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

By closing time Hollis, Vanni, and a handful of other men were the only ones left in the club. The bartender told them to finish their drinks if they were going to. By silent mutual agreement Vanni and Hollis took their time as they waited for the other men to leave. All of them, they noted, were going out the door with the same men they’d arrived with.


“Definitely,” Hollis replied tiredly.


Vanni laughed. “Wuss. Race you to the door.”


“As if.” Hollis set his glass down and they both headed out. Once they were on the virtually empty sidewalk he paused as he appeared to debate with himself.


“Go ahead, ask. I’m sure Gary said something,” Vanni told him because he had a feeling he knew why the detective hadn’t moved toward his car.


Hollis shook his head. “No can do, because if I ask and you answer in the affirmative I should probably arrest you.”


Vanni actually chuckled. “Could you? Wouldn’t my saying something be considered self-incrimination?”


Chapter 17