Page 16 of To Love a Monster
I drink slowly before answering.“No,” I lie.“Not anymore.As a kid we’d come out a lot, but we’ve not been in years.”
“Well, it’s definitely a great place if you’re looking for total isolation.I didn’t expect it to be so cold, though!Didn’t pack half of what I need.”He leans back against the counter, arms crossed, gaze easy.“Gonna have to make a run into town.Anything good there I shouldn’t miss?”
“Not unless you’re into bargain antiques and bad diners,” I say.
“Hey, I like a good dive.It’s authentic.Maybe we could check out the bar together sometime.You know, Jake and I got caught sneaking into that bar once.His dad waspissed.Made us sleep in the shed.”
The way he says it is casual.Offhand.But it hits wrong and my spine straightens.Slowly, I tilt my head.“Jake’s dad died when he was eight.”
Carl freezes.Just for a second.Then he laughs it off, too quick.“Shit—no, no.I meant my dad.He’s the one who caught us.Sorry, that was a total slip of the tongue.”
My smile doesn’t move.“Right.Easy mistake.”But in my chest, something starts clawing again.Carl clears his throat, lifting his coffee.“Anyway, sorry if that came off weird.My memory’s trash sometimes.”
I force a tight smile.“All good.Everyone forgets stuff.”
Suddenly another message comes through and before I even pick it up I know who it’s from.
If he touches what’s mine, I’ll make his death slow enough to echo.Don’t test how far I’ll go when it comes to you, little lamb.
The screen goes dark before I can reply.My stomach knots and I stand quickly.
“Are you all right?”Carl asks.
“Yeah.Sorry, I just remembered I have something to do.”
He looks disappointed.“Oh.Okay, then.Well...I hope I see you around?”
I don’t answer.I nod and bolt.As I exit the door, I hear another buzz.
That’s my good girl.
Irritation and something hotter coil inside me.Without thinking, I storm across the gravel and bang on his front door.There’s no answer but I know he’s in there.I hear him a moment later, a low, throaty chuckle behind the wall.I want to shout something that’ll pull him out, ask him what his problem is.But when I look around, I see Carl is watching me from his kitchen window, eyebrows raised.So, instead I turn and leave.
****
Surveillance Log: L.M
Subject: Lila Montgomery
Location: Matteo’s Cabin
Status: Surveillance active / Direct intervention limited / Subject left the Montgomery residence perimeter at 11:45
She knows where I am now.She saw the curtains shift and she still turned away, still let another man steal her attention.He spoke to her like she was available.Like she was a girl who could be won over with fucking coffee and banana bread.And she smiled at him.She smiled.Laughed like I wasn’t right here, watching.
That soft lean forward, like she was curious.Curious is dangerous.Curious makes men like Carl disappear even if they’re not a security threat.And the way she tucked her hair back.It made my hands clench hard enough to leave blood under my nails.She’s playing a game she doesn’t understand.But she will.I just need to teach her the rules.
She told him her name.Let him invite her inside.I watched her hesitate.Watched her almost make the right choice.So I reminded her.
Don’t you walk into that house, little lamb.I’m not very good at sharing.Especially not when it comes to you.
I watched her read the message.Watched the way her breath caught.The little flicker in her eyes, the fight between resistance and instinct.She stood frozen and my pulse climbed slow and steady like it was counting down to something inevitable.
She smiled like she liked it.Like my fury was a gift she wanted to unwrap.And then she texted back.Said something so unexpected, but oh so welcome.
Prove it.
Then she walked through the door.
