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’m sure I will,” Hollis replied softly. “If and when.”


“So you’re…” Vanni shut up again, but this time it was because the elevator doors opened and Abbie and the team came into the hallway. 16


“Pancakes or cereal?” Devin asked almost shyly, as if this was the first time, the first morning after. In a way he supposed it was.


Gary smiled as he wrapped him in a tight hug. “What do I always have on Sunday morning, other than you, that is?”


“Pancakes with berries.” Devin looked at him and returned the smile tentatively. “And milk and syrup and…hell…”


“It’s all right, Dev. You’ve been through a lot, we both have. That’s in the past now. It’s the future we have to worry about.” Gary shook his head. “No, not worry about, plan for. Like who does the laundry and who has dusting chores.”


“What?” Devin pulled away to stare at him. “You can’t be serious. You didn’t want to before, why now?”


Chapter 23