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

“I know you wouldn’t be,” Vanni told him as he followed him.


Hollis watched Vanni as he wrapped his arms around Devin when they reached the dance floor and tried to tell himself it didn’t bother him. Hell, he barely knew Vanni except as someone who was willing to help with the case. He turned his back on them and went to the bar. Gary stood there, a beer in one hand, a look of hatred on his face.


“If it bothers you so much, do something about it,” Hollis told him. “And I don’t mean get in a fight with Vanni.”


Gary looked at him and almost smiled. “You mean I can’t kill him and pin it on the murderer?”


“I’d prefer that you didn’t.” Hollis ordered a fresh beer. “Besides, I doubt you could even if you are pissed at him, and for sure it would not impress Devin.”


“Because, Gary, like it or not you still care for him.”


Chapter 16