Page 74 of Soulless Deeds

Psycho chuckled, whacking his arm. “Micah can take care of herself… And if not, I’m her executioner. She just has to point me in the right direction.” I groaned, and Psycho’s smile elongated into a serial killer grin. “And if any one of those men down there lays one single finger on her, I swear to you right now, they won’t be breathing in the morning…”

Psycho’s tirade tapered off as his expression turned serious—deadly serious.He had to jinx it, didn’t he? This night was already shit, but now I have to worry about cleaning duty afterPsycho inevitably destroys some seedy civilian who can’t keep his hands to himself. Fuck my life.

Instead, he surprised me, his tone ominous. “Ludus Maximus. They’re here.”

Tanner and I jolted to our feet, gaze sweeping the dance floor. “Where?”

“Everywhere.”

With that realisation, the peak of the night was already upon us. The crowd roared in time with the DJ’s countdown as the music pulsed deafeningly loud.Three. Two. One.

Urgency had my gaze swing to the sisters. Spencer wasn’t there.

All turned black as the club lights snuffed out, fake blood spraying from the ceiling, drenching the room in fluorescent red, glowing like a scene from a horror film.

Fuck!How had I missed such an overt invasion? I was too caught up in the high. My ego deluding me into a false sense of security, believing that no one wouldeverdare trespass on Vice land with such blatant disregard. My mistake—one that I would promptly rectify. Those burly Ludus motherfuckers were about to die for their disrespect.

Frantic, I turned to the boys to let them know we had to move. Instead, I was caught dumbstruck by the purple glow of a skull tattoo, blazing from the underside of Tanner’s chin, the symbol altogether immobilising and terrifying.Ultraviolet.

My eyes widened as if testing out my vision to ensure the drugs weren’t distorting my sight. Then, almost in slow motion, Tanner straightened, expression evil and sinister in the dark. “BOO!”

XXIX

Spencer

Covered in glowing paint, Remi pulled me into one of the side passageways, the dimmed lights barely providing enough illumination.

It was quiet, the thumping EDM music lingering behind. Then, Remi came to a stop in a small, shadowed alcove, enough room to catch our breath.

We were laughing—more like cackling, falling over each other in joint amusement. We were drunk, loaded and everything in between, a potent high pumping through our veins.

Lost in thought, I hadn’t noticed that Remi and I were completely aligned, in the same position we were caught dancing in earlier. As if on instinct, my best friend placed his hands on my waist like it was the most natural thing in the world. To be that close, to be touching me…

I wet my dry lips, his dilated pupils following the motion. I knew that look.

“Rem, this isn’t a good idea,” I said, my fingers dancing to the nape of his neck as we swayed to non-existent music.

“Just one… One kiss. Let me feel those lips. Just once, Spence.” His sweet breath fanned over my mouth before hislips lowered to press against mine. He barely made contact—whether pausing for permission or forgiveness, I wasn’t sure. But with his touch, all my troubles just seemed to drift away. So, I gave in.

I pressed into his embrace, lining the outline of his lips with a quick swipe of my tongue before capturing his mouth with mine.

We parried and savoured, enhancing the caress with drunken licks and bites that had a cascade effect to the rest of my buzzed body. Remi pressed the advantage by utilising every facet of his expertise to turn a simple kiss into a symbolic gesture.

Only one problem…He wasn’t him.

No matter Remi’s prowess, he was a friend, nothing more. The fleeting thought enraged me…Why couldn’t I have fallen in love with him?

Our kiss naturally ended, our faces parting only an inch where his silver eyes examined my features.

“Tell me you don’t feel that, too,” he whispered.

I nodded. “I do, I won’t deny it.” I let my hands unravel and lowered them to the middle of his chest. “But I’m toxic, Remi. I’ll eventually burn you out.”

“Then let me burn.”

“And destroy you in the process? Because I will. I’ll continue to raze everything in my path until there’s nothing left, including the ones I desperately want to protect.”

His expression softened into contemplation as he detangled our position until all contact was lost. “It’s him, isn’t it?”

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