Page 23 of Unmasking Her Shadow

“I thought I was torturing you.”

“You are.”

Why am I breathing erratically? And why am I picturing how she would look when she is well and thoroughly tortured. It’s Shadow. He has my mind in shambles. As she closes her eyes, I become engrossed in the sight of my hands sliding across her caramel skin. It’s hypnotizing. It reminds of pouring cream into a cup of espresso, creating a cute design.

I love lattes.

18

Sam

It has been crickets since Shadow told me to stay tuned. My messages remain unread, and I’m not quite sure what to do. Even if I went to the police, what would I say? How would they be able to identify him when I have zero helpful information to give them? I decide to go home tonight. It didn’t seem right to stay in the hotel when several people from my past are in danger. Might as well put myself in danger too. Use my pussy as bait. At least if he shows up here, I can question him or something.

There’s a bright green box on my dining room table with a matching bow on top. Shadow has been here. My eyes dart around, searching for him before I rush to it and rip the lid off. Chocolate. I burst into humorless laughter. Let me kidnap your ex-boyfriends and then break into your house to leave you a box of chocolates. He’s such an odd red flag. I open the caramel-filled chocolate bar and pop a square into my mouth, unable to resist. Who can deny chocolate in a stressful time like this?

There’s another box inside. This one is red with a small red bow on top. I open the lid and scream. The box slips from my hands to crash against the floor, causing the severed finger to topple out. Bile rises in my throat when I see the serpent tattoo. Oh, god. There’s a fucking finger on my floor. I cover my mouth and snatch my purse off the table, sprinting back outside to call the police.

Not even five minutes later, Kioni and Ryker pull into my driveway. They were the officers nearby the dispatcher said would come.

“Heard you are in possession of a severed digit, sunshine,” Ryker teases.

Ki elbows him, silencing him with a glare, then rests her warm hand on my lower back, guiding me inside. Her touch makes me forget for a brief second why they’re here. “Do you have any idea whose finger it is or who left it inside your house?”

I did not think this through. Can any of this be blamed on me? Like as an accomplice or something, since I wanted him to prove he wasn’t my ex? I would not do well in prison.

“Nope. Just a random finger in my house.”

Why didn’t I just flush it down my toilet or bury it?

I hold the door open for them and point towards the box discarded on the floor, staying back. They both squat down, their bodies blocking the disgusting thing from my view. Ryker laughs, and they stand and turn towards me, Ki holding it with her bare hand. My stomach churns violently. I’m going to be sick.

“Red, it’s chocolate,” Ki says, biting her lips to keep from laughing.

“No. No, it’s not,” I argue.

It’s clearly Tyler’s, but I cannot say that without making myself look guilty of something.

“Yes, it is,” Ki argues, bringing the finger to her lips.

“Ki, don’t. It’s Ty—” my words vanish when she takes a bite and red goo dribbles over her bottom lip. Vomit spews from my mouth onto my floor and shoes with no time to make it to a trash can.

“Shit,” Ryker barks, jumping backward.

“Sam, here, look,” Ki rushes out, holding the half-eaten finger in my face. I cover my mouth with my hand, but it falls to my side when I see the cake and strawberry puree covered in a white chocolate shell.

“That’s not—” I walk around her to the red box and search the floor to find…nothing. “Ki, I swear to you, there was a finger inside that box. That was not in there.” I jab my finger at the weird dessert in her hand.

She gives me a sad smile. “Maybe you had some other things on your mind, and when you saw it, your mind played tricks on you.”

“I’m not crazy,” I snap.

I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince them or myself.

“Nobody is saying you’re crazy, Red. If it will make you feel better, install some cameras. But to me, it seems like someone was just trying to spoil you.”

I nod and she lays the not-finger on my table.

“If you ever need anything, just call one of us.”