RUIN: Psychological Enemies-to-Lovers Thriller

After Griff knocked her out in the hotel room, we had wiped down the surfaces in the space. We made sure there were no places where our fingerprints could have been.

Just get the information. Don’t worry about her blood.

Phoenix and I left the hallway and entered my kitchen.

Right as she passed me to go to the couch, I caught her arm. “No.”

She tensed and looked up at me.

Panic filled her eyes.

My dick jerked in my pants, loving the way she cowered.

I bet I could cum from her screams. That voice is pretty enough.

My favorite song started over. It was the only thing keeping me calm right now, keeping me at bay. The notes, the lyrics, even the goddamn violins reminded me of the old days.

Those were the years when I didn’t do drugs or drink, fuck or curse. A time where my only passion was to serve God. A time where my only vice was listening to an opera early Sunday morning in seminary, instead of hurrying down with my rosary beads to pray with the others.

Luciano Pavarotti’s voice rose in the air.

My body calmed.

I let her go. “Sit by the bar.”

She strolled over to the first stool. My robe trailed behind her. When she climbed on top, some of the fabric slipped away and revealed her leg.

I twisted the knife’s handle, yearning to slide the blade up that soft skin.

As if she knew what was on my mind, she widened her eyes.

What will I do with her?

I could feel my soul descending. I could hear the coffin top slamming down and shutting my humanity away.

She smells so good. I wonder how her pain will taste.

I hadn’t been with a woman in years.

The moment I realized I wouldn’t be a priest, I spent the year fucking every woman I could find. Half the time, it didn’t matter what she looked like. I was inside of her in seconds.

But pussy could only keep away the sadness for so long.

The pain remained, and the bills piled up. And we realized we might lose our land. My brothers and I spent years later working two to three jobs, doing our best to maintain peace for our younger brothers and sisters.

The idea of criminal options grabbed us by surprise.

Once we fell into the adrenaline high of stealing, I focused on making plans to never get us caught. I had to get disciplined. There was no more time for bullshit women.

And now a naked woman is in my chapel.

I put my attention on her face.

Phoenix scanned the kitchen. The whole time, her lips moved in time with Pavarotti.

Is she mouthing the words?

She caught me watching her and stopped.

Grunting, I went to the fridge and pulled out the steak I’d planned to celebrate with this evening. I’d been marinating it all week.

Now I’ll have to share it with this damned woman. I should make her eat Noah’s dog food.

I brought it over and placed it in front of her. Then, I pulled out my wooden cutting board as well as herbs, potatoes, and onions. I placed those right in front of her too, not even three inches away from her hand as it rested on the counter. Instead of chopping onions, I could have lopped off her stupid fingers.

I grabbed an onion and diced it fast.

Hyperaware, she moved her eyes following the constant hit of the blade to the board.

She was terrified, and she should have been.

While I planned to cut her, I still wasn’t sure if I would kill her.

I didn’t enjoy taking a person’s life. If I did, it was to protect our family or keep the world safe.

She’d taken our money. We’d gone after her. She’d seen our faces in bright light. Identification would be easy. Not to mention the fact that her stealing from us couldn’t have been a lucky break.

Wait a minute. She knew we were showing up tonight. She was prepared.

I stopped dicing and held the knife in mid-air. “How long have you been watching us?”

She opened her mouth in shock.

I slid the cut onions off the blade and pointed the knife’s tip at her face. “How long?”

“A few months.”

“You and your friend?”

“She never watched with me.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I have no reason to lie.”

“You have every reason to lie.” I sliced potatoes. “There’s no way you worked on this alone.”

“I did. She just picked me up in the alley and now she’s going to turn everything into cash.”

“You didn’t think it was suicidal to choke me? I’m the biggest out of the three.”

“That’s why I thought it would catch you all by surprise.”

“It sure did.” I slid the knife away and raised it to her chin. “I’m going to probably slice your neck open and then stuff my dick in it.”

She didn’t blink or rear back. Instead, she gaped at me in horror.