Unmasked (King Morine #4)

31. Stryker

CHAPTER 31

Stryker

W hen I exit through the side door, the skeleton asshole has his mask off and is pinching his nose. Blood drips onto his lips, increasing my thirst to see more of it.

“You got your ass kicked by a girl,” a guy wearing a pirate costume taunts.

“She busted your nose pretty good, Jacob. The girl can throw a punch,” the one wearing a Jason hockey mask says.

“Assholes.” He has a disgusted look on his face. “That bitch needs to be taught a lesson. Doesn’t she know who the fuck I am?”

No, asshole. And no one fucking cares.

The other guy answers back, “You’re Jacob Astor.”

“That’s right,” Jacob says. “I’m Jacob fucking Astor. Heir to the Astor empire.”

Oh, good. An entitled fuckwad who will be sobbing like a little bitch. Just like Steve, you fucked with my girl. And now you’re gonna pay.

Visions of me grabbing Steve as he headed toward an unsuspecting female’s residence hall makes me smile. He had no idea what was coming when I snuck up behind him, wrapped my arm around his throat, and dragged him into the woods behind the building.

Then I did to him what I’m about to do to Jacob.

“I’ve gotta take a piss. I’ll meet you guys inside,” Jacob’s voice pulls me back to the present. He heads to the portable toilet, having no idea his life is about to end tonight.

I lean against the barn, waiting for him to finish.

When he exits the portable toilet, I push off the wall and head over to him.

“Jacob, my man. I need to talk to you for a minute.” Clamping my hand on his shoulder, I steer him toward the back of the barn. “I heard you’re pretty important. I think you might be able to help me with my problem.”

Jacob, who looked irritated, now has a cocky smirk on his face. “Sure, man. What can I?—”

He shuts up when he sees the glint of silver in my hand.

“Oh, this.” I lift it, a malicious smile on my face beneath the mask. “This is gonna be your new best friend.”

Before he can react, I plunge it into his stomach, my hand covering his mouth, muffling his screams.

“You see, Jacob, you made the big fucking mistake of harassing my girl. Steve Becker did the same thing and hasn’t been seen since.”

Releasing a humorless chuckle, I pull the blade out and drive it back in.

Sweat beads on his forehead as his body begins shaking. But I continue stabbing, relishing in the smell of copper filling the air.

“You see, monsters like me, Jacob, we’re made, not born. My father abandoned me, leaving me to deal with my drunken bitch of a mother. What I didn’t know was he ran because he’d been killing people. My mom was just a one-night stand, and I was the result. ”

“He wasn’t interested in her, though. There was another woman he was fixated on, and he’d do anything to get her. Eliminate any obstacle that stood in his way.” While I’m speaking, I continue stabbing him.

“Guess I’m similar to my dad. I’ll do anything to protect my girl. Eliminate anyone who tries to hurt her. Like you ,” I whisper in his ear, sliding the blade over his throat, cutting from ear to ear.

Releasing him, I step back, watching the crimson roll down his throat in red rivulets.

His eyes are wide as his hands move to his throat. He’s gurgling and choking as he slumps to his knees, still holding his bloody neck.

I lean over, cleaning my blade on his costume before sheathing my knife in my holder.

Every cell in my body hums . Time for phase two.