erupts with requests for more information, but he grabs his papers and walks off the stage and ignores everything else, while I’m still clambering for more.
When he’s gone, my heart is racing in my throat.
I’ve never felt so goddamn excited in my life, fuck.
That man spoke into the microphone with such authority that it almost made me forget I got naked, and it takes me a few seconds to get down from the high and back into reality again.
I swiftly close the social media app I was on and open a browser to search for his name. The first few images that pop up make me stop and stare.
“Atreus Foley …” I mumble.
The name rolls off my tongue so easily, it’s almost a flaw, despite the fact that his chiseled face barely has any.
What a perfect specimen of a man.
So blissfully entwined with the law and righteousness, it’s almost sickeningly delicious.
I’m obsessed.
I download his picture to my phone and let my printer spit it out in real time, then plaster the paper on the wall with tape so I can stare at him all day and night.
The man who pulled me out of the woods when I was at my weakest … is the man who will become my nemesis.
Pure fucking poetry.
I grab my lipstick and rub it all over my lips before I lean in to place a peck on the picture and mark him as mine.
Fuck.
My pussy just throbbed.
“Atreus Foley, you’ve just become my favorite target.”
I grin and walk toward my private bathroom, still caked in blood just so I can wash it all down the drain, along with my guilt.
I wash away my sins under the shower until there’s nothing left but squeaky-clean skin and a blank mind, ready to face another day of pretending I’m fine so I can kill the night away.
There is no room for emotions in this depraved heart of mine. None.
I roll the towel around my head and step out, but I pause in the middle of my room when I notice the letter on the stack of papers that I put on my desk when I came in after I brought them up from downstairs … A letter I don’t recognize and which doesn’t have a sender.
Strange.
I rip it open and take out the handwritten note.
I’ve taken care of the body for you.
My fingers tighten against the paper as my nostrils begin to flare.
Who sent this to me? Was it Xavier, Orion, or someone else entirely?
And what the fuck did they do with the body?
My heart rate shoots up.
Someone watched me kill again.
And not just that … the guy I murdered was suspiciously intoxicated.
Did this person drug him?
I immediately throw a glance at my window, wondering if they’re still looking, but there’s nothing out there. Still, someone knew I was there and had the gall to help me without asking me if I wanted any help.