Chapter 35 Dallas
DALLAS
I stare at the ceiling. I killed a guy. I killed a guy and I don’t feel bad about it at all. Not even a smidgen. Does that make me fucked up? One less monster on the street. It’s the best feeling in the world.
“What are you thinking about?” Casey asks. He’s cuddled up to me after we all went out for waffles. We even swung by the abandoned building at my insistence, and it was as if nothing even happened there. It’s fucking wild what that clean-up crew can do.
Casey said they sunk the man in the ocean in a concrete box. No one is ever gonna find Charles, no matter how hard they look. I’m almost sad about it. I wish the world could see our handiwork.
“Killed a dude and I’m happy about it. That’s kinda fucked up.”
Casey kisses my jaw. “You’re my hero for it. I really couldn’t have done it. I was too exhausted. Thank you.” He rubs his head against my chest. How can this man be the sweetest on Earth and a deadly mercenary? Just how?
“Just tell me when and where and I’ll do it again.
” I kiss the top of his head and he scoots closer.
“I want to join you and Kendra if you’ll let me.
” I want to feel the life drain out of these monsters.
Want to witness it up close with my own eyes.
A hunger grows inside of me now that I’ve had a taste of true justice.
The alarm goes off. Time to start day one of Influencer Con.
“You said we can do all the cute photos today,” Casey says. “I have the perfect outfit.”
“We can do cute pics every day we’re here.” Whatever Casey wants, I’ll follow.
We roll out of bed and dress. Casey wears a white mesh top and a pair of pink and purple leggings with a scale design. The purple wig matches perfectly. I like watching him do his makeup and turn into Merrick, but Casey is the love of my life.
I suck in a breath and he looks at me funny. “What?”
“I love you.”
He blinks a few times and his face goes red. “What?” he whispers.
“I. Love. You.” I saunter over to his side and take his hands in mine.
Casey’s eyes drop to my lips. “We could sneak in a quickie. Probably.”
We’re on each other before our next breath. Teeth crashing into each other awkwardly. It’s not exactly sexy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I love more than just your dick,” Casey says as he drops to his knees.
I pull him back up. “And I love you more than just your ass. Or your mouth. Let me take care of you.”
He blinks at me. “You do. You’re a very satisfying lover.”
I snort, and he doesn’t fight me when I tug for him to follow me back to the bed.
I lay him down gently, his eyes never leaving mine.
Maybe we blow off the first couple of events this morning so I can show him how much I want to take him apart piece by piece.
Show him how much he means to me. I cup him through his leggings and he moans into the next kiss.
I’m so glad Hayden said he’d sleep in the RV so Kay and I could have the hotel room. We were too exhausted to do anything after the show last night, but now—
Three sharp knocks echo through the room.
Casey grins up at me. “Guess we’re not getting a quickie in.”
Another two knocks. “Come out, come out,” Kendra and Hayden singsong together.
“They’ve teamed up,” I say.
“Sounds like,” Casey says as he leans up to kiss me.
“We have shit to do,” Hayden yells through the door.
Casey moans. “Ohhhh, I’m coming. I’m coming so fucking hard.
Ohhhhhh!” The fake performance has me cackling.
But he looks so sexy and sweet with his legs spread, ready for me.
I wish we could get a quickie in. “Come on.” He holds out his hand and I help him back to his feet.
He kisses me again, just a quick peck. “I love you too, in case you can’t tell. ” He’s so red.
My heart soars at his confession. I want to kidnap him and keep him all to myself, but we can’t just run away. We have an audience to show up for.
Kendra’s texting someone when we open the door. Hayden just gives me a shit-eating grin. Of course he is.
“See the new itinerary?” Kendra asks, holding up her phone. “They don’t even mention Matt Brooks anymore.”
“We were trying to get busy when you interrupted,” Casey says as he takes her phone. “Interesting. It’s as if he never existed.”
Kendra’s email must have made it to the right people in time.
I wonder if they’ll have a statement. Or better yet, a news team shows up to ask questions.
We’ll see what happens with the information Kendra leaked.
Hopefully Matt Brooks gets smeared across social media and people come forward with their stories against him.
People down the hall murmur comments. Matt’s name is on everyone’s lips.
“Let’s not dwell on that fucker,” Casey says. He threads his arm through mine. “We have cute pics and collabs to do.”
For hours we run around meeting people and gathering LGBTQ+ influencers to help make my big coming out post in a few days. We have like four merfolk pods joining us for photoshoots.
Leading up to my big confession, I interview everyone and Hayden schedules each post for after Influencer Con. Hayden is a mastermind, doing everything in the background from getting pictures to capturing the interviews and everything else he does that I have no idea about.
Every step of the way, Casey’s by my side. He helps guide me. We don’t shy away when people ask about us. I don’t even panic when people ask for our pictures.
Together.
So many people comment that they thought I was straight. I have to correct them every time and I fill with pride speaking my truth. Casey gives me strength each step of the way.
Aside from Matt being missing, we’re the talk of the con and I don’t hate it. Funny that both are related in more ways than one. Casey eats up the attention as if he was born for it.
Below the surface of this man lies a deadly killer with a code. To everyone on the outside, he’s the sweet Merrick, The Merman. To me, he’s perfect and I’ll do anything to keep the smile on his face.