Page 75 of Soulless Deeds

And, true to my nature, I told him the truth. “And always will be… He is myperson,Remi. Even though he’s too stubborn to admit it. He will always be my person.”

Remi nodded respectfully. “If he hurts you again, I will kill him.”

I smirked. “Oh, honey, as if I’d need your help.”

He interlaced our fingers. “Give me a promise. God, if somehow, he does manage to fuck it up again, you’ll give me a proper chance?”

“Don’t act like your fickle heart would wait for me, player boy. We both know you’ll be breaking a line of hearts within a week or so.” He scoffed, and I tsked. “Instead,youpromiseme…that one day, you’ll give one ofthema chance.”

He smiled then—one of his raw, genuine smiles. And we were interrupted by a resounding scream.

“SPENCER!!”

Before I could turn, an explosion detonated next to me with a distinctive pop, leaving me drenched in blood and brain matter.

ECHO

Ludus Maximus had infiltrated Vice.

They weren’t even subtle about it. Those hulking fuckers rocked up as if it was a given that they simply invade and conquer.

As fast as it took to process their presence, we were already moving at high speed. We all vaulted over the railing, beelining to the sisters, who continued to unknowingly dance and writhe to the music.

We didn’t even make the outskirts as Psycho launched a solid fist into one soldier’s head and moved on to the next before the former had fully lost consciousness. I had no idea where Ace had gone.

Tanner made better progress, a shining machete wielding back and forth as he chopped through bulk and muscle like a damn butcher.Where the fuck did that come from?

With the heavy base and a darkened room, partying patrons hadn’t caught on to the carnage yet. Glowing fake blood from the DJ mixed with the real crimson river flowing beneath their feet.

Like the trained professionals they were, Micah and Emerson soon clocked on to the scenario which made me yell. “WHERE’S SPENCER!?”

Micah pitched a hand to one of the side hallways before jumping into the fray, too.

I didn’t waste time, bolting for the doorway that Spencer had disappeared. And when I turned the corner, my nerves fucking short-circuited as my brain tried to compute what my eyes were seeing.

Remi kissed Spencer, and his advance wasn’t unwanted. Spencer kissed him back, the caress accepted and returned in kind. My legs buckled for half a second, my hand grasping the wall to prevent my knees from hitting the floor entirely.

Then, I noticed the silhouette of a bulky Ludus male creeping up behind them, gleaming knife in hand. They were too engrossed in intimate conversation to notice the danger approaching their backs.

Without enough time to alert them, I shouted, letting my Variant take care of the encroaching hazard.

“SPENCER!!”

I blew the head off that Ludus fucker, his brain matter splattering over every available surface.

Remi and Spencer catalogued the disaster, heads bouncing from the goliath carcass laying at their feet, then to me, standing dumbstruck down the hallway.

I swiped a hand at Remi while addressing Spencer. “Get him out of here.” Although Remi was a part of Vice, he was a lover, not a fighter. If he remained, he’d just get in the way. I also used that excuse hoping she’d leave with him, far away from the unfolding shitshow.

I didn’t have the capacity to process the compromising position I’d found them. I’d lose my shit, and we’d all be dead. So, instead, I beat that envious fucker down and left them behind.

Without another glance, I sprinted back into the main party room, which was absolute fucking bedlam. EDM music continued to play and multi-colored laser lights scored the walls, making the scene fantastical and outright crazy.

Patrons ran frantic, stampeding to the exits as the massacre ensued.

Now, these are the scenarios where I wish I could use my Variant. However, I knew my limitations well. Over the years, I had stretched and tested my ability. I could tally the risks with a quick perusal.

Many factors affected my Variant and how efficiently I could weld it. Proximity to a specific target helped, hence why I could flaunt it easily if whispering in someone’s ear. A quiet, calm environment worked best, and gave me the most control. And the scene before me was not that—instead, a bloodbath of magnifying proportions. Which was extremely risky.

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