Page 270 of Trick or Stalk

Or Masked Man.

Or anything.

By the time I’m finished with my bath, it’s past midnight.

Halloween is officially over.

That feels appropriate.

The mask came off.

I take Penny outside, deliberately refraining from looking at the woods.

When she trots back inside, I follow, closing and locking the door behind me.

But I can’t resist one peek out the window.

There’s no one there.

As I move through the downstairs turning off lights, I look out every window.

Nothing.

My heart sinks.

I blow out a breath, telling myself I should finally feel free.

Instead, I look toward the dark window and realize the truth I hate most.

I still want him to be there.

CHAPTER 37

Presley

It’s been three days since Halloween.

Three long days since I told Hades not to follow me.

And apparently, the bastard has decided to become an excellent listener.

I haven't seen him anywhere.

Not at The Crooked Spine. Or Bramble & Bean. Not outside my house, standing between the trees.

He hasn’t called or texted.

He hasn't left anything on my porch.

Nothing.

Which is exactly what I asked for.

And I fucking hate it.

I carry my coffee toward an empty table near the window and sit. Outside, Hollow Creek has already started dismantling Halloween, leaving fall behind.

The fake cobwebs are coming down. Someone across the street is removing a skeleton from a bench while another person wrestles a giant inflatable ghost into submission.