Page 6 of Soulless Deeds

My dog yelped, agreeing with my sentiment.

Psycho’s black gaze drifted down to the image of Mayor Oakview, Micah’s phone left open on the counter. “If only I got to carve out his eyes.”

I shifted my apathetic gaze over the lovesick fool. “Let me guess. It involves Micah?” Psycho shrugged. “He died with an erection, if that helps,” I offered.

“You know what, I think it does. I’m satisfied to know he diedunsatisfied.You tried to extract his lower jaw, didn’t you?”

I snorted. “I’ll get it next time.”

“You will, cause I’ll teach you.”

Emerson grumbled. “Saints, save us all.”

Psycho placed an unlit cigarette between his lips. He was going insane since we forbade him from smoking in our underground crypt of a home. I snatched it out of his mouth and offered a peace offering from my hidden stash of lollipops instead, which he accepted with a sigh. Maybe he could be a part of the family after all.

III

Echo

Islumped back in the extravagant chair and pushed my sunglasses higher up my nose, a beating hangover distorting all my senses—eyes squinting, head pounding, gut churning.Why did this meeting have to be midday?When the sun was at its peak, fucking gleaming straight through the glass paned walls, pestering me.

We were situated in one of our finer establishments—the rooftop restaurant empty except for the staff who were cooking our meal. Not that I’d be able to stomach anything.

“How much more did you drink after I left last night?” Aster asked, sipping on her lighter fluid martini like that shit didn’t stink to high heavens.

I grumbled. “Sudo has a way with words… Maybe staying was a bad idea?”

“Maybe?”

Dishes clanged in the kitchen out back, the sound reverberating through my skull. “I can handle her.”

“Echo, you’re twenty-six. One day, someone is going to catch you off guard, and you won’t know what hit you.”

If I wasn’t hungover and dying, I would have laughed. Alas, I didn’t even have the energy for that.Been there, done that. Never again.

She shifted her glass in front of me. “Drink up.”

“You’ve got to be kidding. Do you want vomit all over your plush carpets?”

“It will make you feel better, and I need you on your A-game.” She flicked her piercing red eyes my way, the same exact colour of vibrant, running blood. “You didn’t read the file I sent, did you?”

Nope. Not going to answer that. I chugged her drink back in one fell swoop, concentrating on keeping the contents from regurgitating back up my throat.

“Thought so,” she said, with a disappointing undertone. “Just sit back and see how this meeting plays out. I’ll want your opinion later.”

I nodded as a rustling at the entrance caught our attention. A middle-aged man with a big gut and briefcase sauntered towards us, two bulky Ludus Maximus guards trailing close behind.

Ludus Maximus and Vice accounted for two out of four underground crime organisations that ruled over Junction City—well, three now, since the downfall of the Sovereign four years before.

That same monumental event caused a fractured chasm of conflict between the three remaining syndicates. The Treasury disappeared off the map, the remnants of their presence difficult to find unless you knew where to look. Vice? We remained in our lane, rolling in the cash by selling a taste of the forbidden. Ludus, on the other hand, offered their soul up to the devil. Once a formidable powerhouse known for their elite soldiers, forced to its knees due to their paranoid leader.

Suddenly, a new gang wanted a slice of our city, to stake their ownership on what was claimed decades before.Let’s see what they have to offer.

Aster straightened at their approach. Beaming sun rays reflected off her shaved bald head, which led down to the distinguishable Vice tattoo stamped on the nape of her neck—two red snakes coiled and spiralling to form the letter V, a nod to Serpents Row, the streets of which we had all manner of domain and rule.

Objectively speaking, she was one of the most stunning women I’d ever met. Curves made of sin, make-up pristine with killer lips created for seduction. Although I could appreciate her physical appearance, Aster was a surrogate mother figure and the boss I owed my life to.

Mistress of Vice and Kingpin of Serpents Row—our syndicate specialising in all things carnal pleasure and sensual delights.

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