Dante #4
But when I look down again at my mother, it’s Luna on the floor, it’s her blood everywhere. I want the monster that took her from me to look at me. The man turns, but I stand frozen in fear when I come face-to-face with myself. I look down at my bloodied hands, and there her body lies at my feet.
I snap back to reality when John’s screams no longer fill the room, and the silence is deafening. I look down, and I’m standing over him on his bed, knife in hand, his chest ripped open, his ribs are exposed, and the entire front of me is soaked in blood.
I stumble off the bed, catching my breath, stunned at what I just did. “Fuck,” I say through heavy pants, covering my mouth.
What the fuck was that? I saw Luna and I—No. I push the vision of Luna dead at my feet to the back of my mind and focus on the task at hand. I need to get a hold of myself. It wasn’t real. It’s from my lack of sleep, and that’s all.
“Time to get you cleaned up, John.”
It’s almost five in the morning by the time I’m done cleaning up the crime scene and staging the body as instructed.
I was to leave the body in the bed to look like he’s sleeping, his maid will find him next week when she comes to clean his house.
I left no trace of myself and activated the security system as I departed.
Clean in and out.
I pull into the Park her perfectly round ass bounces as she does, and it takes everything in me not to get on my knees right there and beg her to choke me out with those thick thighs.
My feet move before my brain catches up, and I walk up behind her.
Luna catches sight of me, and she fumbles with her phone.
“Good morning, Luna. You’re here early this morning.
” I lean against the treadmill, and I don’t miss how Luna’s eyes flick to my neck.
I swallow, shamelessly flexing the muscles there.
Luna meets my eyes again, shrugging, “I had a crappy night’s sleep. Figured I would run it off. What are you doing here so early?”
“I’m always here early on Sundays and Saturdays.
I don’t like the crowds on the weekends.
” I lie, sort of. Indeed, I don’t like the crowd, but I’m only here for you.
Luna nods understandingly, and I quickly run out of excuses to keep her attention.
“Don’t let me keep you from running. I just wanted to say hi.
Oh–Did you find out if you’re a best-selling author yet? ”
Luna bites her bottom lip, and I forget how to breathe. “Not yet. Probably later today, whenever the article comes out.”
I nod. “I’ll keep an eye out for the article. Before you leave, come find me?” She agrees, and I head to the weight section of the gym, slipping out of her sight, waiting in the shadows. I haven’t showered yet, and I’m afraid that if I start sweating, I’d have blood-sweat mix all over my face.
So I wait. I’m good at waiting.
I watch Luna from afar; her hour-long workout is almost over, and I slip back into the now overcrowded gym.
I head over to the pull-up bar. I do some pull-ups, something to make it look like I wasn’t staring creepily at a woman from the shadows.
I feel a tap on my shoulder, and I’m met with Luna’s beautiful brown doe eyes. “Hi. I’m about to head out.”
“Do you want to get breakfast with me?” I ask, and her stunned face makes me smile.
“Uhh, yeah. I didn’t have breakfast this morning, so I’m starving.” Luna gives me a confused look, “Dante, I think you’re bleeding?” She reaches out to touch my neck, and I move out of her reach against my better judgment.
I reach up instead, wiping my hand across the spot she was reaching for, and sure enough, a small amount of blood was smeared across my fingers.
I laugh nervously, wiping the blood off on my pants.
“Oh, right, I was meal prepping this morning for the week, and I was cutting up meat. Must have wiped some blood on myself and didn’t notice.
Give me five minutes to rinse off in the shower and change, and I’ll meet you in the front? ”
Luna nods; the look on her face tells me she’s accepted this as an acceptable excuse, and she turns, heading to the front.
I make it back to the showers, using the private ones around the corner in case someone came in and saw the blood that was now dried to my thighs.
I practically have to peel my underwear off myself.
I turn on the hot water and step into the hot stream, scrubbing everywhere as quickly as I can.
I get out, use one of the community towels to dry off, then put my sweatpants back on and toss the towel and my underwear in my locker on the way out.
I’ll come back later and dispose of them properly when fewer eyes are around. I’ll make sure to erase myself from the security clips later as well.
A commotion near the front of the gym shakes me from my mental to-do list. I hear a man shout, and when I turn the corner, I see he’s speaking–no–yelling at Luna.
“All you sluts are the same. Coming to the gym in your slutty little outfits, parading yourself all over the gym, and when a guy like me takes the bait, you all act like you don’t know what you’re doing.
I thought giving the fat bitch at the gym a chance would land me an easy lay, but you’re all the fucking same. ”
The darkness in me takes over, and I practically teleport right behind him. I slam my hand down onto the piece of shits shoulder, forcing him to look at me. “You’re going to apologize to my girlfriend. Now,” I say, tightening my death grip on his shoulder a bit more.
He’s not stupid; he sees the rage in my eyes, and I can see the fear in his.
He grits his teeth, looking at Luna and spitting out a non-apology.
I lift my grip from his shoulder and slap the back of his neck so hard I knew there would be a mark.
I lean in closely to his ear, speaking loud enough so Luna could hear me, “If I hear you speak to another woman like that here, I’ll materialize at the foot of your bed like a demon and rip out your throat so you can’t speak to anyone ever again. Got it?”
The asshole nods, and I shove him off in the direction of the door, and he can’t help but give Luna a dirty look on the way out.
You just signed your death certificate, fucker. You’ll be getting a visit from me later—another task to add to the list when checking the security tapes.
“Are you okay?” I ask, looking over Luna.
“Yeah. I’m okay. Thank you.”
Her smile doesn’t meet her eyes, and I can guess the words that asshole said are burying deep into her insecurities. “Are you ready for breakfast?” I ask, the darkness I feel still swirls inside me, but when I look at her, I can’t help but smile. She is everything good in this world.
“Are you sure? We can go another time if you’re not up for it?”
“I’m sure, Luna. Come on,” I held out my hand for her. “I want to take my girlfriend to breakfast.”
A bright smile spreads across her face, “Okay. Let’s go.”
I chose Abby’s Place down the block, and we are quickly seated. Luna orders tomato juice, which puzzles me. “Tomato juice? I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone who asked for tomato juice before.”
Luna laughs. “It’s something my dad and I used to order when we went out to breakfast. He loved tomato juice, and I guess I inherited his taste buds for it.”
“Interesting,” I say, leaning across the table. “What else do you like?”
“Um, well, besides writing, I also enjoy reading. I don’t really have any other hobbies.” The server returns with our drinks and takes our orders.