Page 84 of Savage Keepsakes

“More or less. It’s something I’ve been doing for a long time. You helped give me a purpose.”

Knowing he went to such great lengths for answers gives me a warm feeling and makes me feel like I’m as crazy as he is.

“But they weren’t evil people?” I ask him.

He shrugs before getting our axes again. “Isn’t everyone a little bad, Lou?”

“It’s odd that you call it Lou’s Organic Soap, now that I know.”

The silence consumes the area. Birds fly by, but the only real sound is our heavy breathing.

“It was meant to be sweet, but I guess I see how it’s not.” He doesn’t look at me, and I realize I have to be all in or out.

“If I said no, what would happen?”

Mid-swing, he freezes and pivots his attention towards me. “I’d leave.”

“How long do you think it’d take two people to turn against each other? That being told to kill your friend would work?” I ask, twirling the wooden handle in my hands.

I think about the recent scene in my book. There is a shift in the air, as if unspoken words linger, silently accepting his secret life as a serial killer.

“Honestly, it depends on the people. I don’t think it’d be worth the effort to try it out. Some people turn on others immediately and some would hold out to the bitter end. It’s too hard to experiment, but if you need something different, I can try.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Billy. I love you and this is what you do.”

As he turns and runs toward me, a rush of adrenaline fills the air as he sweeps me off my feet.

With each turn, his grip tightens, and when he finally lowers me to the ground, his fierce kiss leaves me breathless.

“Darlin’, I love you.”

He grabs the axes and together we head back to the Cruze. We drive home with music blasting. The new song I found is on repeat and it’s a banger.

“I don’t want to be a part of the killing. I’ll help you sell the product, but I think that’s as far as I go.”

His laugh fills the car as he turns off the street to his shop.

“That’s more than enough for me. Besides, I’m gonna scale down for us to work. The last thing I need is to lose you. I’ll be back in a minute.”

“I hate that you’re so sick,” I say into the phone.

“Me too. I’m sorry, Lucy. I know you despise working with her,” Arties gruff voice filters through the speaker.

“It’s alright. I’ll manage. Get better soon,” I say before hanging up.

Leaning against my desk chair, I move my mouse and look at my document. I feel the need to scrap the entire thing because it is total trash, but I’m pretty sure Billy would fuck the shit out of me.

He’s been out in the barn all day and it’s odd, but unless I want to be involved, I think it’s best to stay out of his business.

Billy has had a slew of animals come in over the last few days, so I suspect he is doing his usual work and not indulging in extracurricular activities.

The idea of him changing for me feels wrong. It’s disturbing what he does, but it is unfair to expect him to transform into a different person just to be with me.

That’s not how relationships operate. Love and support.

“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” Billy asks, and I turn to look at him leaning against the doorway.

He shouldn’t be this fucking hot. He’s sporting his typical ensemble of worn-out jeans, a tee-shirt, and a baseball cap. I check him out, top to bottom, looking for blood splatter, but he’s clean.

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