A Wicked Hunger (Creatures of Darkness 1) Read Online Free PDF

“Don’t you have questions about where we’re going? Why you’re with me? How long we’ve been watching you? You can ask me whatever you like.”
    She was sick with curiosity, but she shook her head.
    “It’s going to be a dull ride then, and we have a ways to go.”
    He paused as if that should have been enough to entice her into asking. He obviously wanted to tell her, so why didn’t he just get on with it?
    He sighed. “I have loads of questions for you, but I don’t want this to feel like an interrogation. You’re a witness, not a suspect. You’re no one’s captive.”
    “Then let me go,” she heard herself reply, instantly regretting her desperate tone.
    “She speaks,” he said on a chuckle. “And where would you go?”
    She thought about that for a moment. There was only one place she could go, the large home she had shared with Winston. Thinking of him now sent a flurry of mixed emotions through her heart.
    “You can’t go home,” Mason said, as if reading her mind. “Aside from the fact that assassins broke in with too much ease…specifically to murder you, I might add—”
    “Why me? Weren’t they just looking for Winston?”
    “They knew exactly where Winston would be. No, they were looking for you. Still might be. These people, whoever they are…. well, it’s like they’re cleaning up their entire operation, or perhaps eliminating the competition. We’re not quite sure yet. Whatever the reason, they left no loose ends. None but you.” He shot her a look. “It was more than Winston and the Montgomerys. All our suspects were targeted, and then some. Entire families were executed, children included. You can’t go back there.”
    He allowed her a moment to take that in.
    “But aside from all that,” he continued, “Winston wrote you out of his will the moment you said ‘I do.’
    Her head snapped up. He met her bemused expression with one of complete seriousness.
    “That prenup you signed waved away any claim you might have had to Winston’s wealth. He had already prepared his will before the honeymoon was over. In case of his death, the money, the cars, the three homes? It all gets split between his blood relatives. You get nothing.”
    A deep chasm of despair crashed in her chest. “You could be making that up.”
    “You know I’m not. Not after all you’ve learned today about your rat-bastard husband.”
    The venom with which Mason ended his sentence was shocking. Almost as shocking as the realization that she was now back where she’d started. Street urchin. Worse, actually—a street urchin who’d drawn the attention of the largest vampire organization known to man.
    Tears billowed, quickly drenching her cheeks. Even if the vampires didn’t kill her, going back to the streets might. She was too different now. Not only did she look like a whale —street slang for a female of means—but now she knew, really knew, what it was like to live without fear, in a soft, safe bed, not having to sleep with one eye open. Not worrying every minute of every day where her next meal would come from or having to beg for coins while trying not to resort to more desperate acts like the ladies who lined up on corners at night.
    Mason said nothing as she quietly sobbed.
    “You must think I’m despicable,” she stammered.
    “Why would I?”
    “Because I’m crying more for losing the money than losing Winston.”
    Mason laughed. “I think you’re a survivor. You married that bastard because you had no other prospects. You did it to get out of a terrible situation. Anyone would’ve done the same.”
    She sniffed, a little taken aback. “I did care for him in the beginning.”
    “Of course you did.”
    His tone grated. “I did. He was sweet and generous at first. He didn’t make me feel inferior. I truly thought he loved me.” She buried her face in her hands. “I feel so stupid.”
    Mason cursed. “Don’t cry. That shithead isn’t worth it.”
    She worked to get control