A cannibalistic serial killer targeting gay men is on the loose. Devin, who has become increasingly erratic in the last two months, just split up with Gary, his lover of three years. Vanni, a habitué of the gay clubs, makes extra spending money on his knees in the club johns. Is one of these men the killer? Or will one of them instead become the killer’s next target? Detective Hollis Robbins is in charge of the case. He intends to stop the killer, if he can. When the killer strikes again the four men’s lives intertwine as the search for the murderer intensifies. Will the attraction that two of them begin to feel for each other survive the hunt? Do they have the strength to continue on after tragedy strikes and teaches them that love can be bittersweet?

The Beast Within

A flash of pain crossed Devin’s face, gone almost before Hollis saw it. “We were together for about three years then decided to call it quits and move on. You know how that goes.”


Hollis gave him a slight smile and a short nod. “Been there a time or two, yes.”


“Fun, isn’t it?” Devin commented as he got up.


“Not really, but it is life, I suppose. Again thank you for coming in.”


“Anything?” Abbie asked when she came into the office after Devin left.


“A phone number and first name for our victim, and the name and number of someone who probably didn’t see anything but I need to follow up on anyway. You want to check this out?” Hollis handed her the slip of paper he’d gotten from Gary.


She said she would and left the office. He followed moments later, on his way to pay Mr. Breda a visit after he’d called to let him know he was on his way. The man had seemed surprised but hadn’t protested.


Chapter 12