Jake removed his hand from her arm, while
Toby directed the SUV toward the brilliantly colored front doors.
Chapter Four
Impatience ate at him, as did anger, but Cubrero refused to
yield to either emotion. Now was the time to think, not react. To learn all
that he could about his prey.
With his hands protected by latex gloves, he moved
unhurriedly through the modest apartment, glancing at personal items…a bouquet
of dried flowers that smelled of dust, clipped grocery coupons, a gaudy trophy
that blocked several pictures on the unstable metal bookcase. Putting the award
on the floor, he regarded the photographs, pausing on one of Lea Baptista. In
the shot, she’d narrowed her eyes against the potent sun, her arm slung around
the shoulder of her friend…the woman who’d danced as SiNN tonight.
What was her name? She’d given it to him at the club.
Gaze turned inward, Cubrero struggled to remember. Was it
Deborah? No. Diana? His frown deepened. It began with the letter D, of that he
was certain. Other names flashed in his mind, with one jumping out.
Danielle. That was it. Hearing her say it in his mind, he
glanced over.
At the end of the brief hall, Danielle’s calves were
visible, the soles of her feet showing that she was lying face down on the
carpet near her mussed bed. Once inside the room, one would see her opened eyes
staring into eternity.
It had been such an easy matter to break her neck. She’d
died instantly, without a sound, making no fuss, not alerting or alarming the
neighbors. An easy kill that no one would ever attribute to him. No one saw
them leave the club together, he’d made certain of it. When they’d arrived here
so she could change into something appropriate for dinner, the parking lot was
empty of people, the lights of the other apartments off.
Yes, an easy kill, and far less trouble than having to
appear interested as Danielle had talked about herself when he’d wanted her to
tell him about Lea. When her name finally came up, he’d asked, “Is this Lea a
friend of yours?”
Danielle’s lovely face glowed with affection. “Since we met
in foster care. I’d do anything for her. I took her last performance of the
night.”
He pretended surprise. “You weren’t supposed to dance as
SiNN?”
“No, I’m LuST.” She smiled broadly, showing her dimples.
“Pretty much the same thing, you know?”
His chuckle told her he did, encouraging her to relax even
further.
Moving into him, Danielle trailed her fingers over his neck.
He responded with a deep breath, sensing she’d like that.
She murmured, “Are you sorry I took her place?” Her leg
moved between his, the top of her thigh nudging his groin, gauging his response
to her.
His erection was immediate and impressive at the pictures
playing in his mind—her beneath him, moaning in delight before gasping in shock
and pain. Turning his face into her hand, he licked the side of her thumb, then
answered her question. “I would have been disappointed if you hadn’t. Lucky for
us she had a hot date.”
Danielle rested her free hand on the knot of his tie, her
fingers stroking it. “Only with her textbooks.”
He slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his
stiffened cock. “She left early for schoolwork, not a man?”
“She’s dedicated to what she wants. So am I.” She brushed her
lips over his throat, her breath warming his skin.
Feeling nothing, he moaned as though she aroused him, then
murmured, “I’m grateful you’re not her, since she doesn’t like men.”
“I didn’t say that.” She licked his neck and nibbled his
earlobe, sighing deeply at his rough groan. “She did mention two guys at her
last show tonight. She was definitely interested in them.”
“Lucky men,” Cubrero said as his thoughts raced, recalling
when Lea had caught him watching her.
She hadn’t looked interested. She’d seemed surprised at his
unexpected scrutiny. So who were these men? Had she lied about schoolwork
Toby directed the SUV toward the brilliantly colored front doors.
Chapter Four
Impatience ate at him, as did anger, but Cubrero refused to
yield to either emotion. Now was the time to think, not react. To learn all
that he could about his prey.
With his hands protected by latex gloves, he moved
unhurriedly through the modest apartment, glancing at personal items…a bouquet
of dried flowers that smelled of dust, clipped grocery coupons, a gaudy trophy
that blocked several pictures on the unstable metal bookcase. Putting the award
on the floor, he regarded the photographs, pausing on one of Lea Baptista. In
the shot, she’d narrowed her eyes against the potent sun, her arm slung around
the shoulder of her friend…the woman who’d danced as SiNN tonight.
What was her name? She’d given it to him at the club.
Gaze turned inward, Cubrero struggled to remember. Was it
Deborah? No. Diana? His frown deepened. It began with the letter D, of that he
was certain. Other names flashed in his mind, with one jumping out.
Danielle. That was it. Hearing her say it in his mind, he
glanced over.
At the end of the brief hall, Danielle’s calves were
visible, the soles of her feet showing that she was lying face down on the
carpet near her mussed bed. Once inside the room, one would see her opened eyes
staring into eternity.
It had been such an easy matter to break her neck. She’d
died instantly, without a sound, making no fuss, not alerting or alarming the
neighbors. An easy kill that no one would ever attribute to him. No one saw
them leave the club together, he’d made certain of it. When they’d arrived here
so she could change into something appropriate for dinner, the parking lot was
empty of people, the lights of the other apartments off.
Yes, an easy kill, and far less trouble than having to
appear interested as Danielle had talked about herself when he’d wanted her to
tell him about Lea. When her name finally came up, he’d asked, “Is this Lea a
friend of yours?”
Danielle’s lovely face glowed with affection. “Since we met
in foster care. I’d do anything for her. I took her last performance of the
night.”
He pretended surprise. “You weren’t supposed to dance as
SiNN?”
“No, I’m LuST.” She smiled broadly, showing her dimples.
“Pretty much the same thing, you know?”
His chuckle told her he did, encouraging her to relax even
further.
Moving into him, Danielle trailed her fingers over his neck.
He responded with a deep breath, sensing she’d like that.
She murmured, “Are you sorry I took her place?” Her leg
moved between his, the top of her thigh nudging his groin, gauging his response
to her.
His erection was immediate and impressive at the pictures
playing in his mind—her beneath him, moaning in delight before gasping in shock
and pain. Turning his face into her hand, he licked the side of her thumb, then
answered her question. “I would have been disappointed if you hadn’t. Lucky for
us she had a hot date.”
Danielle rested her free hand on the knot of his tie, her
fingers stroking it. “Only with her textbooks.”
He slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his
stiffened cock. “She left early for schoolwork, not a man?”
“She’s dedicated to what she wants. So am I.” She brushed her
lips over his throat, her breath warming his skin.
Feeling nothing, he moaned as though she aroused him, then
murmured, “I’m grateful you’re not her, since she doesn’t like men.”
“I didn’t say that.” She licked his neck and nibbled his
earlobe, sighing deeply at his rough groan. “She did mention two guys at her
last show tonight. She was definitely interested in them.”
“Lucky men,” Cubrero said as his thoughts raced, recalling
when Lea had caught him watching her.
She hadn’t looked interested. She’d seemed surprised at his
unexpected scrutiny. So who were these men? Had she lied about schoolwork
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