"WE ALL HAVE MONSTERS WITHIN; THE DIFFERENCE IS WHICH ONES WE FEED."
TV ANNOUNCER (voice echoing from the living room television):
"We interrupt your regular programming with breaking news. The administrative assistant of Yosemite Corporation, one of the nation's most powerful tech empires, has been found dead in what authorities are calling a grisly and calculated murder."
Just the news I had been waiting for.
I ran to the living room from the bar, almost tripping over my own feet.
"Omari! Get your genius ass down here!" I yelled, grabbing the remote to turn up the volume.
The TV announcer continued:
"According to early reports, the victim's dismembered body was discovered early this morning inside a black duffel bag near a community pool on the outskirts of Redwood Heights. In a shocking twist, the victim's head was allegedly mounted on a metal pole just feet from the bag containing the rest of his remains—a display investigators believe was meant to send a message…"
The voice slowly faded in my head.
I was beyond ecstatic.
Particularly because a murder of this type is bound to leave the authorities confused and wondering.
First of all, with Mr. Anderson's wife having a solid alibi, she couldn't be blamed for the murder.
The little girl had no idea who we were, and since Mr. Anderson wasn't anyone noteworthy in the corporation, an enemy of the Yosemites had no reason to want him dead.
Except as a warning.
Which was why Omari and I placed his head on a pole.
To send a message.
This method was used by the Yosemites years ago to threaten anyone who dared go against them—so it was the perfect method to reply in kind.
"I can already picture the old man's face, wondering who would dare send them such a message. I'm so excited!"
Omari chuckled. "What now? The man is dead. What's the next step?"
"We replace him. With me," I said with a smirk. "By tomorrow, they'll be looking for a new administrative assistant. That's our chance. I have to fill in the position…"
Suddenly, a small gust of wind hit me from behind, and the air began to smell of rose and ink.
How familiar. Only one person I knew had this scent. That bitch—
"Hey, cutie," her annoying voice echoed.
Lucinda. Ugh.
I turned around, a fake smile plastered on my face.
"Lady Cindy, what a pleasant surprise!"
"Missed me?" she asked with a sly smirk.
"Of course," I said, cussing her out in my head, knowing she could no longer hear me.
"To what do I owe this honorable visit?"
She stood up from the couch and walked toward me, her eyes never leaving mine.
I refused to step backwards. There was no way I was going to show Cindy that I was still a little intimidated by her.
When she was inches closer, her eyes roamed my body.
I was barely wearing anything—as always. Mainly because I enjoyed having Omari's eyes feast on my body every minute of the day.
But now this woman was the one looking, and I hated how hot her gaze made me feel.
I hated her, yet I wanted her to… touch me.
And she did.
She gently grabbed my breast.
I bit my lip, stopping the moan that would've followed.
"My beautiful creation," she said, her eyes still on my body. She was exploring now.
"W–what?"
"I made this," she said, her fingers trailing south, causing me to shut my eyes expectantly.
"This body, I made it. That's why you're suddenly so drawn to me. It's your punishment. For all the times you called me 'bitch.'"
Her fingers stopped right above my v-area, and a wicked smile formed on her face before she gently pushed me backward and walked back to the couch.
I snapped out of my daze and stared at her in fury.
"You couldn't make me like you, so you manipulated me into being sexually drawn to you?"
"Yep."
"You're a bitch, all right," I said. "What the hell are you doing here, Lucy?"
She relaxed into the chair, crossing her legs.
"Lucifer is happy with your work," she said plainly.
Of course, he is.
"That's it? You came all the way just to say that?"
"Partly. Partly because I missed you. And also because I was hoping I could get some action from that hunk over there," she said, pointing at Omari.
I rolled my eyes.
"It was kind of you to visit, but your position awaits you. It's best you be on your way," I said.
"So no action then?" she said, her annoying smirk still plastered on her lips.
I bowed slightly.
"Safe journeys, my lady. You'll be terribly missed."
She chuckled. "Not for long. I'll be back."
And with that, the cold wind hit me again as she vanished.
"Ugh, she gets on my nerves," I said with a frustrated groan.
For some reason, I despised Lucinda.
Perhaps my hatred stems from the fact that I'm intimidated by her.
But my ego would never let me admit that.
"I don't know… she seems pretty nice to me. You could've let me hit," Omari said, walking toward me.
I threw him a disgusted look.
"You'd hit that?"
"Quite frankly? Anyone would hit that. And after seeing the way you reacted to her touch, you would too."
"Oh, please… that reaction doesn't count. She used her powers on me. She's not all that."
I walked closer to him.
"But you…"
I ran my hands all over his chiseled chest.
"You're more. You're like a huge piece of chocolate, and I want to take a huge bite out of you."
I could see how well he responded to my touch, and I flashed a satisfied smile.
He still had eyes for me.
And not Lucy.
"Vel," he said with a strained tone. "You may want to stop. You know how I am around you."
His eyes were shut so tightly I wondered if my touch hurt.
I stepped closer to him until my breasts, protruding through the light fabric, were pressed against his skin.
Perhaps I was being moved by jealousy.
I hated the way he looked at Lucy.
I wanted him looking at only me that way—the way his eyes worshipped me.
He couldn't have those eyes for any other woman.
Especially not Lucinda.
"Vel, please…" he said, voice tight. "If you don't stop, I may not be able to control myself."
My arms went around his neck, and my left hand went to the back of his head.
"Then don't," I whispered into his ear.
Like a mad dog whose chains had just snapped, he immediately grabbed my waist, pulling me closer to him until there was no space between us.
Then he took my lips in his, exploring my mouth with such hunger.
His intensity matched mine.
I wanted this.
I so fucking wanted this.
He picked me up without breaking the kiss, causing me to straddle him.
He then moved until he slammed my back against the pillar.
I could feel his huge length pressing against my now wet spot through my thin shorts.
"Oh, Vel… you don't know how much I've dreamt of this.
I fucking want you."