Chapter 31
Kage
I love these kinds of jobs. The ones where people still have enough nerve to look me straight in the eyes while handing me a body to bury, a mess to erase, or a problem to make disappear.
The second the front door opens, the smell crawls straight into my lungs—blood, smoke, and gasoline.
Fuck. Somebody really enjoyed themselves tonight.
My eyes slowly slide toward the blonde standing in the doorway. Pretty girl. Soft face. Expensive clothes. That polished rich-girl look that always seems to come with daddy’s money, bad decisions, and a personality built around believing the world owes them something.
Yeah, she reminds me of someone.
That thought alone almost makes me smile wider.
She watches me carefully before finally stepping aside without a word, like she’s still trying to decide whether letting me inside is the worst mistake of her life.
Probably is.
“Tess?”
She nods once, still holding eye contact, even if I can practically see the hesitation fighting behind her eyes.
“Kage?”
“In the flesh, baby.” A crooked grin pulls at my mouth as my eyes move slowly over her body, taking their time in a way that makes her shift uncomfortably beneath the attention.
I catch the exact moment the confidence starts slipping.
Her cheeks flush crimson almost instantly, and that bold little stare she greeted me with at the door suddenly struggles to stay locked on mine.
God, I love watching people realize a little too late that they invited the wrong fucking person into their house.
I walk inside slowly, shutting the door behind me while taking in the house around me. Modern place. Too clean upstairs compared to whatever the fuck happened below it. The blood on the marble floor definitely helps narrow things down.
My gaze follows the stains toward the basement entrance automatically.
Interesting.
Two men are already standing nearby, watching me the second I step farther inside. Both covered in enough blood to make tonight’s little activities pretty fucking obvious.
But the bigger one instantly pulls my attention first. Tall. Built like a fucking wall. Blood all over his hands, smeared across his shirt, like he never even bothered trying to clean himself up. And judging by that look on his face? Yeah. That one definitely had the most fun tonight.
The other one leans casually against the counter, spinning car keys around one finger while openly looking me over like he’s already entertained by my existence.
Nobody speaks at first. Then the smaller one smirks.
“You always flirt with the customers?” There’s just the slightest hint of jealousy buried under the amusement in his voice.
Aww. How cute.
“I flirt with whoever the fuck I want, pretty boy,” I shoot back with a grin that’s all teeth. “Unfortunately for you, though? You’re not my type.”
His jaw tightens instantly, and I can practically see the rage starting to bubble inside that pretty little head of his.
Honestly? That alone is already entertaining enough for me.
“Anyway,” I say casually, “I’m here for business, not pleasure.” Then I look at him again, letting the smile fade slightly so he can finally see the ugliness hiding beneath it. “But if you ever feel like having some fun with me, I can always give you my number.” I add, throwing him a wink.
“No, man. We’re good,” the little midget mutters immediately.
“Thought so.”
The bigger one still doesn’t say a single fucking word, though. Just keeps watching me carefully. Not nervous. Not threatened. Just… curious. And I know men like him. I recognize that look instantly. Violence addicts always find each other eventually.
Tess finally steps between us before this shit turns into something even more entertaining.
“She’s downstairs.” Then she pulls a set of keys from her pocket and holds them out toward me. I take them from her slowly while weak coughing echoes faintly from somewhere below us.
“We got a fighter, huh?” My smile slowly twists into something darker.
The midget glances toward the basement before looking back at me.
“She lasted longer than we expected.”
“Mm,” I hum quietly.
The huge one finally speaks next, his voice dragging at something familiar in the back of my brain.
Fantastic. As if one giant emotionally constipated psychopath named Kryne wasn’t already enough.
“She still thinks somebody’s coming to save her.” That almost makes me laugh.
Poor fucking girl.
My eyes drift toward the basement door again when another weak cough echoes through the vents. The not-so-scary fella finally pushes himself off the counter afterward before grabbing his jacket.
“Well,” he drawls casually, “she’s your problem now.”
I just look at him, and then a laugh suddenly rips out of me. “Problem?”
That immediately makes him grin too. “Fair point.”
Tess heads for the front door next like she suddenly wants out of this house as fast as fucking possible.
Can’t even blame her. The smell in here is becoming unbearable.
The bigger one stays behind for another second, though. Still watching me carefully.
Yeah. I’m starting to think Kryne’s family tree might actually be a government experiment.
“Don’t kill her tonight.”
Huh? Is this fucker in love with her?
“You giving me orders already?” I ask, while raising a brow at him.
“No.” A slow grin finally spreads across his face for the first time tonight. “Just don’t wanna waste all that work.”
Yeah.
That just confirmed my theory.
This psychopath is definitely Damien’s long-lost brother.
A quiet chuckle leaves me as I slip the keys into my pocket before turning toward the basement entrance. The smell gets stronger instantly the closer I get.
Honestly? Smells like a fucking Skullbound Legion cleanup site.