Page 132 of Shadowface

“What’s his deal?” Bianca asks Xander, who ignores her.

Lincoln never stands up to him like that—always the peacekeeper, always calm, always trying to hide in plain sight.

But Xander needs to know I’m back, though I think he already does by his tight facial expression and slight look of terror in his eyes.

Xander’s not scared of anyone, but he fears me. I’m the only one who’s sicker in the head than he is.

He keeps his blue eyes on me, his dark hair hanging over his face. His brutish muscles are gleaming under his tattoos as he uncrosses his arms and turns the sound of the movie off.

He doesn’t outwardly show any fear, but he knows he’s in the same room as the devil.

“Everyone get the fuck out,” he barks. “I need to talk to my brother.”

Slowly, everyone makes motions to leave, looking confused and darting their gaze between us as I keep my expression cold and neutral.

Bianca runs her hand over her dark hair. Her lips are painted bright red as she kneels in her spot beneath him, pointedly not moving.

He nudges her with his knee. “That includes you, babe.”

Her lips part and she turns her head to me and glares. “Why do I have to leave?”

Our eyes meet and she startles, blinking a few times as she meets my gaze.

I don’t blink. I keep my gaze heavy set on her as a slow smile spreads across my face, imagining her with blood-stained tears.

She stares back, and her pupils expand as she takes me in. She can see me…like, really see me. She can see the evil rippling off me, the otherworldly presence behind my eyes as my vision pulsates.

Although we’ve never formally met, I already dislike her. I’ll take care to rip out her throat along with her tongue, so she can’t even scream in hell when I put her there. Not even demons should have to hear her annoying voice.

Her eyes drift to my hand, where I am playing with my razor blade.

Oops.

I forgot I was holding that. She looks at me, then back at Xander, her face draining color making her look rather…regal.

My voice is a deadly calm. “My patience is running thin with you, Bianca. Maybe I should cut your tongue out… I don’t think Xander would mind.”

She lets out an audible gasp.

“Bianca, go upstairs. I’ll be up soon,” Xander says calmly.

She sucks in a breath, then nods obediently this time. “You’re just going to let him talk to me like that?”

He grabs her hair and nudges her up. “Go. Now.”

She lets out a heavy sigh as she rises from her dirty spot on the floor and wipes the dust off her black pants.

She glares at me. “I always knew you were fucking crazy.”

She runs out the double doors leading to the grand house beyond.

“Make sure you’re fucking naked by the time I get there,” he calls after her.

A moment passes, then another. A heavy silence lingers between us, and I merely play with the sharp edge of the blade, keeping my focus steady on it.

“How long have you been back?”

I finally meet his eyes and squeeze my fists together around the blade. I’m finally becoming accustomed to this, and this body is like a temple. The pain is like honey as blood trickles down my wrist.