Chapter 1

ONE

MATEO

Four months later

" B reaking news tonight, folks," the reporter's voice announced, crisp and urgent. "The notorious Black Dahlia Killer has upped their activity over the past four weeks, sending shockwaves of horror through the city."

My ears perked up at the mention of the Black Dahlia Killer. The reporter's voice continued, the words confirming what I had suspected for months now. "The killer's reign of terror has left a trail of blood and death in its wake, with authorities scrambling to track down the elusive perpetrator before they strike again."

My grip on the steering wheel tightened as I mulled over the implications of the news. There was something going on with my little killer. Something had changed with Salem; that much was clear. At first, I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but the signs were there if one looked closely enough. And I was a little obsessive when it came to watching Salem closely.

She had become more distant, more aloof, as if she were slowly slipping away from me. And yet, every time I tried to broach the subject, she brushed me off with a flippant remark or a dismissive wave of her hand. She'd tell me she was just focused on working through a new plan to take out the remaining fathers. We were all still trying to regroup after our plan to reshape the Triad had been a bust.

I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling up inside me like a pot ready to boil over. I had tried to talk to her, to reason with her, but it was like talking to a brick wall. She was stubborn, headstrong, and determined to keep me at arm's length. And the more she pushed me away, the more I was growing desperate.

I turned the radio down, and the hum of the engine filled the silence. I ran a hand through my hair, the frustration mounting with each passing moment. Salem was slipping away from me, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why. She was becoming more reckless, more impulsive, and it scared the life out of me. I knew she was hurting, but like hell would I let her spiral without me.

The engine of my Charger rumbled softly as I parked it at the curb, a block away from Salem's apartment building. I killed the engine and sat in the darkness for a moment.

With a deep breath, I stepped out of the car and into the cool night. The pavement was slick with rain, the faint smell of wet earth lingering in the air. I pulled the collar of my jacket up against the chill, my senses on high alert as I made my way toward the building across from Salem's.

The streets were deserted; the only sound was the soft patter of raindrops against the pavement. I moved quickly, my footsteps silent as I slipped into the shadows, keeping to the darkness as I waited for her to appear. Anticipation coursed through my veins like electricity. Every nerve in my body was on edge.

Minutes passed like hours as I stood there, my eyes fixed on the entrance to her building. And then, just like clockwork, she emerged from the doorway, a dark figure slipping out into the night. My heart skipped a beat as I watched her. God, she was beautiful.

Her raven-black hair cascaded in waves down her back, framing her delicate features with an air of mystery. Her dark eyes held a spark of defiance, challenging anyone on the street who dared to meet her gaze. She donned a sequined, body-hugging mini dress that sparkled with every step.

Salem moved with purpose, her steps quick as she disappeared into the night. I didn't hesitate to follow her, as I had been doing for months now.

I fell into step behind her, keeping to the shadows as I trailed her through the deserted streets. The rain had picked up now. A steady drizzle soaked through my clothes and plastered my hair to my forehead. But I hardly noticed, my focus solely on the figure ahead of me.

She moved with a grace and confidence that belied her troubled demeanor. I marveled at her, even as I struggled to keep up with her quick pace. Her darkness called to mine. She was everything to me. And I'd do anything to keep her.

The streets stretched out before us, a maze of alleyways and run-down buildings that seemed to go on forever. But Salem knew where she was going, her path unwavering as she led me deeper into the heart of the city. I had no idea where she was taking me, but if it was anything like every other night this month, it would be somewhere with a lot of booze.

I followed Salem for another two blocks until she disappeared inside a seedy nightclub. I waited a few minutes before following.

The pulsating beat of the music reverberated through the room. The nightclub was a swirling mass of bodies, the dance floor packed with writhing figures bathed in flashing neon lights. I stood in the shadows, my eyes fixed on Salem as she moved with a fluid grace amid the chaos.

She was a fucking vision. Her body swayed to the rhythm of the music with an effortless sensuality that captivated everyone around her. Her movements were hypnotic as her dark hair swung behind her, the scar tracing her left cheekbone curve catching the light. I couldn't tear my eyes away from her, mesmerized by the way she moved.

The air was thick with the scent of sweat and alcohol, mingling with the sweet aroma of perfume and the tang of cigarette smoke. I breathed it in, letting it wash over me as I watched Salem.

She danced with abandon, lost in the music and the moment. Her movements were loose and uninhibited, so different from the controlled facade she usually wore. It was a side of her I rarely saw, and I was bewitched by the raw emotion she displayed.

As she danced, men watched her with hungry eyes, their gazes lingering on her curves and the sway of her hips. But I was there, lurking in the shadows, ready to step in at the first sign of them getting too close to what was mine. She may have forgotten over the last few months, but she was mine . And trouble seemed to find her at every turn.

Men approached her, their intentions clear in their eyes. They reached out to touch her, to pull her into their orbit, but I was always there, careful not to let her notice me, persuading them otherwise. I pulled them away, my grip firm as I led them back into the crowd, a silent warning in my eyes. And if I happened to flash a knife or two while doing it? At least they knew I meant business.

Salem paid them no mind. She danced with a reckless abandon that both terrified and enthralled me. I wanted to pull her away, to take her home and lock her away from the rest of the world. But I knew she would cut off my balls if I so much as tried. She was a force of nature, wild and untamed, and I had to get on board or lose her.

My view of my killer was all of a sudden blocked. A wasted girl stumbled toward me, her eyes glazed and her movements unsteady. She giggled as she reached out to touch my arm, her breath hot against my skin. "Hey there, handsome," she slurred, leaning in close.

I tried to politely reject her, moving to the side, but she was persistent, her fingers curling around my arm as she tried to pull me closer. "Come on, baby, don't be shy," she slurred, her voice rising above the music. "I just wanna have a little fun."

I gently pushed her away, my voice firm as I insisted that I wasn't interested. "Sorry, sweetheart, but I'm not looking for company tonight," I said, trying to keep my tone polite.

But she wouldn't take no for an answer, her words growing more slurred and her movements more insistent. "Oh, come on, don't be like that," she said, pouting as she leaned in closer. "I promise I'll show you a good time."

I sighed, feeling a burst of frustration as she continued to press herself against me. "Look, I'm taken," I said, my voice laced with annoyance. "Now, please, fuck off."

Finally, she took the hint. Her drunken grumbles of me being an asshole echoed in my ears as she stumbled away. I watched her go, feeling relief wash over me as she disappeared into the crowd. But when I turned back to the dance floor, Salem was nowhere to be found.

I scanned the crowded space, searching for a glimpse of her amid the sea of bodies, but my search was interrupted by a piercing scream. The sound cut through the pulsating music like a knife. I turned toward the source of the noise, my senses on high alert as I fought my way through the crowd toward the ladies' bathroom. A palpable fear was evident among the other club-goers.

When I reached the bathroom, I saw a small crowd gathered outside the door, their faces twisted in horror and disbelief. I pushed my way through them, my heart pounding in my chest as I stepped into the room. A man was lying motionless on the floor, a pool of blood spreading around his head like a dark halo.

His eyes were glassy and vacant, his face frozen in a mask of terror. I could see the distress in the faces of the other club-goers, their eyes wide with shock as they backed away from the gruesome sight. I examined the body. His throat had been slashed, and the blood splatter in the room around him told me that his murderer was at least a foot shorter than he was.

My attention turned to the bathroom mirror where her word 'rapist' had been written in blood. For fuck's sake. This had Salem written all over it.