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

When they got to the house Abbie met them at the door. She hugged each of them tightly, and then stepped aside to let them in.


Vanni looked at them blankly for a moment before he realized who they were. Then without a word he stood and walked toward them. They met him halfway and enfolded him in their arms. Gary was only dimly aware when Abbie and Richter left them to their mourning.


The three men held each other silently. Each afraid to say a word lest it be the wrong one, the one that would tear them apart more than they already were. Then, finally, Gary said so quietly his voice could barely be heard, “I’m so sorry, Vanni.”


Vanni pulled back. He stared at Gary numbly. “Why?” he whispered. “Why him? Why not me, or you or…or anyone else?”


“I’m not going to demean him or his death by saying it was God’s will, because that’s a fucking crock,” Devin spat out in reply, tears coursing down his face. “Whatever happened, he didn’t deserve it.”


Chapter 41