Deceit (Gallows Hill #1)

44. Chapter Forty Three

Chapter Forty Three

Vincent

I t’s officially October, and I fucking hate it. I don’t think I’ve ever hated a month so much in my life, but this one? This one can burn in fucking hell. It's the time of the year, when every annoying as fuck tourist comes to Salem, trying to see or do what, I don’t really know. The streets are crowded, businesses jack up their prices and stupid as fuck events and carnivals go on every goddamn weekend.

I think the worst part about this October though, is what will come at the end of the month. Skyla doesn’t know the extent of what will happen. Truthfully, none of us know except for Ronan. Despite all of our threats, he hasn’t revealed what the ceremony will consist of. He said that if he revealed the secrets before the day of, he could risk banishment, but he said it was not good for any of us. So obviously, I’ve been freaking the fuck out. And how do I deal with freaking out? Bloodshed of course.

I’m currently sitting on top of some stinky piece of shit, that tried to steal millions from one of the Brethren’s investment businesses. Real estate or stock market, shit? I don’t really know, and I don’t really care. When I got the mark, I was more than happy to relieve a little anxiety. It’s just this poor fucker’s fault that he is the one paying the price.

The text said freestyle, which means I get to kill him however the fuck I want. If I make too much of a mess I’ll call in a cleanup crew. Looking around at his blood soaked office, I’d say a cleanup crew will definitely be necessary. He’s stuck to the floor, two twelve inch rods impaling each thigh and effectively nailing him to the ground. It only took two swings from my sledgehammer on both to get him nice and locked down to the ground.

This is the side of me that few have seen. Many speculate, but only a handful have ever witnessed it, and those that have usually aren’t around to tell the tale. It’s a side I’m desperate to hide from my Siren. I’m not sure she’d ever look at me the same. If she couldn’t look at me, couldn’t love me? Fuck bloodshed. I’d kill every motherfucker on this earth including her before ending myself. Without her, I’m fucking nothing. I’m barely even anything with her. So, I have to keep this part of me hidden, private, tucked away for the right moment.

I don’t want to say that I enjoy taking lives, that would make me a psychopath. On second thought, maybe I am one actually because I really do enjoy it. Only to those that deserve it. Only to those that the world is better off without.

This piece of shit? The one who hits his wife, ignores his children and steals from one of the most well-known and feared secret societies in the country. Yeah, no one is going to lose a wink of sleep over him.

Tired of dragging this out, I settle for a simple beheading. Reaching for the hatchet I always bring with me in my bag of goodies, I lift it up. He squirms beneath me, fear in his eyes as I allow gravity to do a majority of the work, slicing straight through his fatty flesh before the loose head flops to the side.

Standing up, I reach for the expensive handkerchief in his pocket. I wipe away the blood splattered across my face before tossing the cloth back onto his now decapitated body. Stripping off my gloves, I pull out my phone and shoot off a quick text requesting a cleanup crew with very vague details.

Once I get the confirmation, I’m free to leave. I strip off all of my clothes and shoes, leaving them beside the body for disposal before changing into the new shirt, pants and shoes that I brought with me.

A quick run of a comb through my tousled black hair and I’m good to go. I’m on my way home for the night when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I smash the elevator button, stepping inside as it takes me down to the parking garage.

Siren: Up for a late night swim?

My heart clenches just from her name on my screen, let alone her wanting to see me.

Me: I’ll be there in ten.

I know damn well it’s at least a twenty minute drive back to Gallows Hill, but see if that stops me from getting to my girl. When I step out of the elevator I make my way over to my bike, tossing my leg over the blacked out beast before firing it up. Slipping on the helmet, I kick it into gear and take off, zipping in and out of traffic as I leave the city and head back to Salem.

We’ve still been taking shifts watching over Skyla, her stalker is still very much out there. Just because he hasn’t made a move since the day with the pictures, means nothing to me. The others slowly seem to be letting their guards down again, but I won’t make that mistake twice. It’s infuriating that Asher wasn’t able to pull any fingerprints from the letter. He used Hutchinson to run it which I think was his first mistake. If you want something done right, you do it yourself.

Fingerprints are such a long shot a majority of the time. Someone like this is careful, calculated and smart as hell. They’d know better when writing and delivering these letters. They’d wear fresh gloves and come and go at times and places when there is no surveillance. I’ve installed some cameras in the hallway outside Skyla’s door but besides that, I have no idea what to do except wait for the piece of shit to fuck up. And when he does, I’ll skin him alive like the worthless worm deserves.

I get there in nine minutes, which even I’m impressed by. Parking right outside the pool building, I toss my helmet onto the handlebar and head inside, intent on getting to my Siren as fast as possible.

When I get there she’s already doing laps, though she’s clearly going at a leisurely pace. Her body glides through the water like it was born to do so, and when she flips around to go the other way I notice she’s not wearing a normal swimsuit. No, she’s wearing a red and white polka dot bikini that her tits are practically spilling out of.

Jesus.

As she makes her way back towards my side of the pool I move to the edge, crouching down and waiting for her. When she reaches the edge and goes to turn around, I stop her, gripping her throat and lifting her several feet out of the water.

She gasps at the action before I crush my lips against hers, desperate to taste her. I’ve been fucking itching to touch her again and I only said goodbye to her not four hours ago. I’m so fucking in love with this girl, and I don’t give a damn. She makes this shitty life worth living, makes my formerly worthless heart beat for the first time in years, just for her.

When I pull away I release her, allowing her to sink back into the water. She smiles up at me softly, removing her goggles as she brushes her hair back.

“No cap and inappropriate swim attire,” I tsk. “Coach is going to be furious with you if he finds out.”

“So, let’s not tell him,” she smirks at me.

I cross my arms over my chest, looking down at her seriously.

“What exactly do you think you’re doing out here, all alone at night, Siren? Especially looking like that.”

She shrugs, floating on her back as she speaks.

“Ronan is here, in his office.”

Irritation passes through me for only a moment. I’ve gotten more used to the sharing thing, and sometimes it’s hot as hell, but my mind hasn't changed. One day, eventually, a choice will come whether she wants it to or not. When it does, I’ll be the one holding her in my arms or I’ll fucking gut the others until I am.

“Why isn’t he here with you then?” I ask, allowing my voice to carry towards his office.

“I wanted some time just you and me…is that okay?”

I scoff as I grab the back of my shirt, pulling it up and over my head before I kick off my shoes and undo my pants.

“Anytime you need me, Siren, I’m here.”

When I’m down to my boxers I slip into the pool, my arms winding around her quickly as she wraps her legs around my torso. Pushing us through the water, we slowly bob and float together, enjoying the peace that comes from our shared space.

She pulls back for a moment, a smile on her face that slowly begins to morph.

“What’s that?” she asks.

“What’s what?”

She touches my neck, forcing it sideways as her finger rubs against me, her wet finger coming back with a tinge of red.

“Is that blood?” she asks. “Are you bleeding?”

Her eyes begin quickly scanning over me, assessing me for injuries when she comes up short.

“It’s not mine,” I say, hoping that will be enough to ease her mind because it’s not exactly like I can give her any more details other than that.

She frowns at that, pulling away slightly. If she thinks physical distance can get in between us at this point, she’s crazy. I allow her to take her space, still floating in place as she speaks.

“Are you dangerous? Should I…should I be afraid of you?”

“Yes,” I answer honestly. “To both.”

My Siren doesn’t outwardly react to that, instead she seems to process the information, mulling over her words carefully.

“Would you ever hurt me?”

“Never,” I say immediately.

“Would you ever let anyone else hurt me?”

“I’ll be cold and rotting in the ground before I let that happen.”

She nods consideringly at that, before slowly coming back into my arms. Like the last piece of a puzzle clicking into place, my body physically reacts to her touch.

“That’s kind of romantic, in a crazy way.”

“That’s the only way I know how to be romantic, Siren.”

Rolling her eyes, she smiles.

“That’s not true. That hot spring you took me to? Very romantic.”

“If you think that’s romance, you seriously need your bar raised.”

Her head cocks to the side, a daring smile on her face as she practically taunts me.

“Oh yeah? Show me, how high should it go?”

“I’m not the man for the job, but I promise to try and be worthy of you every second of this lifetime.”

I slip my hand beneath her jaw, bringing her lips to mine as I take it slow, savoring her touch, her scent, her taste. I’m obsessed with her. Off the rails. I want nothing more than to bottle her up and keep her near me always, forever.

She lets out a breathy moan when I move from her mouth to her cheek, kissing the chlorine off her skin as my tongue traces over the pulse point on her neck. I keep her pinned to my chest with one arm. My other hand begins trailing against her mostly bare skin, forcing goosebumps to erupt in my path before I slip beneath her bottoms.

My fingers dance over her clit, teasing her as I continue kissing her skin.

“Vincent,” she gasps.

“Yes, Siren. Tell me what you want, what you crave.”

“You, I-I want you.”

The beast inside of me beats his chest in victory, her words the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard as I quicken my pace. Her breathing is noticeably quicker, her nails digging into my shoulders as I continue.

“Oh my god. Oh that feels good,” she moans.

“Tell me you love me, Siren.”

“I love you,” she answers immediately, like admitting it is as easy as breathing for her.

“I love you,” I say, nipping at her neck softly. “I want to take you away, from all of this evil, from all this pain. Just you and me, Siren.”

She whimpers but doesn’t say anything. My hand moves faster, practically as fast as it can underwater, forcing her eyes to fly open and land on me.

“Run away with me, Skyla. Be mine, forever. I’ll always protect you, always keep you safe.”

A love drunk haze covers her beautiful face, but conflict is heavy in her eyes.

“It’s not just us, Vincent. You know that.”

My jaw tenses before I blow out a ragged breath and nod, pinching her clit in a way that has her shattering apart in my arms despite how displeased she just made me. I can’t share her forever, I can’t.

A thought comes to mind though, one that I’d never even considered before. If I force her to leave them, to only be with me, could she ever really love me after that? Do I care as long as I have her? Warring thoughts rage inside my mind as my perfect sea goddess rests her head on my shoulder, holding me tightly as she sighs.

“We all run or we all stay. We’re in this together,” she says, unknowingly settling several debates inside my head.

I don’t like the outcome of this logic, but is sharing her with two others that would gladly lay their lives down for her worse than losing her? Absolutely not. No matter what it takes, I’m keeping her. Hell itself couldn’t keep me from my Siren.