Lights Out (Into Darkness, #1)

by Navessa Allen

There was a mask on my bed. And not just any mask. His mask.

And why was I so fucking turned on by it when I knew I should run screaming from my house instead?

My phone chimed on my desk. I froze. Oh, shit. Had she DM’d me?

This might sound completely insane, but did you break into my house tonight, film a video in my bedroom, and leave a mask behind? Fuck. How did I respond? If I said yes, it could eventually get held against me in a court of law. If I said no, I’d be gaslighting her. Was there some way to play it cool? Answer her question with a question that neither confirmed nor denied her suspicions? What would you do if I said yes? I asked.

Aly took a deep breath. “I feel like I remember you saying your roommate was good with computers?” Oh. Fuck. No.

It better not be a bomb, or I’m coming back as a poltergeist and finding some way to ghost-murder you.

“What the fuck?” she said. “Are you listening to me somehow? How the hell do I disable the microphone on a laptop?” Well, I’m certainly not telling you, I sent back. “I hope you’re enjoying yourself, you son of a bitch,” she snarled. Immensely, I responded, adding a smiley face emoji for good measure. “I am going to find you, and I am going to make you regret this.”

“Do not misconstrue the sound that just came out of my mouth,” she said. “It was hysterical laughter only. Brought on by stress and a murderous rage.” Hot, I replied. She choked on another laugh. “Goddamn it. That’s it. I’m turning off my computer.” I sent a crying face emoji. “You’re not funny,” she said. Then why do you keep laughing? “I am not laughing. Not really.”

I don’t want to hurt you, I told her, knowing I might regret it when this all went to shit, and she finally reported me.

Right until I glanced down and noticed that he’d added a caption to one of his videos for the first time ever. It read: When she’s mad at you. Oh, hell no. This motherfucker better not have been talking about me.

Was he watching me even now through the hospital security cameras? Probably not, but just in case he was, I flipped the bird at the one in the corner of the breakroom. My phone chimed with a text message. I pulled it up to see an unknown number and a single word: Rude.

I have no regrets about publicly claiming you.

Josh

Just tell me to stop, Aly, and I will.

Dark man, but cares about Aly.

I thought I’d give you a ride home. The weather is shit, and you must be exhausted. It’s not safe for you to drive right now.

My entire life was devoted to caring for others. I wanted someone to take care of me for once. I wanted someone to want me. No, need me. I wanted a man so obsessed that he hacked into cameras to watch me when he couldn't sleep. I wanted him to monitor my location data, order me a home security system so no one else could break into my house, and threaten to murder anyone who hurt me.

Why did it feel so good to care for her, even on such a micro level?

“All this time, you’ve been trying to reassure me that I’m safe with you,” she said, sliding the blunted side of the blade higher. “But did you ever stop to consider whether or not you were safe with me?” I nearly groaned. Aly in her villain era? I would bankrupt myself for front-row tickets to that show.

“I won’t do it if you don’t promise to be a good boy,” she crooned.

He sent a thinking emoji. Nothing comes to mind. But you do snore real cute. My eyes flashed wide. I do NOT snore. Like a chipmunk with a cold. Wheeze, wheeze, siiiiigh. Keep making fun of me, and I might stab you again. And do not say “kinky”!

“I bet you’re real proud of yourself right now, Josh,” Aly said. I jerked my gaze back up to hers. Uh-oh. “You think I don’t know who you are, but I do,” she said, looking furious. “None of your bullshit threw me off. In fact, it did nothing but confirm my suspicions. I tried to do this the nice way, beat you at your own game, but fuck it. You’re not playing fair, so neither will I. Guess what? I plucked a few pieces of hair off your sweatshirt while rubbing your back yesterday, and if you think I’m not going to DNA test them against the bloody bandages I stashed in my freezer, you’re dead-ass wrong.” She winked. “Later, Boo.”

I’m only willing to allow you a few days. After that, I’m coming for you, baby, whether you’re ready or not. And until then, I’ll be watching.

bugfuck.

I’d hoped our reunion would be sexual in nature, but she clearly shouldn’t be alone right now, and despite the fact that I was still hard, sex was the last thing on my mind. She needed comfort, companionship. Someone to listen to her or hold her while she cried.

I’d been vegan since, and even now, almost twenty years later, the smell of sizzling meat still made me want to puke.

oh wow my book boyfriend is vegan! Ha! PERFECT!

“What’s up with your voice? What are you, the scary mask version of Batman?” “Maskman?” I shot back. “I like it.” “I hope you like the sound of ringing, too, because I’m getting you a collar with a bell on it so you can’t sneak up on me again.” Despite my pain, I grinned. “Kinky.” “Goddamn it,” Aly muttered.

“You’re here,” she said, so low I almost missed the words. I slipped my hand from hers and pulled her into a hug. “You needed me.”

The woman was down for kinky sex, knew how I liked my coffee, and was more than willing to aid in the murder of a rapist. What had I done to get so lucky?