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

The small restaurant was busy but Hollis was able to snag a table off in one corner where they could have some privacy to talk. He told the waitress he was waiting for someone then smiled when he saw Vanni come through the door and look around for him. When he waved, Vanni smiled back as he came over. They ordered a couple of beers, which the waitress came back with a few minutes later. After they took a quick look at the menu the two men placed their orders and she left.


“So,” Vanni said as he took a drink, “why are we meeting here?”


“Because I got the information we needed, more or less.”


When Hollis glanced around but said nothing more Vanni prompted him. “You’re not supposed to tell a civilian, I suppose.”


Chapter 18