CHAPTER EIGHT
Friday
Zander
“Come on, Violet.” He pounds on her front door. “Open up.”
Scott’s always been an idiot, and right now is no exception.
Violet’s out walking Nutmeg—yes, I know, she actually takes her cat for walks. Although Nutmeg tends to give up about a minute into it, so Violet ends up scooping her off the ground and cradling her to her chest for the next two blocks.
Either way, she’s not fucking home.
And more importantly—she has no interest in seeing him.
Something he damn well knows after we sent him packing the last time he showed up.
Hopping out of my truck, I stalk toward Violet’s house.
Scott’s still banging away on Violet’s front door, so he doesn’t see or hear me when I approach.
A simple gun to the head would put an end to this whole fucking thing, but given the son-of-a-bitch broke my leg and left me with a brain bleed that put me in the hospital and made me miss my high school graduation, I think I’m entitled to have a little fun.
Since I just got home from work, I have everything I need at my disposal.
Removing my taser gun from my belt, I aim it at his back.
I’d be lying if I said the sight of him falling to the ground in a fit of jerks and thrashes didn’t make me smile.
But it’s only the tip of the iceberg for what I have planned.
In one fell swoop, I flip him over on his belly and handcuff him.
He tries to fight me, but I’m the stronger one this time around.
“What the fuck—ouch.”
Snatching his hair, I pull him to his feet.
And then I launch my fist into his face, landing a sucker punch to his nose.
One that has him staggering back like a drunk giraffe before he falls.
Perfect.
Whistling, I lug his limp body toward my house.
Hopefully he enjoys our little sleepover as much as I do.
But something tells me he won’t.
I toss a pitcher of ice water at his face. “Wake up, sunshine.”
I currently have the asshole tied up to a chair in my basement.
And let me tell you, it’s a sight for sore eyes.
Scott’s head lolls to the side and he mumbles something incoherent, but I can’t make out what it is because I secured a piece of duct tape over his mouth.
Since the ice water didn’t rouse him enough to my liking, I try a different tactic.
I pick up my taser again, only this time, I aim it at his head.
He wakes with a jolt—a very literal one—and the pain that illuminates his face is like nothing I’ve ever seen before.
Oh, but I’ve felt it.
I’ve felt it every time he pushed me into a locker or punched me in the face.
I felt it with every insult he tossed my way.
I felt it when he kissed her in front of me.
I felt it when he gripped her arm hard enough to bruise her delicate flesh.
And I definitely felt it when he cracked that bat over my skull and left me for dead on the side of the road silently begging God or whatever great being might exist in the world for one more chance to see her before I left the planet for good.
Stalking toward him, I grab the back of his head, forcing him to look at me.
“What’s the matter, Scott? You don’t recognize me?”
He blinks, confusion etching his face.
Leaning over, I hiss, “Want a clue?”
Reaching under his chair, I pull out a metal bat. It’s almost identical to the one he used on me.
Only unlike him, I don’t plan on using it.
No, what I have planned is much more sinister.
His eyes widen with recognition and a hint of fear.
Good.
However, it’s not enough.
I want his tears, his remorse.
I want his motherfucking soul right before I send it straight to hell where it belongs.
But, first? It’s time to have some fun.
“Do you know what this is?” I ask, picking up the instrument.
Not waiting for a response—given the fucker can’t give me one—I hold it up and smile.
“It’s a dermatome,” I explain, my orbs becoming tiny slits. “It’s used for skin grafting.”
The confusion in his eyes changes to terror and he starts rocking back and forth in his chair.
I can’t help but laugh because the fucker can rock and roll all he wants it still won’t make a damn bit of difference. I’ve secured him so tight he isn’t going anywhere.
Snatching a pair of scissors next, I cut his pant leg off.
I figure we’ll start small and work our way up.
Until his outsides match his insides…and he resembles the monster he truly is.
“This—” I utter as I turn the instrument on and angle it over his thigh. “Is for putting me in the hospital.”
Sweat pours down his face and his body breaks out in shudders as his skin comes off, now resembling a slice of Swiss cheese.
He tries to scream, but it’s nothing but a muffled, obscure sound in the dimly lit room.
Lifting his shirt, I decide to go for his stomach next.
I can’t help but notice he’s gone soft around the middle.
The douchebag has clearly let himself go since high school.
“Haven’t been to the gym in a while, huh?”
And because I want him to hurt even more, I add, “Maybe that’s why Violet spent the night riding my face.” Positioning the dermatome over where his abs used to be, I narrow my gaze. “Or maybe it’s because you’re a piece of shit who likes to cheat on women and put your hands on them when they tell you to fuck off.”
He spasms, making a whiney, desperate noise in the back of his throat as tears fill his eyes.
“You never deserved her.” Ignoring my disgust, I undo the zipper on his jeans. “I figure it’s only fair to warn you...this next one’s gonna hurt, ass—”
The sound of my doorbell ringing cuts me off.
CHAPTER NINE
Saturday
Violet
“Violet?” Zander blinks, seemingly startled to find me on his doorstep. “Uh, is everything alright?”
I think I should be asking him the same question. He looks oddly tense, and suddenly, I’m second guessing my plans to come here. But when I look up into his eyes, I can’t help but feel like it will be the biggest mistake of my life if I walk out of here right now.
“Why did you stop talking to me?” I blurt. “Why did you get so mad? We were friends, and then you just… ghosted me.”
My voice wavers a little, and I try to compose myself, but Zander can still see me breaking inside. His face softens as he studies me, and within a second, he’s pulling me inside the house and wrapping me up in his arms.
“I’m sorry,” he murmurs into my hair as he breathes me in. “At the time, I thought I was doing what was right. I was pissed at you because of what Scott told me the night he beat my skull in.”
“What?” I lean back and stare up at him. “He… he hurt you?”
“He beat the ever loving fuck out of me,” Zander answers darkly. “And he told me it was a game you two liked to play. Is it true?”
“Oh my God.” I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head. “No, never. I would never do that to you, Zander. I was… I was in love with you. It wrecked me when you walked out of my life, and I know it was all my fault. I should have had the courage to ditch Scott a long time ago. I should have done a lot of things differently, but I never wanted him to hurt you. If I had known that, I would have dumped his ass immediately. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Zander is quiet for a moment, watching me like he’s trying to read me. He’s always been good at that. He’s the one person I could never lie to.
“It sounds like we both made a lot of stupid mistakes,” he mutters.
“Wh
at do you mean?”
He sighs and releases me, turning away and dragging a hand through his hair. “I knew you were moving in here. That’s why I bought this house. I wanted you to know what it was like. I wanted to make you fall for me so I could drop you cold once you did. I only came here because I wanted my revenge.”
My heart kicks against my chest, and I’m not sure whether to run or cry. A solitary tear slides down my cheek and I wipe it away. The easiest thing would be to leave and nurse my wounds at home until I can pretend like none of this ever happened. But I’m so fucking tired of pretending. I want to fight for this. I refuse to believe that Zander doesn’t feel anything for me. There’s too much history between us for that to be true.
“Do you still want that revenge?” I ask.
He turns slowly, his eyes roaming over my body with a heat I can feel even from a few feet away.
“I just want you.”
I’m not sure who moves first. All I know is within seconds, we’re colliding into each other with a passion unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. Our lips clash, and we’re a tangled mess of hands and teeth and breaths as we undress each other. Zander discards my shirt and jeans, leaving them in the entryway before he scoops me up over his shoulder and hauls me down the hallway to his bedroom.
When he spreads me out on his bed, I feel like I feast fit for a king the way he’s looking at me.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” he murmurs. “I just need to be inside of you, Violet. Tell me you want this.”
“I won’t let you stop now,” I tell him. “Please, Zander. I need you.”
He groans and kneels on the bed, making quick work of removing my bra and panties before he yanks down his briefs. His huge, throbbing cock springs free and I squeeze my thighs together in anticipation. I’ve wanted this for so long I feel like I’ll die if he doesn’t give it to me right now.
But Zander has his own plans. His palms skate up my thighs and spread them apart as he leans his massive frame over me. He rocks his body against mine and dips his head to my breast, sucking my nipple until I can’t think straight.
I’m soaked for him. Desperate and wanting as he slowly tortures me with his tongue. When he’s finished feasting on my breasts, he kisses his way down my belly and eats me out again. It isn’t until I’ve come twice when he finally relents and comes up for air.
“Please, Zander,” I beg him between ragged breaths.
A smirk plays across his face and he shrugs. “I’ve waited a long time for this, baby. I’m going to take my time. Hopefully you didn’t have any other plans today because I’m spending the rest of it inside of you.”
He positions his hips between mine and kisses me. His tongue slips into my mouth and he sighs in content as he starts to push himself inside of me.
I curl my fingers into his back and try to breathe. He’s so big it’s taking my body a minute to adjust to him, but I don’t care. I just want him in me like this forever.
Once he’s fully inside, he reaches down to touch my face. It’s the most intimate moment I’ve ever shared with anyone. Staring into each other’s eyes while our bodies are skin to skin. He’s inside of me, raw, and I don’t care. I want all of him. No barriers.
He slowly starts to move, and my head rolls back against the pillow as I take everything he has to give me. Moaning into his shoulder, I breathe in his scent and try to relax as another tidal wave builds up inside of me.
“Holy shit,” I whimper.
“Let it happen, baby,” he growls into my neck. “Say my name when you come. Say it loud.”
I do exactly that. I scream out his name as I shatter around him again, and Zander pumps into me a few more times, grunting out his release and filling me with his come.
Vaguely, in the back of my mind, I think I hear someone grunting in protest. But when I look up at Zander, he’s just grinning.
“Probably the neighbor.” He shrugs. “Now, where were we?”
CHAPTER TEN
Sunday
Zander
I’m balls deep inside Violet for a second round when I hear it.
The sound of something—or rather, someone crashing into something downstairs.
“What was that?” a breathless Violet questions.
Shit.
“Stay here,” I tell her as I get out of bed and slip into my boxers.
My heart pounds in my chest as I jet out of the bedroom and race down the staircase leading to the basement.
The pounding in my chest grows when I turn on the light.
Scott’s still secured to his chair, but it’s now tipped backwards.
However, it’s the pool of blood surrounding his lifeless body that makes mine run cold.
Upon closer inspection I spot a large gash in the back of his head.
Fucker must have hit his head on the corner of my tool chest on his way down.
Goddammit.
Not only did I want the honor of killing him myself, I have one hell of a mess to clean up now.
I can’t help but smirk as I tilt my head to the computer monitor I set up earlier. The one that ensured Scott saw every second of me fucking Violet before meeting his demise.
However, my bliss is short lived when I realize.
Violet’s no longer in my bedroom.
As if on cue, I hear footsteps scampering down the staircase.
It all happens so fast I don’t have time to stop Violet from entering the basement.
“Were you recording us having sex—” The words die in her throat when she spots her lifeless ex. “Oh my God.” Eyes wide with terror, she looks at me. “What the hell—”
“I can explain,” I tell her.
But I can’t. Because how the fuck does someone explain a dead body in their basement?
A dead body belonging to the man she was once going to marry.
The muscles in my chest spasm.
I don’t regret what I did—not when it gave me a few fleeting moments with her—but I hate the look in her eye.
“I…uh. Yes. I did record us having sex,” I start, deciding to tackle her original question first. “After what he did to you, I figured he deserved to watch you screw someone else.”
“Okay.” I can practically see the wheels turning in her head as she takes this all in. “But how did he end up dead, Zander?”
“I didn’t do it.” I shrug. “Not that I hadn’t planned on it…the corner of my tool chest just happened to beat me to it.”
Hell, the shit I’m in is so deep I might as well be honest.
I expect her to yell, run away, tell me I’m a murderer and then call the police and turn me in.
But to my surprise, she walks over and kisses me.
As much as I hate to pull away from her touch, I have to know what’s going through her mind. “What—”
“Do you believe in karma?”
“Karma?” I repeat, not understanding.
She blows out a shaky breath. “The way I see it he ruined both our lives. Not only did he cheat on me, steal money from me afterward, and almost kill you when we were teenagers…his lies tore us apart.” Anger fills her gaze. “It’s only fair the universe sorted things out and got rid of him.” She looks around the basement. “Do you have a shovel?”
I never thought it was possible to love someone so much.
But fuck, I do.
I love my sweet, kind girl whose soul is as twisted and warped as mine.
And I’m never going to stop.
EPILOGUE
Sunday
One year later…
You still chew your pen when you’re lying.
You still go for a jog every morning and walk your cat every night.
Your favorite kitchen appliance is still the red mixer you bought with the gift card your grandmother sent you for Christmas.
Lately, you have an affinity for making children’s birthday cakes.
Your favorite of them being superheroes and alligators.
&nbs
p; When the sun sets, you still bury your nose in romance books—only now you know great loves like those do exist.
But your favorite pastime?
Spending your nights getting fucked and worshipped by a man who knows exactly how you like to be kissed…the way you like to be touched.
How do I know all this?
Because I know everything about you, Violet Sinclair.
And I have every intention of keeping what’s mine.
You.
THE END
BOOKS by A. ZAVARELLI
Boston Underworld Series
CROW: Boston Underworld #1
REAPER: Boston Underworld #2
GHOST: Boston Underworld #3
SAINT: Boston Underworld #4
THIEF: Boston Underworld #5
CONOR: Boston Underworld #6
Bleeding Hearts Series
Echo: A Bleeding Hearts Novel Volume One
Stutter: A Bleeding Hearts Novel Volume Two
Twisted Ever After Series
BEAST: Twisted Ever After #1
For a complete list of books and audios, visit http://www.azavarelli.com/books
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of dark and contemporary romance.
When she’s not putting her characters through hell, she can usually be found watching bizarre and twisted documentaries in the name of research.
She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.
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Tales of Darkness & Sin: An Anthology Page 6