CHAPTER THREE

NIKOLAI

The saws whir to life, drowning out the sound of anything else.

The thick metallic smell of blood hangs in the air, almost overwhelming the rest of my senses.

I focus on the process, not the body beneath my hands. I concentrate my attention on making clean lines, on making accurate, controlled movements.

Precision always matters. That’s what Derek taught me.

The blade catches for a second on a bone and I force it through, bone shards escaping everywhere.

Thank God for the goggles, I think.

Caleb and I could’ve done this ourselves but I’m not surprised Derek sent River to help.

Let’s just say, if it was just the two of us, then nothing would get done.

Besides, River’s the only person, other than Derek, that can get Caleb to listen. He’s the second-in-command for a reason.

As we work, I think about my reputation at college as Caleb so nicely put it. The playboy act is just another part of the facade. No one would ever believe Nikolai Soren, the guy loved by everyone, is a murderer.

No one could ever find out what we were doing. That’s why we’re all careful.

By the time we finish, the body is no longer recognizable.

“There. All done,” Caleb says, far too pleased, his clothes stained with blood and body matter.

I rise slowly from my crouched position. My knees and thighs protest from being crouched for hours but I sigh in relief. 

Finally, it’s over. 

I don’t feel anything but relief that this little annoyance is over.

Besides, Silas Varthrow is not a man to feel sorry for. He was a child trafficker. A rapist. An abuser. Thanks to him being gone, his potential victims could get a normal childhood.

Maybe then, they won’t end up like me or my brothers.

“Bag it. We’ll weigh it down with rocks and dump it,” River says, sweat dripping down his temple, his dark hair soaked with sweat.

“Let’s make it quick. I still have a party to get to tonight,” I say, already moving.

Caleb stares at me and shakes his head. “Are you serious?”

I tilt my head. “Do you have a problem with what I said?”

“Yes, I do. There’s something wrong with you. Mentally.”

“I wasn’t the one that was officially diagnosed.”

“That’s because you ran away from all your appointments.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know how you do it. Derek would have my head if I ever dared.”

“That’s because he’s Derek’s favourite,” River says as he starts placing the body pieces in the bag.

I lean down to help and Caleb does the same.

“It isn’t my fault that Derek loves me the most. Guess I’m just that lovable.”

River snorts. “Lovable, my foot. It’s because you’re the youngest. That’s why he lets you get away with so much.”

Caleb purses his lips. “Which is weird because he didn’t give me the same attention before Niko came around.”

I huff and roll my eyes. I was the last to join the group and Caleb never fails to remind me of how I ‘stole’ his position as the youngest.

We weren’t brothers. At least not by blood. Just four boys no one wanted, bound together by circumstance and something uglier than loyalty.

Let’s just say I’d been lost and Derek picking me off the streets was the best thing that happened to me. He’d been the one to train me himself, to teach me everything I know.

I don’t bother to continue to argue with Caleb and River. Let them think whatever they want.

I zip up the body bag after we’re done and push it aside.

River grabs the bleach and starts wiping down the bag.

I grab the hose to start cleaning all the blood off the floor. 

Caleb starts cleaning the saws with bleach.

Once we’re done, we strip out of our stained clothes, rinse ourselves with water from the hose and change into the clean clothes we brought with us.

We dump the clothes and gloves into a bag and put it in the trunk of Caleb’s car. They will be burned later.

After, we scrub the place with bleach, put the body bag at the back of Caleb’s car and lock up the place.

“You two got this right? Because I’m leaving,” I say as I head towards my car.

Caleb narrows his eyes. “You’re leaving?”

“I told you I have a party to attend. I still have to go home and clean up.”

“But—”

“You can leave, Niko,” River says, grabbing Caleb’s arm to shut him up. “We can handle the rest from here.”

I give him a small wave and walk in the opposite direction to my car.

As I start it up, I can hear Caleb saying as he and River walk away, “Why do you and Derek indulge him so much? He needs to learn…”

I tune him out and shake my head as I reverse and pull out of the driveway.

As I drive, I think about the party I’m headed to.

I wonder what people at school would say if they knew who I am and what I’ve done. If they’d still want to be associated with me.

This is the kind of thing that changes the way people look at you. The kind of thing that makes people look at you like you were a monster.

I guess it’s a good thing I don’t mind being labeled one.

For some reason, my mind drifts to the boy with the bright blue eyes who’d stared at me in school.

He didn’t look at me the same way everyone else did.

He looked at me like I was the villain.

I laugh to myself lightly as I wait at a red light.

If only he knew how right he is.