Dating Paranoia

Nicholas Watson was anything but a failure.

A conceited *ssh*l*? Check.

A handsome b*st*rd? Check.

An infuriating son of a b*tch? Absolutely.

But a failure was something Nicolas was not and something he couldn't be. It wasn't that he couldn't fail, it's just that he excelled at everything and anything so much that he no longer knew what losing felt like.

Until now.

He stood in the private cemetery, hands shoved in his pockets as he stared at the tombstone before him.

Here lies a friend, a son, a lover and a brother.

He read it again and again with the hope that his brain would finally agree with the fact that Cole was indeed dead. When Ivan mentioned it seventy-two hours ago, Nicolas hadn't believed him. So, he flew all the way here to confirm it and sure enough the m*th*rf*ck*r was dead, six-foot under him like he was supposed to be, except that Nicolas hadn't been the one to put him there.

His brain still wouldn't believe it so he dug up Cole's grave last night until he was face to face with Cole's dead body. He looked refined and it disgusted Nicolas to see that the b*st*rd still had eyes intact. If, and only if Cole had died by Nicolas' hands as he was supposed to, he would have gone to the grave without eyes.

Not that Nicolas hated anything about the blue orbs. He just felt they would be better encased in a ring in which he wore every day rather than in those ridiculous ball sockets.

Nicolas felt that his brain refused to accept this bitter truth because it meant that he would have to accept the horrible fact that he had failed. That for the first time in forever, he did not succeed. And while the concept of losing was foreign to him, Nicolas felt that he could still win once he put an end to the m*th*rf*ck*r that took the life that wasn't his to take.

It would no doubt change the fact that Nicolas had failed-gosh, it hurt him to admit-but it would make him feel better about himself when he presents the headless corpse to Cole's parents. The head, however, would be sent to Ivan as an early birthday gift.

Was he not a wonderful employee?

Anyways, he just needed to know who Cole's murderer was, so he could put that plan into action immediately.

"What are you doing here?"

Nicholas stiffened at the sound of Cole's younger sister's voice. He knew it was her because that screechy voice was easy to remember.

"I came to pay my respects to Cole."

She looked at him up and down. "You didn't bring flowers."

Nicolas nearly rolled his eyes. As if Cole needs flowers.

"What happened to him?" Nicolas asked as he jabbed a finger at the grave.

Elena slapped his finger away before bending to drop the flowers she had brought for Cole. "He was murdered," she answered quietly.

Nicolas knew that, of course. News of Cole's death was more popular than the b*st*rd himself.

"Why do you care?" she asked, peaking at him from beneath her lashes.

Nicolas refrained from tugging at his hair. He knew Stephanie would be upset if he messed up the gel again.

"Choice. Who killed him?"

She looked at him. It was annoying. He was used to girls looking at him but the way she did it was unnerving or maybe it was because she was related to Cole.

"If I tell you, will you go on a date with me?"

Nicolas resisted the urge to dump her body on the ground beside her brother. "No sh*t. I don't do dates."

She sighed. "Fine. But would you kiss me?"

He rolled his eyes at her pathetic request. "I don't do minors."

Her brows furrowed in confusion. "It's just a kiss. Plus, nobody would know."

Nicolas didn't care. He wasn't going to kiss her. "Who killed your brother, Elena?"

"Why do you want to know?" she fired back, glaring at him. Well, someone has her panties in a twist. Probably because he refused to kiss her.

"Elena, if you tell me who the murderer is, or who you suspect him to be, I will follow you on Instagram."

She pursed her lips. "Why would I care about that?" she asked, trying to hide the excitement in her voice.

"I remember you telling your friends that if I follow you on Instagram, they get to let you in on the crazy stuff they're always up to."

"Fine."

He smiled and followed her, waited until she confirmed before making a mental note to unfollow her later.

"Who killed your brother, Elena?"

She sighed before answering, "It's a girl."

Nicolas couldn't believe that Cole let a girl bring him down.

"I suppose this girl has a name?"

"I don't know, but we call her, everyone does, really. The Black Sl*t."

Nicolas frowned. What kind of name is that? "More details, Elena."

"She is a serial killer, said to have killed all her boyfriends, including Cole, who is her latest victim. She didn't even cry at his funeral."

Nicolas was surprised to hear that she was even allowed to attend his funeral. He tapped his finger against his chin. "And?"

"She's resuming school soon as a senior."

So, she was a student and a murderer. Interesting.

"And?"

"Jesus Christ Nick! What else do you want to know?"

How she breathes, sleeps and even eats. Most importantly, I'd like to know how slick her blood will feel on my hands as I saw her head off. But he couldn't tell Elena all this. She would freak out if she did.

"School?"

"Glimore High?"

Nicolas smiled wickedly. Turns out that he would have to go back to school.

Somewhat satisfied, he turned to leave the cemetery, the wind blowing hard, sending leaves up in the sky. Perhaps Cole dearest did not approve. Not that Nicolas gave a flying f*ck.

"Nicolas?"

He paused and faced Elena, bored. "What?"

"Stay away from her Nick. There's a reason she is called the Black Sl*t."

And he would surely find out. "I didn't come through all this trouble to stay away now, did I?" he asked dryly, something out his shirt. He hated wrinkles, which was why he always ensured his clothes were pressed to perfection, even the leather jackets he enjoyed wearing.

She jogged up until she was before him. " I am serious Nick. She's flat out crazy and murderous too. She goes around seducing people into her bed, only to kick them into their coffins later."

Nicolas was sure that was what happened with Cole. His lips turned up at the corners. "Now I'm interested in meeting her."

She yanked on her pigtails. Another reason he didn't do minors. Their obsession with that hairstyle was pathetic. "Put your psycho tendencies aside and listen to me. She's bad news, Nick. The only reason she's not locked up in some asylum is because of her parents. I don't like you but I don't want to be the reason someone dies."

Nicolas grinned. "My, my, is Elena Hayworth concerned for me?"

"Call it whatever you want, you asshat. I'm merely preventing another death. Stay away from her Nicolas, if you want to live."

He wanted to listen, he really wanted to, but the life he wanted to live depended on the death of this Black Sl*t. So no, he was going to meet her, ruin her, destroy her and finally kill her because if he didn't, he would be termed a failure and Nicolas couldn't have that.

He exited the cemetery without sparing Elena another glance. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number. She picked up the fourth ring.

"Done ignoring me?"

He rolled his eyes at her question as he slammed the key of his Harley into the ignition. "I need a favor."

"Didn't you hear? I'm done doing favors for you, *ssh*l*."

She wished. "The f*ck you are. Will you do it or not?"

"If I say no, what will you do?"

He gritted his teeth. Everyone was just getting on his nerves.

"Simple. Hang up and never call again."

She didn't press the button. "Fine. Just so you know, I'm never letting you touch me again."

He rolled his eyes. It's not like he even enjoyed touching her. "You don't need to. I don't f*ck the same girls twice, remember?"

She gasped. He couldn't see her, but he knew she was frowning. "I'm not just some girl. I am..."

"Save it. Now tell me, does Gloria still have that Elite thing going on at that hellhole?"

"Yes, and it's even bigger and better. She's having uniforms customized for us and..."

"A simple yes would have sufficed," he sneered, snapping on his sunglasses. The scorching sun was starting to hurt his eyes. He hated summer. "Anyways, tell her to extend an invitation to me."

"Why don't you tell her yourself? Oh yeah, you two are no longer talking. Wait a minute, does it mean you're coming back? Oh, my heavens, I can't..."

He exhaled sharply. This girl sure talks a lot. "I expect my invitation before the day ends," he said and ended the call. She had only an hour.

And he had hours to plan his next move. He didn't know who this Black Sl*t was. All he knew was that she was going to regret killing Cole.

And she would be regretting beneath him in the throes of hell.

He didn't normally hurt women, outside of s*x, but for her, he would make an exception.