Disclaimer: All the characters you recognize from the Stephanie Plum books belong to Janet Evanovich. The Inferna Angelus' on the other hand are solely mine as is the tiny terror tiger that rules them.

Chapter 11 – Muerte's POV

A beach house at Cape May, New Jersey

Get outta my head you fucking bastard, he screamed at me.

Sorry, bro' – no can do. You want to kill us. I can't allow that, I thought to myself. I knew he could hear me. He was there, I could feel him, he was fighting me, clawing at the vice-like grip I had on his will. He wanted his body back but that wasn't possible. Not as long as he was entertaining those stupid suicide thoughts. Why couldn't that dumbass see that I meant no threat to him, that I was protecting us.

'Cuz you're a fucking killer. I may be a nutcase but I'm no stupid dumbfuck. You're a fucking monster, Rodríguez screamed in my mind.

To the monsters, I thought and raised my left to salute. Darn, some booze would be nice but I can't risk losing my precious control. Looking around the room I remembered our times here with Bobby. Yeah, they were good times, especially in the bedroom. Shit. I've been way too long out of commission. Where is a good fuck when you need one.

Why did you leave Bobby? You loved him. He was good for you, I wondered.

Fuck you.

Thanks, but no thanks. I prefer Bobby to fuck me – or is it fuck you? Fuck us? Guess it's the same. Though, if I think about it, right now I wouldn't be choosy. How about a handjob? After twenty minutes of silence I couldn't help but smile. Rodríguez had never been a patient man, his Mexican temper forbidding that. Should I have mercy with him, or should I wait him out. Hmmmm. Decisions, decisions. After ten more minutes I decided to put him out of his misery. Helloooo? I chirped in my sweetest singsong voice. You still with me Ruby-tuby? I listened into the stillness of my mind; nothing. Damn, he's better than I remember.

After several more minutes of silence I heard him, the vibes accompanying his threat making me proud. I've changed, fucker. I've become a patient man. Sometime soon you will need to rest and then I will kill you; I will kill us both. I will make sure that you will never again hurt someone and I will never again have you fucker in my mind.

Yeah. That's my man. The things done to us in that fucking torture chamber may have made him an emotional pussy but he still knew his game.

Proud of you, Ruby-tuby. But what will happen to Bobby if he finds you in a puddle of blood? Thought about that?

He'll have to deal. And stop calling me Ruby-tuby, fuckhead.

Sure. He'll have to deal. After all he's done for you, all the suffering he's been through because of you, you take the coward's way out. I'm sure he'll be full of understanding, I thought with mock seriousness.

The two of you are real comedians, you know that? I suddenly heard a third voice in my mind. Wheeling around I came face to chest with hazelnut-skinned, green-eyed tiny Terror. Jeez. That girl is really doing a number on my nerves.

"How the fuck…" I growled menacingly but she held up her hand totally unfazed.

"Hold your breath, Muerte. We had that discussion last night. I won't tell you how this works. As long as you play nice I mean no threat to you. Now, Agony and Rev are waiting outside. I want them to come in and you won't do them any harm. Understood?" She signed.

I distorted my scarred face into a grimace resembling a smile and with another growl bowed – I should really learn to purr for her; little vixen. Nobody shall say that I'm no fun, right?

When twideldee and twideldum entered the room, their stance was ready. Two more men who knew their game. Of course they were no match for me, but for average men – not bad.

You are such a fucking, arrogant, boastful, self-important ASSHOLE, a well-known voice screamed in my mind.

Jeez, bro, tell me how ya feel, will ya. And stop that screaming, it's giving me a headache, I thought to my other self while I kept a close eye on Agony and Rev who had their guns ready.

"Afraid?" I growled at them.

"No, but it wouldn't sit well with us if you harm T," Rev answered unperturbed, nailing me with a stare.

"I would never hurt my tiny terror tiger," I said with mock hurt in my voice before I looked over to her. "We are tight, right T?"

"No, not yet. First you have to proof that I can trust you," she signed.

"Trust is overrated." I looked back at Agony and Rev who had subtly tried to come closer. Dumbfucks. As if I wouldn't notice that. I wonder … I tilted my head to the right, then left, before I suddenly jumped and shouted "BOOOH". Damn, they didn't bat an eye. I really thought they would. HaHaHa, that would have been a sight. The oh so mighty Inferna Angelus squealing like girls, 'cuz big bad Muerte scared them, I snickered inwardly. Out of nowhere I felt an elbow in my gut.

Stop that shit!

Hey, tiny T. No need to get brutal. Just trying to have some fun here. I thought, pissed at the pain in my midriff. How the fuck can she sneak up like that? She's lucky she's hot or I'd have to kill her.

"Let Rodríguez back to the surface. There's no need for you to be out." Agony said from a few yard away. Fucker has no clue but puffs his chest like he's the king of the world.

"Wrong, Mr. Agony, 'cuz everybody's darling in here," I tapped my head, "tried to kill me … us … himself … whatever. As you can surely imagine I have reasonable interest to not let that happen."

That made my audience speechless. Taataaaa – I'm so fucking good, I thought as I clapped myself on the shoulder.

"Rodríguez? Is that true?" Terror's hands were trembling as she signed.

Uh oh. Shit. Why do girls always have to get all crybaby when it comes to good ol' death? What an affront, I should really be miffed. After all it's such an exhilarating feeling to snuff someone out after a good hunt.

"Muerte, let me talk to Rodríguez. Now. You know we won't let him do anything stupid." She signed, steady this time, looking me square in the eyes.

Damn. That girl has some sexy vibes – I bet her juices are extra hot'n sweet. Perhaps I'd get myself a taste; something to think about. You better behave, bro, or I'll get really angry.

Fuck you.

We already had that, I thought with a smirk.

"Milady, he's all yours," I said to the little spitfire in front of me, bowed with a flourish and then closed my eyes and concentrated on losing the grip I had locked on to Rodríguez will.

A/N: Did you really thought I'd kill Rodríguez? ... Please tell me how you feel/felt about chapter nine. I wasn't sure whether it was too dark to post.