Page 154 of Depraved

“Eyes open,” I said to the guys standing around me.

I glanced at my wristwatch, and it was thirty minutes, exactly. “This better not be bullshit.” I turned in every direction, impatience getting the better of me as I pulled my hand through my hair.

“Well, well, well. I see you’re one short.”

My eyes closed when I heard his voice behind me. For some reason, a part of me really fucking hoped it wouldn’t be him, but it was stupid of me thinking the universe wouldn’t use this situation to throw yet another ‘fuck you’ at my face.

“Slither.” I turned to face him, purposely stepping in front of Ink. “Where is Alyx?”

He smirked like the filthy demon he was, holding up his hands. “What? No welcoming gestures?”

“Where is she?”

Dressed in a pair of jeans, gray shirt, and black baseball cap, it made him less conspicuous among the crowd. His crew who stood scattered behind him was also not so noticeable to anyone else, but I noticed them, just like he noticed the guys behind me.

He leaned his head to the side, placing his fist in the palm of his other hand. “I know where you girl is.”

“Good. Then you can tell me.”

He snickered. “You of all people know everything has a price tag.”

“Of course, I do.” I took a step closer. “I was just hoping this time around you wouldn’t be dumb enough to fuck with me.”

“Ah, man, I’m sorry.” His s’s lisped with his split tongue pressing against his teeth. “I don’t fuck men.” He glanced over my shoulder at Ink. “Pretty little blue-haired pixie girls are more my style.”

“You mother—” Ink tried to launch at Slither, but Manic and Onyx grabbed him, people suddenly jumping out of the way and staring at us with wide, fearful eyes.

I didn’t move. I kept my glare pinned on Slither, using the image of Alyx’s face as an anchor for my rage. If I didn’t, I’d shoot a bullet through his forehead within a goddamn heartbeat.

“What do you want?”

Amusement painted his face like it was the devil’s playground. “Let’s get straight to it, then. Stop killing my men.”

I shrugged. “What? Don’t like getting severed fingers in the mail?”

“Nah. As you pretty well know, I have no problem with fingers lying around. I just don’t like recruiting new prospects all the time.” He took a breath and faked a look of exhaustion. “It’s just so damn tiring to promise these troubled young people a sweet reprieve from this fucked up world while silently laughing at their naïve fucking faces.”

I shifted and placed my hands on my sides when his guys all stiffened behind him, reaching for their guns.

Onyx snorted next to me. “Tense much?”

“Tell me where Alyx is.” I didn’t have time for games. I didn’t have the fucking patience for idiotic banter while we stood there trying to prove who had the bigger goddamn balls.

Slither lifted his chin. “I want a ceasefire.”

I lifted a brow. “A what?”

“You heard me. I tell you where Alyx is in exchange for a truce.”

“Not a fucking chance,” Ink chimed in behind him, and I lifted my hand, silencing him.

“You want a truce?”

He licked his lips with his tentacled tongue. “Yeah. You get your girl back, and you stop challenging me on these fucking streets. We forget all about the past and let go of these violent vendettas we have for each other.” He held his arms out wide. “Think of it as your opportunity to help toward world peace.”

I crossed my arms and straightened my stance while keeping my eyes on him. “If I agree to a truce, you’ll tell me where Alyx is?”

“Even better,” he smirked, “I’ll take you to her, just to—you know, show you there’s no bullshit.”