Carnage (Crestvale Killers #3)

Chapter 1

Rue

I’ve got to get out of here before he gets back from his meeting.

Like every day, I spend the minutes I’m alone—which aren’t many—looking for a way to escape, but Dickface McGee has the place closely monitored.

I glance up from the book I’m pretending to read, making a mental note of who’s watching me today.

It’s No Neck. I have no idea what his real name is and I don’t care.

Just like I don’t care that my supposed boyfriend’s actual name is Leon Nowak.

No one calls him that though. He’s The Boss to everyone who works for him.

I call him the very generic “babe” even though my skin scrawls every time the word leaves my mouth.

But it seems to calm his unhinged nature, and anything that can do that is on repeat.

But I seriously need to get away. It’s only a matter of time before he shatters my peace in a way I won’t be able to come back from.

I shouldn’t be here. Shouldn’t even be in this city, but my wanderlust and unwise rebellious streak got the best of me and here I am, basically being held captive by a dangerous criminal in a shitty drug house, waiting for the day he decides he’s bored with me and wants a new toy.

Based on the rumors, that never ends well for the current plaything. Will he just toss me out on the streets? Or worse? Will he hurt me? I don’t want to find out, and something tells me my days with him are numbered. Which means I have to go before we reach that impasse.

How did I end up with Leon? One minute I was dancing in a crowded club, lost in the hypnotic music, and the next I was at his table being chatted up.

He bought me a drink and I don’t remember much after that, it was just a blur of alcohol, dancing, and partying.

When I woke up in his bed the next morning, fully clothed, I was both relieved and horrified.

That’s when I learned that he had no intention of letting me leave.

That was five months ago. I don’t know what happened to the things I left in the room I was renting other than the few items Leon allowed me to grab.

I don’t know what happened to the interview I was supposed to have the following week at a cute little bookstore.

I don’t know if anyone is looking for me.

Why? Because Leon took my phone and gave me one that only he has the number for.

He checks it every night to make sure I hadn’t called or contacted anyone else.

I’ve been imprisoned by a madman.

My only saving grace is that he hasn’t touched me sexually yet.

Unfortunately, I know why. He doesn’t know I know, because I was pretending to sleep when he was meeting with his thugs to discuss some big party they have every year for Leon’s birthday.

The problem is I don’t know when his birthday is.

He’s never said it aloud in front of me, and I’ve never seen it referenced anywhere.

So the deadline is coming, but it could be tomorrow or six months from now for all I know.

Having me around hasn’t stopped him from parading various hookups in front of me though. Maybe he wants to humiliate me, but it has the opposite effect. I’m glad. If he’s getting his needs met, he might stay away from me. All I get are gross kisses and some groping. I can handle that.

“Rue!”

I startle, dropping the book I’m half reading, and look up as Leon enters the room. Shoot.

“Yes, babe?”

“We’re going out. Get ready.”

“Where are we going?”

He looks at me like I’m a child, his features marred with disappointment. What? I’m supposed to be a mind reader now?

Leon is handsome enough, but he definitely looks like the rough-around-the-edges criminal that he is.

I was attracted to the dirty blond curls that always look like he just ran his fingers through them and the depth and danger in his eyes.

He has sharp features and a scar above his eyebrow that makes him look menacing.

He’s covered in tattoos and my dumb ass thought it would be fun to flirt with danger. Boy, was I wrong.

“We’re going to Redlight, Gummy, like we always do.”

I hate that stupid nickname. Who calls their boyfriend Gummy? He said it’s because I’m sweet and mushy but I still don’t like it.

“Okay.”

“Look extra nice tonight, huh? I want to show you off to someone.”

“Who?”

“Don’t worry about it.” His voice has an unnerving edge to it.

It can’t be tonight, right? No. I would know if there was a big party or event of some kind planned. It’s probably the usual bullshit—some powerful person or rival criminal Leon wants to impress.

I don’t know all the things he does to get money, and I don’t want to know, but I know drugs are a big part of it. I’ve overheard the talks, the strategies, the meetings. From what I can tell, it’s a big enterprise and Redlight is where he gets a lot of his customers.

It’s where we met.

“Be ready at ten,” Leon says, walking slowly towards me. When he reaches me, he uses his fingers to lift my chin and tilt my head back. “So fucking sweet.”

I brace myself, knowing what’s coming next. Leon slams his mouth against mine in a rough, bruising kiss. His sharp stubble pokes my skin, his sour, beer-scented breath turning my stomach. But I endure it. A kiss is far better than anything else he could inflict on me.

When he’s done, he steps back, almost smiling, but not quite. “So sweet. My little Gummy.”

I force a smile to my face and watch him leave the room.

Once he’s gone, I exhale slowly. This is the only room he allows me to be in alone other than his bedroom.

He said he’s worried someone in his gang will look at me and be tempted by me, which, okay, but being a prisoner isn’t my idea of fun.

Well, except No Neck. He’s always lingering around me, but as far as I can tell he doesn’t have a drop of interest in me other than performing his job.

The only good thing about going out is the chance that I can find a way to escape.

Leon will be distracted at the club and sometimes I can sneak off to the bathroom alone or get lost on my way to get water.

Leon is always quick to find me, but maybe someday he won’t be, and I’ll get away. I’ll deal with where to go after that.

I sure as hell can’t go back to Connecticut where my grandparents are.

Grandpa made it very clear my “kind” isn’t welcome in his home.

I can’t go to my brother—I haven’t seen him since he left for college over fifteen years ago.

I often wonder what my mom would be like if she were still alive.

Would she agree with her dad and disown me, or would she fight for me?

As for my dad, otherwise known as the sperm donor, he could walk right by me and I wouldn’t know it.

According to my mom, he was a guy she dated for a while, but he bailed when she found out she was pregnant, telling her he was married. Stellar guy.

Danny enters the room next, pausing when he sees me curled up in a chair by the fireplace.

I call this room the study even though it’s nothing but a dusty, forgotten room with two beat-up armchairs and a non-functioning fireplace in it, but it’s tucked off enough that Leon feels comfortable with me being in here.

Danny, one of Leon’s thugs, pauses, studying my face for a moment. He’s not at all good looking, but he’s Polish like Leon is, so Leon keeps him close. His eyes are nice though, like he actually feels a little bad for me.

“What size shoe do you wear?” Danny asks.

“Uh, nine. Why?”

He shrugs. “Leon wants me to get you new ones. He said your other pair are old.”

I nod. “That’s true. Do I get to pick them out?”

“No.”

He turns and leaves the room quickly, and I close my book.

I wasn’t really reading it anyway. Too much on my mind.

At first, it was nice to be taken care of.

Leon made sure I had clean clothes and plenty to eat, and I didn’t have to worry about making ends meet.

But all that comfort came with the realization that I was like a doll to him; something to dress up and show off.

But just like a doll, I could easily be discarded and replaced.

So tonight I’ll dress myself up and put on my best smile. I’ll go to Redlight and do what I do every time I’m allowed outside these walls.

I’ll look for an escape.