Page 1 of My Deepest Desire

1

TREY

Isit like a king in the back corner booth. It’s my vantage point, where I can see everything happening in the bar. I take in my surroundings, the sounds, sights, smells. I have a girl whose name I can’t remember sitting next to me with my arm around her shoulders.

She’s pretty and I’ll sleep with her but I never go back twice. It’s better this way or they get attached. I know I’m attractive, always have been, but that’s not important to me. Sex doesn’t make me feel alive, not the way I do when I punish and torture. Men only. I don’t hurt women or children—that’s my only rule. And no matter the price clients are willing to pay me, I decide which jobs I take. I don’t kill innocent people.

A server comes to my table and I order another whiskey. “I’ll get that for you, Trey. Anything else?”

She’s a hot blonde, not unlike the one sitting next to me. I wonder if they’d be interested in a party of three tonight. But just as my dick awakens at the thought, the server says something that makes my heart stop beating.

“There’s some girl looking for you at the bar. Says her name is Maggie Houser. Want me to get rid of her?”

I remove my arm from around the girl next to me and shift in my seat.

Maggie Houser. What the fuck is she doing here?

“No. Send her over.”

The server’s face drops and the girl at my side huffs with a pout on her lips. I don’t even know her, and if she thinks she has a claim on me, then she’s out of her fucking mind.

“Oh, okay. I’ll tell her. And I’ll be right back with your drink.” She offers a weak smile before heading to the bar.

Guess the waitress thought I’d send Maggie away. It’s what I usually do. Most people in town know to leave me the fuck alone when I’m here, because this is where I come to relax and unwind when I get back in town from a job. I like to people watch, learn their behaviors, observe how they interact. And it helps to hear the gossip they’re all so eager to spread. I don’t get involved, but I pay attention to what’s happening around me. That’s a key to survival in my line of work.

Maggie, however, isn’t like the rest of them. When we were kids, she used to talk a mile a minute, and it always amused me. Yet, over the years, she’s grown quieter and more reserved. I’m sure I played a role in that, but I got what I wanted—she avoids me and people don’t mess with her. That’s how I need it to be, since I’m not around much.

Seconds later, the one person I’d give my left nut for is standing in front of me. All timid and nervous, wringing her hands together.

My little Mouse.

I look her up and down and take in her modest appearance. Her long, curly dark hair that she tries to hide behind. Her thin-framed glasses and pert nose. That smooth, light-brown skin and those plump lips that I long to have wrapped around my cock.

That’ll never happen, though, because she hates me and it’s my fault. I did what I had to do, and I’d do it again. I kill people for a living, for Christ’s sake. My childhood friend deserves better than that. I do miss her, though, and I’ve been keeping tabs on her since we were kids. That’ll have to be enough. Because, right now, I have to pretend I don’t like her, and it fucking kills me.

“Well, well, well… look what the cat dragged in.” I give her a cocky smirk. “What are you doing here, Maggie?”

Her lips are pinched together while her eyes narrow. Then she grits her teeth. “I need to talk to you.”

“Speak up, Mouse. Can’t hear you.” I’m being a dick, but it’s for her own good. Until the girl next to me snickers, and I shoot her a seething glare.

Maggie huffs and straightens her spine. “I need to talk to you, Trey. It’s… It’s important.” Her voice is stronger now, but if she clenches her fists any harder, her nails will cut into her flesh.

“I ain’t stopping you. What do you want?”

“I was hoping we could talkprivately.” She raises her eyebrows before shifting her gaze to the scantily-clad woman on my left.

“I don’t have all day, Mouse, so get to it.” God, I hate being such an asshole to her, but it’s best she stays far the fuck away from me before I ruin her, like I ruin everything else.

She closes her eyes and shakes her head. “Just forget it. This was a mistake.” She turns away, but I’m not letting her go that easy. Maggie never comes here. I’d know if she did. So if she made a point to bring her sweet ass inside this bar, just to talk to me, then I know something’s up.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”

She whips around to glare at me with her soulful brown eyes, and I hold her stare.

“Leave,” I command and she rears back, but I’m not talking to Maggie. I look at the girl in the booth with me with a passive expression. “Did I stutter?”

She points a pink-painted acrylic nail toward herself while her eyes go wide. “Me? Baby, I thought?—”

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