The Beast

Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen
The Denial of Stalking

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HANNAH

   Eugenio was objectively a disgusting human being. And that's saying a lot coming from me. I've met a number of disgusting people. Darwin and Melina were prime examples.

   Ever since he approached me five minutes ago, he's been having a conversation with my breasts. He spoke with a smile, but I don't think you could even call it that. A sneer, maybe?

   Despite the desire to disappear, I had no idea how to escape the conversation without appearing rude. Not to mention that I was alone; Nico was completely drunk. The moment we got into the club, he rushed to the dance floor. At first, his friends stayed at the bar, but they eventually joined him—and by him, I meant the women around him.

   In that moment, I wished I'd done the same. Now, I'm stuck here without an escape plan.

   "What do you say?" Eugenio yelled close to my ear but made no attempt to hide the fact he was staring down my dress.

   For the fifth time, I tried to adjust the material. "Sorry, I didn't hear you. Say about what?"

   He tipped his head back enough for me to see his smirk. "How about we get out of here?"

   It's perfect chance to explain I'm not interested.

   "Actually, I can't. I mean, I'm here with my friends. I can't just leave them."

   "I'm sure if you tell them—"

   "It's actually his birthday. It would be a shitty friend thing to do, you know?" It sounded like I was calling him shitty. I grimaced and suggested, "Maybe next time, though?"

   Eugenio abandoned his arrogance. I shrank back when his eyes hardened on me. "His?" He glanced over his shoulder, where the dance floor was. "Let me talk to him. Man to man."

   A protective surge coursed through me at the thought of him saying anything to Nico. "I'm sorry, but no. Actually, I should be heading back to him."

   The moment I tried to side-step him, he gripped my upper arm and pushed me back. I widened my eyes when he laughed coolly. "Come on. I wasn't done talking to you."

   I clenched my teeth together, feeling suddenly overwhelmed by my hatred toward the male species at the moment. Where they get the audacity. The narcissism. The guts to treat women this way.

   I think back to Darwin. My dad. And all I wanted to do was cry in frustration.

   Eugenio froze, and I thought he must have sensed my disdain and respectfully moved back. But when I flickered my eyes to his, I sucked a breath. His eyes were shot wide open, and yet, he didn't move a milometer. Almost as if he was frozen in time.

   A glint of something metal caught my attention. I glanced to the side and my jaw fell.

   How the hell... why was he here?

   "Lev," I whispered, stunned. But he wasn't looking at me. He was looking at Eugenio's neck.

   No. He was looking at his knife. The same knife he had pointed at Eugenio's throat, still with precision. I wondered if he picked that specific location because behind it was a carotid artery.

   Eugenio jerked upright, and even though the knife stayed motionless, blood begun welling from the nick. My heart hammered faster when a bead of blood rolled down the column of his throat.