Page 24 of Not Another Dark Romance

That can’t be it. I would know if I was into guys. Sex is sex, that’s all. And after long enough, any porn sounds would turn me on just like anyone else.

Ugh. How is this my life now, and why is this turning me on so much?

I toss and turn, ignoring my erection until the timer shuts off, then I’m finally able to get some sleep. Throughout my shift on Monday, my thoughts keep wandering back to the characters, wondering if the victim’s fiancée will find him, and if they do, if he’ll want to stay with the man who kidnapped him instead. I catch myself thinking about the “spice” as Mason referred to it, too. The man who was kidnapped had never been with another man before, yet he seemed as if he thoroughly enjoyed the situation, even if I’m still confused over the consent aspect of it.

When my shift ends, and I’m driving home, I realize I still don’t have a solid plan for killing Mason tomorrow. Honestly, I should probably just do it tonight. I could poison his food with a cleaning chemical or something, then deal with the body while it’s dark out.

But I’m so tired after staying up late last night because of that damn book.

I know it shouldn’t matter, but I sort of feel like I need to let him finish it so he knows how it ends. I make him dinner like normal, no poison involved, and he’s as flirty and chatty as ever.

There are four hours left in the book, so I skip the timer and let it play. The fiancée’s dad and brother come, and it’s revealed that the dad was forcing the man to marry his daughter to settle some gambling debt. The kidnapper offers to pay the dad instead, but when he refuses, the man who was kidnapped ends up killing his own father. The brother reveals that he also hated the dad and promises not to tell anyone, saying he’s finally free now too.

I don’t know why they believe him.

Then the psychos confess their love and run away together.

It’s all crazy. And they didn’t even offer me any tips for hiding a body. Totally glossed over that part. Such a disappointment.

The narrator thanks everyone for listening and promises the brother’s story in book two.

I’m not going to lie. I am a little curious about it. I bet Mason is too.

Grant

You’re off today right?

Grant

Can you come by the brewery ASAP?

Grant

I told Eric I submitted the liquor license stuff like two weeks ago, and I swear I did some of it, but there’s different ones for the city and state and this shit is so confusing

Grant

I just want to make beer, ya know? This business shit is so much harder than I thought it would be. I’m so glad you’re helping me. I can’t imagine if you didn’t agree to come with us

Grant

Are you ignoring me?

Grant

I’ll buy you lunch. But I do actually need you to do some of this, I’m not just being lazy. They do a criminal background check on anyone who owns 10% or more of the business so you need to fill out your info.

Zane

Fuck dude I was asleep.

Zane

Be there in thirty mins

Holy fucking shit. I punch my pillow before holding it up to my face to scream into it.

A criminal background check. Today? When I’m supposed to be killing someone?