Page 17 of His Dark Vices

"Come on, let's get out of here," Sam whispers against my hair. "Are you okay?"

Now that he's stopped, I feel like I can barely walk. My body is back to trembling, and my only lifeline seems to be the arm Sam has thrown around my shoulders.

And with him so close to me like this, I can smell the blood on his knuckles.

CHAPTER 6

Sam

Four Years Ago

Ipull my hood over my head, trying to conceal my face as much as possible. I should have pulled on a thicker coat, but I was already out of the apartment when the cold started to seep into my bones. I guess I'm not thinking straight. I'm only thinking of one thing: getting to Bree's house.

I followed her home one day, so I know the way.

I had wanted to follow her home—just to see if I could—but I didn't think I'd do it so soon. It was risky as hell. She suddenly packed up her things soon after arriving in the clearing and shot off. Was it because of me? Did she finally notice me in the trees? I had to know. And the few hours in the forest are all I have.

I couldn't stand the thought of losing my time with her.

And I wanted to make sure she would come back.

I think her parents had called her home for something. They live in a huge house in the suburbs. It's brown with huge windows. Looks traditional, like a well-to-do family livesthere, having dinner around the table, celebrating holidays with warmth and laughter, supporting their little girl's every dream. Guess this is what it looks like when your parents love you more than they love booze.

A bitter taste had pooled in my mouth at the thought.

Finding her room was easy. The first time I crept into her backyard, heart pounding as I peeped into the windows, I expected a neighbor or—worse—her dad to catch me.

No one did.

Her bedroom was the one with lace curtains.

I hung around until I could catch sight of her face again through a gap in the curtains. She didn't seem distressed, not like she'd caught a guy peeping on her in the forest.

I wanted to stay. Right there was a new world, right in front of me. I could have seen what she acts like when she's behind a locked door. But I went there without thinking, without even realizing the risk. So I left just as quickly as I came.

And I vowed not to go back. I wanted to do things more carefully. I might have gotten a chance to see the inside of her room, but I hated the feeling of things being so out of my control.

But getting there just the one time was enough to infect me with the idea of returning. At home, I'd lie on my bed, eyes staring into the ceiling as I fought off the urge to go back. I could gain so much more from having access to her room. What would it smell like in there? Does she keep journals?

What's her panty drawer like?

What was I doing, just waiting around for the right opportunity to fall into my lap? I'm the one in control.

I need to start acting like it.

So here I am again, hugging the wall of her house below her window, straining my eyes in the darkness. The light is on above me, but I'm listening, looking out at her neighbors' houses.I didn't notice before, but the trees in her backyard make it difficult for anyone else to look in.

Good for me.

I release a breath and continue listening. Her parents could still enter the backyard for any reason under the sun. I need to be ready to get the hell out of here without being seen. So I keep my ears peeled, trying to identify the sounds of steps approaching me in the grass, but something else catches my attention.

A soft feminine sound.

It's coming from behind me.

I soundlessly turn back to the window and peep in, keeping my head as low as I possibly can. There's only a small gap in the curtains, but it's more than enough.

Bree's room is pretty simple for such a huge house. A sturdy desk sits in the corner, neatly housing her school supplies and books. The chair sitting in front of it is empty. A white fluffy rug stretches across the floor beside the tall bed in the other corner, and there must be a set of drawers in front of the window because assorted possessions just in front of my eyes provide more obstacles to look around.

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