Lethal Temptations (Tempted #5)(110)

I touched the edge of the blade, continued to sharpen it before glancing around the cell, searching for an answer to a question I wasn’t going to divulge.

You want to know what happens?

Watch and see motherf*cker.

I promise to give you a good show.

I narrowed my eyes as I stared at the metal toilet bowl screwed into the wall and the floor. I crawled across the floor and placed my hands on the bowl, remembering the morning after that first prick of the needle in five years and how I remained hunched over the bowl. I inspected the toilet bowl and found what I was looking for. I used the sharpened edge of the razor as a flat head screwdriver and twisted the bolt attaching the metal thrown to the wall.

Then my voice rang in my ears after Gold tried forcing me on Reina.

I’m not touching her you sick f*ck.

Shoot me up, do what you got to do but I won’t f*cking touch her.

I twisted and twisted until I pulled back my hand, revealing the three inch bolt and ran my finger across the flat tip.

Nice and sharp, like the tip of a needle.

I moved away from the toilet, placed the sharpened razor back into Vic’s pillowcase before I went to work on the screw.

Lacey’s face worked its way into my brain as my hand quickened the pace, stripping the ridges that swirled around the metal, smoothing them down as I created a point.

I couldn’t wait to see that face again.

I couldn’t wait to kiss that mouth of hers again.

Or hold that soft body in my arms.

I couldn’t f*cking wait to be inside her and watch her eyes as she became mine over and over again.

Yeah, I had a f*cking future, and it was so goddamn beautiful.

“Nice and sharp,” I repeated.

“Just like the tip of a needle,” I whispered.

I heard the keys dangle before the officer fitted them into the bars and I quickly hid the weapon I was making. Vic pulled back the sheet and stepped into our cell.

“How was church?” I muttered.

“God is good,” he replied, placing his bible under his pillow. “He forgives us all.”

“Yeah? You think?” I asked, wiping the sweat from my brow and pushing my hair away from my eyes.

“I know,” he assured as he climbed into the bottom bunk. “Tomorrow is a big day,” he said, yawning. “Tomorrow I become God.”

No you don’t.

I do.

I climbed onto the top bunk and once I was sure Victor was sleeping, I continued to sharpen the screw against the wall.

God was good.

But I was the devil.





Chapter Forty



I watched Victor take the comb resting on the sink and run it through his silver hair, meticulously coming it back. He slipped on his sparkling white sneakers and brushed down the front of his jumpsuit before he turned around and smiled at me.

“My sources tell me by tomorrow you’ll be a free man,” he assured me.

I didn’t ask questions, relying on his word and the hope that Jack pulled off whatever the f*ck he and Victor planned.

“Give Jack some time to come around,” he advised. “A father needs to see the proof that when he leaves this earth his daughter will be well looked after. We don’t always deserve the peace of mind but some of us need it, anyway. Give it to him. Make her happy.”

“I plan on it,” I said huskily, barely recognizing my own voice.

He crossed the small floor space of the cell and reached under his pillow for the bible, opening it to the middle where a ribbon acted as a bookmark and laid the open book on the bed.

My legs dangled over the edge of the top bunk and I leaned forward, watching intently as he emptied the pillowcase and lifted the razor, inspecting the sharpness of it with his finger before he lifted his eyes to mine and smiled.

“You do good work,” he complimented.

“Always aim to please,” I said as he placed the razor onto open page of the Holy Scripture before he covered it with the ribbon and closed the book.

“Let’s go Pastore,” the guard called from behind the sheet.

I jumped down from the bunk and shoved my hands into my pockets, fingering the weapon rubbing against my thigh. Victor untied the sheet at one end and let it hang from the other as he tucked his bible under his arm and waited for the guard to open the cell.

“Wait,” I called.

Victor looked over his shoulder at me.

“Think God could find forgiveness in me too?”

He studied me for a moment, remaining completely silent and I thought he would deny me. I knew what he was going to do, he never tried to hide it from me and now I was asking him to allow me to bear witness. His lips quirked, and he granted me the faintest hint of a smile.

“Come, my brother, you want to see God work in mysterious ways? Let me show you his divine powers,” he said, his voice almost sounding like a hymn.

The C.O. raised an eyebrow at Vic but the mob boss paid him no mind, leading me out of the cell. As we walked the cell block I felt the inmates eyes on us and wondered if they knew what was about to go down. I diverted my eyes to Vic and watched as he held his head high and moved his lips. I leaned closer trying to listen to him and I heard every other word but it was clear the man was praying.

It takes a certain breed to do the things we do and each of us has our own way of getting in the zone. Whether it’s reliving the pain you suffered in life or listening to a particular song there’s something that gets you pumped and ready to take blood, a ritual one partakes in before he sanctions the beast within and takes a life.