Page 39 of Venomous Desires

My phone pinged, jolting me, and with shivering hands, I pulled it out and almost dropped it. I opened the notification to see a text from Kyle. I stared at my phone in disbelief.

Kyle: You need to come by yourself to terminate the contract. Text me when you’re ready; I’ll come pick you up.

Chapter 14

The Prey

Apologies for being late. Had to run a small errand.” The brooding man sauntered in, wearing a black leather jacket and matching jeans. His tattoos peeked through the sleeves, and several skull rings adorned his fingers, looking like they could summon a demon, particularly the one he worked for.

He looked everything but a billionaire’s butler—or whatever he was supposed to be. His hair was slicked back with what appeared to be rebellion, and his face was contorted in a permanent scowl that suggested he had just eaten a particularly sour lemon.

He looked anything but sorry.

He opened the door of the car and bobbed his head in the passenger seat. “Get in.” This was the second time in two hours a man I didn’t trust was telling me to get in his car. This time I couldn’t resist.

“It’s alright,” I muttered, making myself comfortable as he slammed the door shut, making me jump in my seat athis rudeness. “You didn’t have to pick me up...” I whispered, watching him round the car and get into the driver’s seat, shutting the door like a madman.

Kyle adjusted his skull rings as if they were crucial for driving, glancing over at me with an expression that could only be described as a mix between annoyed and slightly amused. “Mr. Romanovski insisted,” he grumbled, revving the engine unnecessarily loud.

I gulped. “Oh,” Insisted. More like threatened. That demon looked unaccustomed to hearing no.

Kyle gave me a side-eye as I cleared my throat and focused on the view out.

“The fucker thinks I’m his errand boy.” He murmured something under his breath in Russian I didn’t understand, as he pressed down on the gas pedal.

“So,” He began with his low and menacing voice, “You’re quitting?”

I shifted uncomfortably, the leather seat creaking beneath me. “I didn’t ask for this,” I muttered. “Mr. Romanovski...” That maniac. “He’s not exactly someone I can work for.”

To my surprise, he let out a dark chuckle. “You think I don’t know that? The man has a way of making you feel like you’re making a choice when in reality, you never had one to begin with.” His lips curled into a sardonic smile.

I glanced at him, trying to gauge what he was getting at. Was this a test? To see if I bad mouth his master? “Why do you work for him then?” I found myself asking, despite the thudding of my heart.

His smile faded, replaced by a hardened expression. “We all have our demons,” he said cryptically, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. “Some of us just happen to work for one.”

A shiver ran down my spine as I absorbed his words. The car revered faster, the surroundings becoming more desolate andforeboding. I tried to distract myself by looking out the window, but the desolation only amplified my unease.

“He’s scary,” My voice barely above a whisper.

His eyes flicked toward me for a moment before returning to the road. “Scary my ass, the fucker has got a loose screw or two,” he muttered. “I’d say he’s...particular.”

I swallowed hard, the knot in my stomach tightening. “I just want to quit.” My voice was shaky, barely audible over the hum of the engine.

He let out a bitter laugh, devoid of any real amusement. “He’s got his claws in deeper than you can imagine.” His knuckles whitened as his grip on the steering wheel tightened further. “You don’t leave. Not unless he wants you to.”

The car sped up, the city outside becoming a blur of shadows and twisted shapes. I could feel the weight of his words pressing down on me, each word like a nail in a coffin. This was the first time I had conversed more than pleasantries with him, and it was not pleasant at all.

I felt a cold sweat break out across my skin. “What kind of man could have that much power?” I whispered, more to myself than to him.

He shot me a dark look. “Don’t provoke him if you want normal.”

The car swerved slightly as we hit a rough patch of road, and I clutched at the seat, my heart racing.

My breath hitched, my heart skipped several beats, and I almost forgot to breathe as Kyle parked the car outside the mansion. The sky had descended into evening. But the unsettling feeling returned. I didn’t want to face him. I knew I’d lose my sanity, just like Kyle said. He was a demon.

This couldn’t be happening. I didn’t want to go in there. My mind was racing. Why was I here? What was I even thinking? I should run. Kyle was right—he was dangerous. My stomachtwisted. I could feel the fear, like ice in my veins. I knew what he could do. How could I face him? My legs felt weak. I needed to breathe. Calm down. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t do this.

“You couldn’t be thinking of running away, do you?” Kyle whispered near my ear, and I jumped, startled. Clutching my bag tighter, I swallowed and noticed the door opened. Be brave, Sera.