Series: Sean Moriarty
Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 113805 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113805 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
A hatred so pure, I have to work hard to keep my hands from shaking as it sends chills across my flesh.
I don’t know what Jude did to her, but whatever it was sent her off the deep end.
“He’s fucking scum. Fucking dirt. He cares nothing about life! Cares nothing about the people he hurts!” she says, her voice rising with every word.
“Do you know how many families he’s destroyed? How many lives he’s taken?” she asks me.
I have no clue, and I really don’t want to know…
“Hundreds!” she declares.
Oh god.
She has to be over-exaggerating. There’s no way. No fucking way…
But Jude doesn’t even deny it. He simply remains still.
Remains silent.
His silence speaking volumes.
My stomach twists and bile rises in my throat at the possibility that’s she’s been completely honest.
“I see you don’t believe me,” she sneers. “Go on, tell her I’m lying, Jude.”
Jude shrugs his shoulders and says coldly, like we’re not talking about people’s lives here, “Could be right. I haven’t kept count.”
Could be right? He’s hasn’t kept count…
What the fuck?
Seriously, what the fuck?
Eyes flashing, the woman bares her teeth. “See, he’s a monster.”
I can’t even argue with her.
“And if you believe he only kills men, you’re sadly mistaken!” she goes on. “He killed my sister!”
Fuck…
And there it is.
Exactly what I was fucking afraid of.
“She was all I had! And he killed her! Killed her for no reason!” she shrieks, practically foaming at the mouth. “Do you remember it? Do you remember her?! Tell me, Jude!”
Jude’s lips curve into a smile. “I’m not sure. Was it at a wedding?”
“You’re not sure?” she repeats, her hands beginning to shake with emotion. “You’re not sure?!”
“Did she look like you?” Jude asks, further antagonizing her. “I may have killed a woman who looks exactly like you.”
The woman shakes so hard with fury I know she’s going to pull the trigger, regardless of the gun I have pointed at her.
And I don’t blame her.
God, I don’t blame her.
If Jude murdered someone I loved, I’d want to kill him too.
I’d want to make him suffer.
Like I did when I thought he had a hand in my father’s death.
Lord knows, nothing would stop me if someone ever hurt Abel.
I don’t even want to imagine the pain she’s been living with.
Jude is a monster, there’s no denying that…
Closing my eyes, I squeeze the trigger the second she screams, “Fuck you!”
But he’s my monster.
And I won’t let anyone take him from me.
My shot rings out, but it’s followed almost instantly by another.
I’m so afraid she shot him, that she killed him, I can’t open my eyes.
Shaking uncontrollably, my knees want to give out, and I almost throw up on myself.
An eternity passes before Jude breaks the heavy silence. “She’s dead.”
I open my eyes to see him kneeling beside her body.
“What?” I gasp.
“She’s dead, Eden,” Jude repeats, slowly rising to his feet and turning towards me.
With him no longer blocking her body, I can see her limbs spread awkwardly, and the mess I created of her face.
Ripping my gaze away from the gore, I look at him.
My eyes meeting his eyes.
“You killed her,” he says, but there’s no condemnation in his expression. No disgust or accusation.
No, he looks like he’s trying to suppress his… glee.
Jude takes a step towards me, and I don’t know why but I’m suddenly uneasy. “You killed her for me… You truly love me.”
Something dark flickers in his eyes, and I feel the need to take a step back.
“Yes,” I shakily confirm. “I love you.”
There’s just something about the way he’s looking at me…
Like I’ve just become prey.
But I’m the one holding the gun, dammit.
Jude takes yet another step towards me, and my heart decides to go wild. Pumping hard like I’m in danger again.
Slowly retreating, I take another step back, resisting the urge to run.
Afraid it will set him off.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I demand, my voice a bit shrill to my own ears.
Why the fuck is he acting like this?
It’s beyond creepy.
“You know why, angel…” Taking yet another step, he grins and finally allows all of his glee to break through his mask.
Showing me his true self.
And it’s fucking terrifying.
“No… You…” I say in disbelief. “Stop or I’ll fucking shoot you!”
Lifting the gun, I point it at him as I continue to back up.
Jude tips his head back, the tattooed muscles of his throat moving as he laughs. “Go ahead. You know it won’t stop me!”
Fuck. He’s probably right.
His laughter suddenly cuts off, and I know I’m truly fucked.
I decide to throw the damn gun at him, hoping it will slow him down, and take off running.
I make it maybe three feet before he grabs me and throws me up against the wall.
“Stop!” I shout, slapping and kicking at him.
Trying to get him off while experiencing some serious déjà vu.