I.EFFING.LOVE.TERRIBLE!!!!! "His eyes sparked hard behind their darkness as he crossed the kitchen floor, not speaking. Too much energy moved in the air around him, and when he stood right in front of her-close enough to make her tilt her head all the way back-and reached out to touch her cheek she knew what it was. He'd had quite a day, she guessed; violence clung to him like black oil. Violence and a wild sort of intoxication from that violence, to be more exact. Whatever it was inside him that made him so good at his job, that made him the most feared man in Downside, had been riding him for hours from the looks of it, the feel of it. Now there was nothing else to hit, and that energy, that almost feral whatever-it-was...wanted to find some other satisfaction. Something or someone else to overpower, something or someone else to subdue, to defeat, to conquer."Conquer ME!!! Subdue ME!!!I feel like a broken record while writing Downside reviews. -- I love Chess-- Chess needs a damned hug-- Chess and Terrible are absolutely made for each other-- Kane's world of Downside is one of the most well developed in UF...and on, and on, and on....Finally, in this book, we get to see Chess and Terrible together. Though it's just not the hearts and flowers that I usually love. If you want C and T happy moments, go backward and read Home. You get some well deserved happy moments with this couple.Here, Chess is still second guessing her own self worth. Obviously, being the addict that she is, this is nearly impossible. She can't give all of herself to Terrible. Their relationship, to me, feels like it's at a standstill...as if it can't ever grow up because of Chess' lifestyle and poor choices. She can love him all she wants to. But Terrible wants more. He wants her trust. Complete and absolute, and he DESERVES that! Problem is, Lee is back in the picture, because Chess' new case is on Slobag's side of town. Not to mention that she's unknowingly working with one of his family members. My thoughts are jumbled when it comes to Lee. He's not a bad guy, and if Terrible weren't so perfect for Chess, I'd totally be down for and Chess and Lee relationship. Buuuuuttt...Lee oversteps his boundaries a couple of times here, and Terrible doesn't take too kindly to his enemy trying to steal his girl. So ensues Chess' inner turmoil.I tend to downplay the witchy part of the Downside series, as I'm such a romance junkie. It's actually really freaking original. Sometimes it's brutal, even, and I'm nearly always left wondering whodunnit until the very end. The ending climax is always a surprise and this book is no different. Somehow Ms. Kane turns Chess' involvement into a major, life altering, universe shattering decision. I was crying along with her and wishing so badly that I could be there to hold her hand and help her out. I imagine without the drugs that she'd be a great person to hang out with.Once again, I was blown away with the imagery and how swept away I was into the crazy Downside world. It's dirty and scary, ghosty and evil. But some really great characters are still emerging. I'm wondering how on earth this author plans on wrapping it all up. Can this series EVER end without the 'proper' character development from the key players here? I don't want to leave Chess with her addiction intact, and I'm hoping that somehow, there is some thought thrown at me of her at least contemplating making different life choices.
