Free Guilty Pleasure by Justus Roux Page B

sunshine in this dark place. Adam was grateful for the
warmth she gave. He didn’t want to say anything to her, but she
didn’t seem to fit with Michael. Michael was standoffish and a bit
cold at times, it was almost like he was putting on an act, yet
Michael’s actions were so generous. Not everybody is a people
person. Adam just chalked it up to that. Hell, the guy has really
helped him out so who was he to complain.
    “ You are deep in thought?”
Nicole said.
    “ I seem to drift off a lot
here lately. Sorry about that.”
    “ You don’t have to
apologize I understand. You have been through a lot.”
    “ So have you. Nathan must
have been a real piece of work.”
    “ I’m just glad I’m away
from him.”
    “ If he ever tries to
contact you I will take care of it for you.”
    “ Nathan is too big of a
coward to come seek me out.”
    “ That asshole didn’t hit
you, did he?”
    “ No, but sometimes I think
it might have hurt less if he hit me instead of fucking with my
emotions. To be honest, I’m not sure what gave me the strength to
leave. By the end he made me feel so worthless and
unlovable…”
    Adam reached over and gently grabbed her
hand. “How does Michael make you feel?”
    “ Beautiful.”
    Adam smiled warmly. “Then focus on that.
Fuck Nathan, he will get what he deserves.”
    “ You are right.” Nicole
gave Adam’s hand a squeeze then let it go.
    “ Michael is going to be
right by your side when you talk with Johnny right?”
    “ Of course he
is.”
    “ Good. How about I walk you
home.”
    “ I don’t really want to go
home just yet.”
    “ Well, then let me take you
somewhere. That’s if it is cool with Michael.”
    “ Why would he care if I
hung around with a friend?”
    “ Good point. Where would
you like to go?”
    “ Let’s go to Millennium
Park. I haven’t had a chance to explore it yet.”
    “ Millennium Park it
is.”
    “ Hey, but wait, you said
you only had a few minutes. I don’t want to keep you from what you
had planned today,” Nicole said.
    “ I will leave the guys a
message and tell them to practice without me today.”
    “ Oh, I don’t want to keep
you from your music.”
    “ Little Nicole, it’s cool.
Besides my mind isn’t in to my music today anyways. Let’s go.” He
stood then followed her out of the bar. There was no place he
rather be than with her right now. He texted his bandmates letting
them know he wouldn’t be going to the studio today.
     
    ***
     
    Michael looked over what Nicole had gotten
from the police about the Johnny Turner case. He had to study every
detail, not so much for the defense case he needed to build for
this asshole, but how exactly the police caught this guy.
    Michael made sure Nicole was out of the
office today. She was too much of a distraction and besides it made
him look the part of a caring lover to her. It didn’t take much to
make Nicole happy and he was grateful for it.
    He leaned back in his chair as he rubbed his
neck. Johnny was quite sloppy in his kills. He left tons of DNA by
not wearing a damn condom. How freaking stupid. He hunted hookers,
how cliché and easy. Michael didn’t like easy prey, even when he
was a fledgling killer. And by everything he had read, Johnny was
just that, a fledgling killer. The stupid idiot let one of those
hookers get away and that was how he got caught. Leaving his DNA
everywhere will make it easy to convict him.
    Michael read over the details on how Johnny
killed. He would rape then strangle his victim. He made no attempt
to hide the bodies. He left them where he killed them. This idiot
was begging to get caught.
    A slow smile came over Michael’s face as he
read the statement from the hooker that got away. She was ready and
willing to testify against Johnny, which meant Michael could
interview this witness. He was excited about meeting this would-be
victim. The mind games he could play with this bitch and in turn
with Johnny thrilled him. He had to control himself, yet