Page 166 of Trick or Stalk

“Does she know you've been inside her house?”

“How the hell do you know⁠—”

“Jesus fucking Christ, Hades.” He stares at me, eyes round with shock. “You’re really gone for this woman, aren’t you?”

I don’t say a word.

Instead, I spin on my heel, grab a beer from the fridge, and snatch the mask from the table as I head toward my bedroom.

“Hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.”

I slam the bedroom door behind me and toss the mask onto the bed.

Wilder doesn't understand.

Presley doesn't either. Not yet.

She thinks the masked man appeared outside her house last night.

She doesn't know I watched her before I ever put it on.

Doesn't know I've stood inside her house while she slept.

Doesn't know I knew which bedroom was hers before she ever told me her name.

And she sure as hell doesn't know the man she wanted beside her tonight is the same man she ran to inside The Crooked Spine.

I stare at the mask.

Two versions of me.

And Presley trusts one while she's becoming curious about the other.

Except they're getting harder to keep separate.

Especially after tonight.

She looked for the mask and asked me to walk with her. Almost asked me not to leave.

My mouth curves.

The first night I wore it, I wanted to see how she'd react.

Now I know.

She's still afraid.

But she didn't run.

I'm starting to wonder what she'll let the masked man do next.

CHAPTER 23

Presley

I haven’t seen the masked man in two days.

That’s a good thing.