Page 1 of Vicious Little Darling

Chapter One

JAXTON

What kind of woman leaves her door unlocked in this city?I nearly roll my eyes as I turn the knob, before slipping in through the only entrance to the shabby apartment. Don’t get me wrong. I like it when they make it easy—but good God, just leaving your door unlocked?Come on.

I step inside and stand in the dark entryway. Melody, my newest obsession, is oblivious to everything I’ve done so far. I’ve moved her things and followed her home, but notoncehas she noticed that anything in her world is off. In a way, I guess that’s a good thing.

“Oh my God! You should’ve seen the look on his face when I broke up with him,” Melody’s voice drones from the living room, as I softly close the door. “He was so butthurt. I swear he just wanted my parents’ money.”

What money, Melody?I have to stifle a laugh. I know everyone has their secrets, but Melody’s lying about her parents being something other than useless addicts might really be top tier.

“If he comes crawling back, I’m not even going to give him the time of day,” she continues, as I creep along the entryway wall. I peer past it to see her sitting on the couch. Her back is to me and she’s twirling one of her strands of long, blonde hair. My hands begin to sweat as I imagine her hair tangled in my fingers, wrapped tightly as I choke the life right out of her.

I run my tongue along my bottom lip, ready to pounce. I’ve only been tracking Melody for a couple weeks, but honestly, it’s enough. I’m bored of her already. Something’s been missing lately and the thrill just isn’t quite what it was.

Maybe I’ll shake things up after this.

My steps are silent as Melody hangs up the phone, tossing it onto a cushion beside her. Even when I loom just six inches behind her, my six-foot-four frame towering over her, she doesn’t notice me. My eyes drift from her to the phone, lying on the couch. With black gloved hands, I pluck it up…

Andfinallyshenotices my presence.

She starts and jumps sideways, her head jerking back in my direction.

“Wh-who are you…”

Aw, Melody can’t find her words.

I tilt my head, peering down at her from behind my skeleton-faced mask. Terror riddles her conventionally pretty face; her blue eyes are wide and her button nose is scrunched. Her chestheaves, which causes her big, natural tits to rise and fall as she does. I’ll enjoy seeing them, I guess.

Damn, something is missing these days.

I spring over the back of the red, velvet couch in one swoop, as she jumps away, but she’s not fast enough. In mere seconds, I have her in my hands and pinned to the floor beneath my body. I glare down at her. The scent of her highly floral perfume makes my stomach ill. There’s something too familiar about it.

It reminds me ofher.

“This isn’t funny Jared.” Melody tries to swat at me, her hand colliding with my arm like a meek child. “Stop it.”

“You’re a fucking idiot,” I growl as I wrap my hands around her neck, not even remotely turned on by the moment. Usually, I’m bricked up and,sometimes,depending on the situation, I take what I want.

But this…

This whole scenario has left my dick limp and my irritation-level high, while Melody gurgles with pleas for her life the entire time. I roll my eyes and tighten my grip on her neck, listening for the snap of her hyoid bone beneath my fingers.

Almost done.

Melody’s eyes stay wide and grow bulgy as I finish snuffing the life right out of her. Then, I sit there for a few minutes, staring down at the dead woman.

Fuck, what a disappointment.

A grim sigh escapes my lips, and I climb off her, opting to just leave her on the floor. Sometimes I move them. Sometimes I stage them.

But Melody? Nah, she can stay where she is. Stupid, oblivious bitch.

My stomach feels nauseous as I flip through her phone, my urge unfulfilled. It makes me angry that there’s nothing interesting to see on her phone. I toss it down onto her body.Hopefully, her newlyex-boyfriend will be the first suspect on the police’s list.

I’ve never made it onto a suspect list—unfortunately.

I’ve always wanted to test the waters and see if I could pass a polygraph test. They say the darkest psychos can manipulate the results, making it look as if they’re telling the truth when they’re really lying. I have a hunch I would pass the test.

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