Monster Of Ruin: A Dark Serial Killer Romance (The Dark Angels Book 4)

I lift my eyes to Phantom as I hold the papers in my hand. “You sure this is real?”

“I wouldn’t have given it to you if I wasn’t,” he replies, crossing his arms.

I’ve never questioned him before, but I’ve never had the option to destroy someone that I don’t want to destroy. The papers I’m holding are proof that Justin Hart did in fact have his wife killed. He hired a hitman to make it look like a car accident, but that is far from the case.

“Are you gonna tell her?” Henley asks.

I glance at the papers before lifting my eyes to my brothers. Usually making a decision like this would be easy. There’s never been a reason for me to worry about the reaction I would get, but fuck, this is different. I’m not trying to hurt Clara.

“I honestly don’t know,” I say.

“Maybe a clear head will help,” Phantom says, dropping a file on the table.

I grab the file and read through it quickly. A man who beat his wife to death.

“Fuck yes, he’s all mine.”

“I knew he would be,” Phantom replies, grinning.

By the end of our meeting, each of us has a hunt to go on. This is the shit that gets my blood pumping and keeps my head on straight. It’s a much-needed distraction from Clara and the shit I’m trying not to feel.

We leave the office and step out into the Trappers Den. Lowell nods as we walk by and Henley gives him a fist pound.

“If anyone needs my property let me know.”

They all agree, and we go our separate ways.

I’m too wound up to go home, so I drive around planning out how I’m going to grab this piece of shit. It’s honestly a little too easy once I get it all figured out. He works late, so it’ll be a cinch to pick him up. I’ll grab him in the shadows, and no one will be none the wiser.

Especially him.

As I sit outside the building he works in, my mind drifts to Clara. When we had dinner it took every bit of my restraint from reaching across the table and dragging her to me. Her full lips were wet and begging for attention. Her nipples were visibly hard through her thin shirt. Her soft voice was like music each time she spoke.

It was the first time in my life I can remember that I didn’t want something to end.

She’s everything I’m not—pure, innocent, good.

That’s why this decision to tell her about her mother is so difficult. If I tell her, I’ll be the reason she knows what it feels like to have darkness surround her.

My thoughts are interrupted when I finally see the lights in the dickwad’s office I’m hunting turn off.

Jim Bittle has no idea that is the last time he will touch that light switch.

I watch him step out of the office and slowly walk toward his car, which I know is parked down the alley next to the building. It’s almost too easy. Like he’s never watched a horror movie where all the bad shit starts in a dark alley.

I know there are no cameras around, thanks to Phantom, so I slowly drive behind him and block his car in.

“Hey,” he says, looking toward my truck.

I grin and climb out of my truck. “Jim?”

“Who wants to know?”

I chuckle and move toward him. “Your wife.”

His eyes widen and he reaches for his door handle. I grab him, slamming his head against the car as I duct tape his hands behind his back.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

I grab his hair and yank his head back to look at me. His body is still pressed against his car and surprisingly he isn’t screaming for help. It makes my pulse race with excitement. He’s going to make this so much fun.

“You’re coming with me, Jim. There’s some unfinished business to handle in regards to your wife.”

I yank him off the car and drag him to my truck. He’s not fighting, which is kind of disappointing. The fight is what makes it more fun.

Once he’s in and seat belted, I rush to get into the driver’s seat. I tear out of there and drive toward my place.

“You’ve been waiting for this, haven’t you?” I ask, glancing over at him.

He gives a humorless laugh as he stares out the window. “This isn’t the first time her family has hired someone to take me out.”

“Yet, you’re still here.”

“I’m a smart, very wealthy man.”

We pull up to the gates at my house and I grin. “Well Jim, I wasn’t hired by your wife’s family and I’m a very smart and an unbelievably wealthy man. The ending here is not going to be in your favor.”

As I park the truck he glances around, noticing the enormous house and property. “How much do you want?”

“I don’t want your money.” I climb out of the truck and peek up at the window to see if Clara is watching. I know it’s late, but I expected her to be waiting, but she isn’t. It pisses me off and I use that anger when I rip Jim out of the truck. He falls to the ground, and I yank him to his feet.

“Fuck,” he grumbles.

I cut off the duct tape and he stares at me. I smirk as I wrap my arm around his suit-covered shoulders. I lean close to his ear and whisper, “Run.”

He walks away slowly with an arrogant confidence in his stride. “I knew you’d let me go.”

He wanders into the trees, and I go into the shed to grab my bow. Tonight, I need the hunt more than anything. I haven’t reset the traps, so it’ll be a fun chase. With his attitude, I think hitting him with an arrow instead of a bullet is preferred.

I rest the bow on the hood of my truck and go inside to get something to eat. It’s going to be a long night and I’m starving.

Sitting to enjoy a sandwich, I check the camera’s upstairs to see what my delicate flower is doing. I check the bedroom and she’s not there. I sit up straight, as my brow dips.

“Where are you, Clara?”

I check the bathrooms, kitchen, and hallway but don’t see her. My heart races as I fear she may have hurt herself. Just as I stand to go look, I see her.

“What the hell?”

She’s sleeping in my childhood bedroom.

I don’t know what the hell would make her want to sleep on that small bed, but fuck, seeing her there causes my dick to stir.

I eat my sandwich as I watch her sleeping. She’s restless, moving more than normal.

“What’s going on in that beautiful head?”

Restless sleep and nightmares are things I’m all too familiar with. When you’re asleep there’s no way to stop the demons from coming. It’s all so real and I’m not able to do shit about it.

“Maybe I shouldn’t give you information that will cause nightmares.”

I sigh and finish my drink. I run my finger down the screen, wishing I was actually touching her porcelain skin.

“I need to go serve justice, but I’ll be back,” I whisper, turning off the phone.

I stand up and stretch my neck.

“Hunt’s on, Jim.”

When I get outside, I get the flashlight out of my truck and grab the bow off the hood. As I make my way into the dark woods, I glance up to the window I’m so used to seeing Clara at. I nod my head as I walk away.

I’m going to protect her by not telling her what I know.

With that decision made, I begin my hunt.

This property is ever-changing. New trees grow, old trees die. Different animals make homes, branches fall, and undergrowth grows. But, even with all that, I still know it perfectly. I know where all the trails are and where you can step off the trails to find water or shelter.

As many men as I’ve hunted on this property, I’ve learned human behavior as well as I know animal behavior. There are men who are too scared to keep going and try to hide until daybreak. There are men who think going toward the stream will lead them out. There are also men who believe they can run far enough away.

The thing is, humans are supposed to be the smartest animals, yet I’ve learned that’s far from the truth. They always fuck up. Stopping to drink, resting, looking for food, or making too much noise. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had some that truly gave me a good hunt, but Jim won’t be one of them. He believes I’ve just set him free. He’s in no rush to get out of here. Jim is the type of guy that will go to the stream, so that’s where I head.

You learn over years of hunting that you need the element of surprise. You can’t sneak up on your prey if they hear you and no one hears me. Each step I take is careful and precise. I don’t rush because that’s when you make mistakes.

Adrenaline pumps through my veins as I slowly approach the stream. I lean against a tree and listen. I hear the sound of owls and bats as they fly through the air. The raccoons run around, the possums slowly move, and the foxes look for food. These are all familiar sounds, comforting almost.

But then I hear the whispered cursing of my prey. “Fucking branch.”

I grin as I slowly step out from behind the tree and look around for him. The moon shines down so bright I don’t need my flashlight. I see Jim kicking branches out of his way, and I silently pull back my bow, looking through the sight.

My heart pounds and my body tenses as I hit the release.

He lets out a blood-curdling scream as the arrow goes through his leg. He drops to the ground, crying in agony as I slowly walk toward him.

“Fuck, what do you want from me?”

I look down at his bleeding leg. His now blood covered hands are wrapped around it and just like with any hit, the blood is pooling on the ground beneath him.

My eyes lift to his and I finally see the fear. “Why’d you do it, Jim?”

“Do what?” he screams.

I shake my head as I lift my foot and press it down on his injured leg. “Don’t play fucking stupid with me. We both know what you did, and I want to know why?”

His body is shaking in shock and pain as tears run down his cheeks. “I didn’t mean to. I lost my temper.”

“So much so that you beat your wife to death, huh?” I remove my foot and bend down to look him in the eyes. “An eye for eye you fucking coward,” I growl.

He shakes his head vigorously shouting as I load another arrow in the bow.

“I’m sorry.” But he doesn’t sound too sorry.

“Burn in hell you piece of shit.” I aim for his heart and pull the release. It’s quick and I stand there watching as his blood pools around him. His eyes are wide open, and the arrow is sticking out of his chest.

I pull my phone out and dial Trace.

“What’s up?” he answers.

“You wanna burn this asshole?”

“I’ll be there in a half hour.”

We hang up and I reach down pulling the arrow from his chest. I make sure to find the other arrow and once I have everything, I grab his legs and drag him behind me out of the woods.

By the time I get him out, Trace is pulling up.

“Good timing,” I say.

He walks over and looks down. “Damn.”

“It was a good hunt.”

We both laugh and he helps me load him into the back of his hearse. He works at a funeral home and gets full usage of the incinerator. It’s always one of the best ways to get rid of a body. Usually I bury them, but I don’t have a dead animal on hand to use as a disguise.

“Thanks, man, I appreciate the help.”

“No problem, I was hoping to find something to keep me busy.”

I know what he means, but I’m not sure what his reason is. It’s definitely not because he has a gorgeous hostage.

“I’ll let you know when it’s done,” he says, climbing back into his black hearse.

I’ve offered to buy him a new car, but he refuses. Maybe one day.

As he pulls away, I go into the shed and hang up my bow. I throw the arrows away and wash the blood off my hands. I watch the blood swirl down the drain, and I wish my thoughts of Clara would join it.

Annoyed that this kill didn’t help, I punch the fiberglass reinforced panel wall of the shed and shake my head.

“What the fuck are you doing to me, Clara?”

I’ve been up for hours and finally, the cameras let me know that my flower is now awake. I watch her get changed and my cock hardens seeing her perfect body.

“We both need release.”

Fucking my hand is getting really old. I need to feel pussy wrapped around me, but son of a bitch I can’t bring myself to do it. I’ve thought about having a quick fuck at the Trappers Den, but I can’t do that either. The thought of my dick in any other pussy but Clara’s isn’t even a turn-on. Yet, the thought of feeling her tight, wet cunt wrapped around me has me rubbing myself over my jeans.

I go up the stairs and sit by the door. “Clara?”

A few seconds pass before her sweet voice finds me. “Yes?”

“How’d you sleep?”

“Bad.”

“Is that why you slept in my old room?”

“What do you want, Elliott?” She sounds agitated.

I grin, loving the fire that she shows.

“I have some errands to run, but I’d like to have dinner again tonight.”

“Okay,” she whispers.

She acts like she doesn’t want me around, but I notice the way she reacts when I’m near. She wants to be around me just as much as I want to be around her.

We both just suck at admitting it.

“Is there anything you don’t like to eat?”

“No.”

“You good with Chinese?”

“That’s fine.”

“I’ll be back in a few hours.”

She doesn’t reply and I smile as I walk down the stairs.

Thankfully, Trace was able to get Jim taken care of last night and Phantom got his kill. So our meeting was fast.

I did some grocery shopping and stopped and got Chinese food. I’m on my way home to have dinner with Clara. Which is what I’ve been looking forward to all day.

After I get all the food put away, I grab some paper plates and plastic forks. I stick them in the bag of Chinese food and carry it upstairs.

Before I unlock the door, I listen to see if Clara is near and when I don’t hear her, I quickly unlock it and step inside, making sure it’s locked behind me.

“Clara?” I call out as I go into the kitchen.

She steps into the kitchen and the goddamn wind is knocked out of me. Her hair is up, giving a perfect view of her slender neck. She’s wearing a white tank top with no bra. Her nipples are completely visible, and I adjust my dick staring at them. The shorts she has on are for bed and they are entirely too short for anyone else’s eyes but mine.

She’s fucking stunning and she probably didn’t even try.

“You alright?” she asks, staring at me with her clear blue eyes.

I snap out of my eye fucking and smirk. “Yep. You hungry?”

“I am.” She sits down and I unpack all the food.

We each make our plates and begin to eat. I glance up at her and she appears more relaxed than she was last time. It makes my heart race as I get up to get us each a water.

“So, did you think my bed was comfortable?” I lift an eyebrow, staring at her.

“Not as comfortable as my own bed.”

“I used to sleep really good in that bed.”

She grins and lifts her eyes to me. “Alone?”

“Not always,” I reply, giving her a wink.

“Do you think you sleep better when someone is next to you?” she asks, glancing down at her food.

“No, do you?”

She nods her head before looking up at me. “Yeah, it’s a comfort thing I guess.”

“So, you like strangers sleeping in your bed?”

I shouldn’t be pissed that she finds comfort in something but the thought of it being with another guy has me wanting to do a lot more than cutting off some fingers.

“Not strangers. I’ve had a few boyfriends that I found comfort in sleeping next to. That’s never happened for you?”

She tilts her head, genuinely curious in my response.

I squeeze the back of my neck as I stare into her bright blue eyes. “I don’t let anyone stay the night.”

She finishes her food as she nods her head. “Oh, you’re more of the fuck and flee type.”

I shake my head and smile. “Something like that.”

“I used to climb into bed with my parents at night. They couldn’t sleep without each other. That’s the kind of comfort I’ve always wanted,” she says, squeezing her hands together.

How wrong she is. I should just leave it, but I don’t.

“You really think they couldn’t sleep without each other?”

I don’t know why I’m pushing it. I guess it’s just the sick bastard I am.

“Definitely. My father is an asshole to me but sometimes I think it’s because he missed my mom so much. Losing her destroyed us both. He loved her so much that after she died, he just wasn’t sure how to carry on. It was such a shock to us all,” she says.

Christ, she really has a fantasy version of what that relationship really was. I hate to be the one to break it to her that her father is a piece of shit.

“That’s the kind of love I’ve always wanted to find.”

It comes out of me without a fucking single thought. “You deserve someone who will never hurt you, Clara.”

“Like someone who keeps me locked away in a prison?”

Rage I’m unable to control has me shaking as I stand and lean over the table. “No, you deserve someone who isn’t going to put a hit out on you. Your father didn’t love your mother, Clara. He hired someone to kill her.”

She leans back like I slapped her and stares at me. “You’re a fucking liar.”

“I’m a lot of things, but a liar isn’t one of them.”

She stands up, sweeping her arm across the table and knocking all the food onto the floor. Her eyes are filled with tears as she breathes heavily. “You’re the fucking murderer, not him.”

She’s right, I am a murderer, but I’ve never killed someone I claimed to love and I sure as fuck never laid my hands on a woman.

I bend down to pick up the food and she rushes off. I race after her and see her trying to get the key into the lock. How did she get the key?

I check my pockets and realize it must have fallen out when I was angry. I grab her and push her against the wall, keeping my body pressed against her, yanking the key out of her grasp.

“Where do you think you’re going, little flower?”