Monster In The Shadows: A stand-alone dark romance Page 2

  I don‘t think he intended me to hear, but I did.

  “Well, my trust saved your life, so shut up and sleep.”

  I start to head toward my room, but then I pause at the hallway and turn to him.

  “Goodnight,” I whisper, but he doesn’t respond.

  Jackass.

  When I get to my room, I lock the door, just in case. Not that I really think that would stop him, but I’m the crazy person who’s letting a stranger sleep on her couch.

  I knew the people running this sex trafficking ring were trying to kill me. I’m taking down their group one man at a time, and with the black roses I’ve been leaving with each body, it’s not like I’m making it a secret that it’s me. But I wasn’t expecting them to come for me tonight.

  I lean back against the couch and wince at the pain. The Vicodin is doing nothing, and I need to get out of here.

  I’ve been following some men for a couple of weeks now, trying to get the bigger picture. Killing the bottom feeders is going to give me nothing, but I do love watching them die. Something inside me lights up as the blood drains from their bodies and their eyes turn soulless. Their screams just before they take their final breath are like a drug, and I’m addicted to it.

  Every man I torture is another dead end. I need answers, leads of some sort, but I have nothing. I’m grasping at straws, and I fucking hate it. I need help, but I don’t trust people. The man I have the most trust in is my IT guy, Kyle, but he’s indebted to me. It’s different.

  I was going to kidnap and torture one of Bellini’s friends tonight, but instead, I was caught off-guard and stabbed. I know better than to go into situations blindly, but I thought I’d done enough research. Apparently not, because it turns out they’ve been following me too.

  I was hiding in a bush watching Bellini’s close friend Connor Michaelson enter the library. The plan was to take him and torture him after he got out. Instead, his right-hand man came up behind me and plunged a knife into my side several times. Another man—one I didn’t recognize, probably just a low man on the totem pole—held a gun on me as I glared at them.

  I should have fucking heard them coming up behind me, but I was an idiot and thought Connor would come alone like he usually did.

  I was nicely asked to leave the situation alone, or it would be a bullet in the brain next time. If I survived this time.

  After they stabbed me, they smashed my phone, making it impossible to call for help. I was left lying in a bush, bleeding out, not even caring about myself. Death is something I always knew would come for me sooner rather than later. What I did care about was failing. I had failed my sister, and now I was going to fail these young girls and women. That is, until a beautiful woman stumbled upon me.

  She should have been terrified, but she wasn’t. She should have left me to die, but she didn’t. And she isn’t some meek little girl. No, she went toe-to-toe with me, and I liked it. The women I surround myself with only want to please me. They don’t call me out on my bullshit or swear at me like she did.

  I know I need to leave, but I want to know more about her. I’ve never met anyone like her before, and there’s just something about her that intrigues me.

  I get up off the couch slowly, gritting my teeth at the blinding pain where the stitches are. I slowly stumble to where she disappeared to earlier in the night. Effortlessly picking the lock, I crack the door open and peer in on her, noting how her dark hair falls over her face.

  How can she sleep with a stranger in her place? She’s too naïve. You shouldn’t trust people, even the ones closest to you. Always keep an eye open and never let anyone get too close.

  But she’s good. And I’m drawn to her like no one I’ve ever known. I’m drawn to the goodness in her. Maybe it’s because there is no good in me.

  I should take her with me. She did help me. She could be a target now. But the chances of someone following us tonight are slim. I’m sure they thought I would die tonight. And if I take her now, she’ll hate me forever. I don’t want that.

  I’ll keep an eye on her for now to make sure no one is watching, and maybe one day she’ll be mine.

  Was last night a dream? Did I seriously stitch up a completely random stranger? And he knows where I live! What if he comes back to get his stitches removed like I told him to?

  I stare at my living room from my kitchen, leaning against the island. I take a sip of my coffee, and I think I’m still in shock.

  There are bloody towels on the coffee table and a blanket folded pristinely on the end of the couch.

  Yep, last night did happen. And I don’t even know what to do or think.

  Grabbing my phone off the counter, I call Leanne.

  “Bitch, it’s too damn early. I was up all night vomiting. This better be good,” she starts.

  If I wasn’t having a panic attack, I’d laugh.

  “You are not going to believe what I did last night,” I start, then proceed to tell her the entire story.

  She’s quiet, and for a second, I wonder if we got disconnected.

  “Are you fucking stupid?!” she finally screams.

  I’ve been asking myself the same question all morning.

  “I couldn’t just leave him in a bush to die,” I whine.

  “No. You call the cops.”

  “I know, I know. Hindsight is twenty-twenty. I just wanted to help him.”

  Leanne sighs on her side of the phone. “Do you think he’ll come back?”

  Another question I’ve been asking myself repeatedly.

  “I have no idea.” I adjust my glasses and stare again at the mess in my living room.

  “You need to be more careful. You live by yourself and have no security system. What if he wants to hurt you?” she asks, and I know she’s honestly concerned about me.

  “I think if he wanted to hurt me, he would have done it last night or this morning. He did have a gun. He could have killed me if he wanted to, but he didn’t.”

  “Just be careful. Maybe we should buy you a gun. Or I can move in with you, so you have someone to protect you.”

  I laugh and feel some of the anxiety and tension washing away. I was acting on adrenaline last night, thinking with my heart and not my head.

  A smart girl would have called the cops and been done with it. She would not have brought a complete stranger back to her house. But I’ve made my bed, and now I have to lie in it. I’m not going to live in fear. If he wanted me dead, I’d be dead, and I’m not.

  “You know I love you, but we would kill each other if we lived together.” I let out a giggle, thinking of the time we went on vacation together for two weeks and had to take a break from each other on day four. “Besides, you wouldn’t sell your grandma’s house, just like I would never sell Mom’s house. And honestly, how are you supposed to protect me? We’re both five-foot-two, and he was well over six feet. He was also built like a brick house. Girl, he had an eight-pack. I didn’t even know those were possible.”

  Leanne giggles. “Do you have a crush on the mysterious danger man?”

  I shake my head, even though she can’t see me. He was gorgeous. Dark hair styled just right. Perfectly trimmed facial hair that framed his strong jawline. And caramel brown eyes that told me he was dangerous. They were cold, and if you stared into them long enough, you could see the hurt he carried.

  Not that I did that or anything.

  I feel a flush come over my chest and face. Yes, I’m attracted to him, but I’ll never see him again, and he is dangerous. Not the type for me. I have my life planned out, and I will not let a man get in my way.

  My mother was an amazing doctor. I wanted to follow in her footsteps, but when she got sick, I knew I had to take care of her. I didn’t have the time or money to go to medical school. Turns out my mom had invested wisely, and when she passed, there was enough money to pay for her funeral and pay for me to go to nursing school.

  When we spent countless hours in the hospital fighting the cancer battle that
so many other people face, I saw the true heroes. Doctors are awesome, but the nurses are the ones you see every single day. The ones who work their asses off to make sure you are comfortable and taken care of. I made up my mind that trying to follow in my mother’s footsteps would be too much of a challenge, and that I still wanted to be in the medical field, but on the nursing side instead.

  I still work at the library to cover the small bills I have, and I love to read. You can learn so much from a good book. Another thing my mama taught me was the importance of a good book. Not only can they teach you almost anything you want to know, but they can take you to another world. They can break your heart and heal it all in the same day. They can cheer you up and make you fall in love. They can show you things you never dreamed possible.

  Without books, I think my anxiety would be much higher. It’s nice to escape the crazy world we live in, even just for a moment or two.

  I glance at the clock on my microwave and notice I’m going to be late for class if I don’t leave this second.

  No more time to think about life. It’s time to live it.

  As I exit the house, rushing to get to my car, I get this weird feeling that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It’s almost like someone is watching me. I look around, but I don’t see anyone around me, or any movement to suggest that someone’s hiding somewhere I can’t see.

  Shaking my head, I brush it off. I’m sure I’m just paranoid because of last night.

  She barely looks around when she gets in her car. She’s a naïve woman, though clearly she has some good instincts. She sensed that something was wrong, but she didn’t investigate closely enough.

  Anybody could be following her. She’s lucky it’s only me. I snuck out of her house in the middle of the night and made my way to a gas station. Thankfully, the young lady working there let me use their phone. My charming smile paid off, as it usually does.

  “What the fuck happened to you?” Marcus asks, pulling up to the gas station.

  “Do you know any more details about the child sex trade going on?”

  I avoid the obvious question. Whether or not he had any idea that they were sending someone to shut me up tonight.

  He sighs and pulls out of the parking lot. “I already fucking told you, all I knew was that Eduardo Bellini was stealing from me. Then I found out he was using kids for sex. I don’t have a moral compass, much like you, but a pedophile deserves to die.”

  I nod and stare out the window.

  “Are you still planning on shutting this all down on your own?” he asks, pulling into my driveway.

  I give him a code so the gates will open, and we pull in.

  “You know I always work alone, but I think this is bigger than that.”

  He nods. “You should call Winston. He’ll be able to lend you some men. He’s like us. You don’t fuck with kids.”

  I nod; he isn’t wrong.

  Winston is like a mentor to me. I’ve known him for a very long time. He took me in when my father was killed. He’s usually who I call when I’m in trouble, but I wanted to get all the information out of Marcus I could. He knew about the sex trade because of the photo he included in the information packet he gave me on Bellini. I don’t think he would necessarily hold back information, but sometimes he thinks people need to be on a need to know basis.

  I don’t trust people easily. It’s best in my line of work. I was just hoping that if Marcus was withholding, that seeing me in the shit state I was in would get him to open his mouth.

  “If I hear of anything, I’ll let you know,” he tells me.

  I nod and exit his car.

  I’ve been sitting outside Paige’s house for a few hours. I’m glad I didn’t miss her. I want to know what her schedule is like so that I can keep tabs on her. I want to know everything about her.

  I’ve never been this drawn to someone. I can’t get her out of my thoughts. I tried sleeping when I got home, but all I could do was picture her pouty lips and dark raven hair. Her eyes are a glossy brown and show how trusting she is. That would get her killed if she lived the life I do. Anyone will stab you in the back if given a choice.

  She hasn’t faced the hard truths of life yet, I can tell. She’s pure. Innocent. No one has broken her yet. I wonder if she would give me the chance.

  I shake my head. No, that can never happen. I just need to keep tabs on her. She saved my life, so I owe her protection. If anyone saw her take me, they will try to kill her. This is not on her. She is an innocent, and I will not let her get caught in the middle of the war I’ve started.

  Wiping the hair away from Paige’s face, I kiss her temple, and she stirs.

  I should be worried that she’ll wake up and catch me. Instead, I’m as hard as a rock. I want her to catch me. I want to taste her. I want to hear her scream my name as I make her come.

  Her chest rises and falls as she slips back into a deep sleep. She never wakes when I’m here. Maybe one day.

  Moving to the chair in the corner of her room, which is always covered in a layer of clothes, I sit down, hoping my scent transfers to her clothes.

  Does she remember what I smell like? Does it turn her on when she smells it? Does she think of me?

  I want her thoughts to be consumed with me, just like mine are with her.

  Unzipping my pants, I pull my cock out and stroke it slowly. With every movement, I think of Paige’s pouty lips wrapped around it. Her even breathing is the soundtrack to my masturbation.

  I grab her shirt from behind me and inhale the fruity scent as I grip myself harder, relishing in the bite of pain it brings.

  I bite my lip, not wanting to wake Paige, as I draw closer to climax.

  Does she taste as sweet as she smells? Would her pussy pull me in and milk me with her climax? Would she let me tie her up and destroy her for all other men?

  As I think about burying myself deep inside her, my balls draw up and I cover my cock with her shirt, emptying my load into it.

  I stay still for a few moments, trying to even my breathing. Paige’s lips part slightly, and a small moan escapes her lips.

  Is she having a dirty dream? Is it about me? Did my orgasm so close to her turn her on subconsciously?

  After cleaning myself off in her bathroom and grabbing a plastic bag to take her shirt home with me, I return to watch her for a couple more minutes. I don’t want to leave, but the sun is going to rise soon, and I don’t want to be seen sneaking out of her house.

  I can’t wait for the day when I’ll actually be able to come inside her. I’ll make her come just as hard as the fantasy of her does for me.

  “Wine night tonight?” Leanne asks.

  I sigh. “I wish, but I’m working the opening shift at the library tomorrow and Sunday and then I have class Monday morning.”

  “It’s Friday night. That’s wine night. You can’t break tradition. Just a couple of glasses.” She gives me her big pouty lips and bats her eyes like a three-year-old.

  I shake my head, giggling. “Fine. Two glasses, but we are drinking at my house.”

  She starts to jump up and down with excitement.

  “You’re a weirdo,” I tell her with a smile.

  “But you love me,” she sing-songs, and pulls me in for a hug.

  Lately, I’ve been having this weird feeling, like I’m being watched. It started the day after I helped that man outside the library, but whenever I look, I can never find anyone. I’m not scared; it’s just different. Maybe it’s my mom telling me she’s here with me.

  I hear a noise coming from outside my patio doors, and I walk over, but don’t see anything.

  The knock on my front door pulls my attention, and I head toward it with one last glance outside.

  I must be losing my mind. Who would be watching me? My life isn’t that interesting.

  There’s been no sign of the mystery man I saved a month ago, and for that, I’m grateful.

  Shaking my head, I open the door and stumble back as Le
anne throws herself into my arms for a giant hug.

  “Ready for drinks and gossip?” she asks, and I nod with a smile.

  “Glasses are already poured. Let me go get them,” I tell her, going to the kitchen to grab the glasses.

  Another noise comes from outside, and I know I heard something this time.

  “Did you hear that?” I ask, setting the glasses on the coffee table.

  “Is it a cat?” she asks.

  I shake my head, and a weird shiver runs down my back.

  “I just was over there before you got here. There was no cat. Nothing was there.”

  She stares at the doors and walks over, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

  Sliding the door open, she steps outside, away from my view. I’m frozen where I stand, waiting for her to get back inside.

  “Leanne?” I call, but she doesn’t answer.

  The blood in my body runs cold.

  I run over to the doors just as Leanne walks back in.

  “Was mister itty bitty kitty giving you a scare?” she asks, carrying in a huge, fat orange cat.

  I press my hand to my chest and start laughing. “Oh, my God! I thought someone had kidnapped or killed you. Don’t freak me out like that again.”

  I walk to the couch and let my body fall onto it. Grabbing my glass of wine, I take a large gulp.

  “Can we keep him?” she asks, cuddling the cat’s fur, and he doesn’t look impressed at all.

  “No, and I’m allergic, so can you please put him back outside? He belongs to one of my neighbors.”

  Leanne pouts, but puts the cat outside, and he scurries off.

  “Thank you! Sorry for freaking out like that. I just keep getting these weird feelings,” I admit.

  “Mystery man never showed up, did he?”

  I shake my head and take another sip of my wine.

  “You don’t think he’s watching me, do you?” I ask, slightly nervous.

  I don’t know who he is. He could be a stalker, and I was the idiot who invited him into my home. And if he’s really a stalker, he could very well be watching me, and I’d never be able to see him.