Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Hill
“Did you really have to rent the whole place for the night?” I ask Menace as I heft an axe in my hand.
When Menace asked if I wanted to go on a date with him, I thought he’d do something pretentious, like take me to some ritzy restaurant or flaunt his money.
He’s kinda doing that now, but in a more low-key way.
I understand him wanting to have a private night where he’s not swarmed by photogs and fans. Renting out Viking Ave so we can throw some axes and eat greasy burgers is perfect.
Menace snakes an arm around me and brings me close to his body. “I did. I wanted to make sure I could do this,” he licks from my neck up to my earlobe before taking the flesh into his mouth and biting down gently, “without anyone seeing.”
I hiss and push my ass back to his groin, his erection digging into the small of my back. “You trying to put on a show, Mr. Grant?”
His light chuckle warms me. “Not at all. I’m trying to get to know you, Mr. Washington.”
“Mm-hmm.” Standing in front of the target, I line up, heft the axe behind my head, and throw it down the lane. It hits the target with a reverberating thunk.
“Nice throw.”
“Thanks,” I say, then he laughs as I brush imaginary dirt from my shoulder. Looking around to make sure the two attendants that are still here aren’t around, I ask, “Have you ever used one?”
“To kill?” he asks in a low voice. I nod. “No, I haven’t.” He picks up one of the axes and weighs it in his hand. “I should though. You think I could decapitate someone with one clean chop, or will it take multiple?”
It’s so weird, yet so refreshing, to talk to someone so openly about killing people. Sure, I can talk to Lucian about it, but we’re so used to it that it’s no longer a thrill. But talking so openly with Menace—and seeing his work—is an experience I never thought I’d have.
Grinning, I bump his hip and say, “I think a big strong man like you can do it in one go. Wanna find out one day?”
“With you?” he asks, eyebrows almost reaching his hairline.
I shrug as we sit down and eat our food. “Well, yeah. Why not? I think we can find someone we like that needs to die and use it on them.”
“Someone on your and Lucian’s list?”
I shrug my shoulders, then bite into a burger almost as big as my head.
When I swallow, I say, “Maybe. Lucian has to do some research on those kills. Some we found pretty easily; some he only knew their first names and wasn’t able to get a bead on them.
So, it might take longer if we wait on that list.”
“When you do,” he says, “can I go with you two? I’ve never watched anyone work before. Well, besides you.”
My cheeks warm as I think about what happened in the alley after he saw me work. Maybe I’ll get that same treatment every time we commit a kill together.
I mean, if Lucian wouldn’t mind. He’d leave us alone so Menace could fuck me senseless.
After Lucian heard our carrying-on the other night, I’d filled him in on who Menace was and what he did—with Menace’s permission, of course.
Lucian’s eyes were wide the entire time I told him, and he giggled behind his hand when I showed him the crime scene photos of Menace’s latest kill.
“Shit,” he said, zooming in the photo of Denton’s entire body so he can see the destruction Menace wrought to his face and head. “He’s certifiable.” Then he gave me a side hug with a wide grin on his face. “Looks like you hit the jackpot with him.”
Yeah, looks like I did.
Popping a fry into my mouth, I answer Menace’s question. “I don’t think Lu will have an issue with that, but I’ll ask him to be sure.”
“You said he has issues hunting people down? I can help. Over the years, I’ve found discreet people that can help me find anyone and I pay them handsomely for their silence. Just say the word and I’ll get him in touch with my best guys.”
Could he be any more perfect?
“He doesn’t have last names or even real first names for some of them. Some were kids in some of the homes he was placed in. Some were adults he only met a handful of times.”
Menace grins widely, showing all of his teeth. “I know just the man for that. Sometimes, it’s good to be rich.”
“I can imagine,” I mutter. “Lucian did find someone that pinged his radar that he wants to get rid of in the next few weeks. He has to do a bit more research to get his routine down, then it’s a go. I’ll ask if he’s willing to let you tag along.”
“Thanks.”
We alternate between eating and throwing, cheering when we hit the target. Menace is a lot better than me, his aim impeccable. It’s only a matter of time before his target is all exposed wood and chips littering the floor.
I manage to hit the bull's-eye, but not like he does.
Huffing, I say, “No fair. You have more training than I do.”
He raises an eyebrow, a smirk on his face. “At throwing axes? I might have weird hobbies, but that’s not one of them.”
“Weird hobbies, huh? Tell me more.”
“Not really weird, but…different. Like I enjoy going to antique shows.”
I shoot him what I know is a crazy look. “What?”
He lifts one shoulder in embarrassment. “Yeah, I like the really old stuff. They usually have interesting stories behind them. And the people that run the antique shows know all of them.”
I didn’t expect that at all. Looking at Menace, I’d expect him to be into things like fast cars and high-adrenaline activities. I never would have expected him to want to hear stories of old artifacts in some stuffy house or museum.
“How did you get into that?” I ask, curious.
“I was stalking this guy that put his wife in a coma after he nearly beat her to death. He was out on bail.” Menace scoffs.
Yeah, the justice system is shit; it’s one of the reasons Lucian and I have started taking people out like we have. He reported his abuse after he left every home he was in, but they said since it was one kid’s word against about a dozen people, Lu was just crying wolf.
The only person who halfway paid for their crimes is the one that burst his spleen, but he only served two years in a youth detention facility. No one paid until we made them.
Menace continues, “He was an older man that liked the finer things in life. He visited a show and while I watched him, I had to blend in. I walked around and asked questions about some items on display and realized how much I liked it. After I killed him, I found a few traveling antique shows and bought a few items that spoke to me.”
I grin and steal a fry from his plate. “That sounds interesting.”
“Want to come with me one day?”
“I’d love it.”
“How about Australia?”
My eyebrows scrunched, I ask, “They have shows in Australia?”
“I mean, probably,” he says, “but I have a photoshoot there and I want you to come with me. Have you ever been?”
I shake my head. “Never thought about it. Australia seems like the place you go if you want everything to kill you.”
Menace chuckles softly. “Yeah, well, that’s true, but it’s a beautiful place. I think you’d enjoy it. I’ll be there for ten days, and I’d love to show you around.”
“I’m not sure I can take off that long,” I say. “I have some PTO saved up, but maybe like five days at the most. If I take off ten days, I’ll probably come back to find my desk packed up and a letter for me to get the fuck out of there.”
“Are you done?” he asks and points to my plate.
I nod and push my food away. “Thanks.” He waves one of the attendants over and they take our plates.
We’re done throwing axes for the evening, but I’m enjoying our conversation, so we don’t leave immediately.
Picking up our thread of conversation, Menace says, “What if you told your editor that you were interviewing me?”
My eyebrows shoot up again. “Really? I mean, I thought since we…you know…that you wouldn’t want me to interview you. That whatever you told me was for us.”
“It can be,” he says, “but if that helps you come on this vacation with me, I’m willing to give you an exclusive.” He winks at me, making my insides feel all mushy. “You can ask me all the questions I otherwise refuse to answer.”
I gasp. “You mean about your charity?”
He stares me in the eyes for a few moments, something flashing across them that I can’t pin down. Then he dips his head once.
“Menace…you don’t have to do that. I can always—”
“No, it’s fine. I’d rather it be you that broke the story behind it. It’s no salacious secret, but it’s something I don’t tell the world. But with you by my side, I’m willing to let people have a peek behind the curtain.”
I smile faintly. “I’m honored. I’ll ask my editor. I’m sure he’ll let me go if I tell him that the only way I can get an exclusive is if I join you. And if he doesn’t have to pay for the travel fee? He’d have no reason to say no.”
“It’s settled then.” Menace takes my hand and we head out—but not before Menace leaves the two attendants that stayed with us with a very large tip. They both beam and ask for photos with him, which I’m happy to take.
As we walk to the car, I say, “I’ll have a list of interview questions for you by the end of the day tomorrow. You can review them so you can have your answers ready. But Menace?”
He hums.
“Can you tell me about your charity before the interview? I’ve always wondered about it. It’s an amazing cause and when the first journalist asked you and you refused to answer, I knew it was personal.”
“It is. And yeah, I’ll tell you about it.”
When we get to his car, he opens the door for me, and I marvel at his car again. “I swear, the Europeans know how to make a car.”
“That they do. Not too great with breakfast, though.”
I bark a laugh as he shuts me inside.
When he’s behind the wheel, Menace doesn’t immediately start the car. We sit for a while and talk, mostly about my time in foster care.