In The Dark

by Chelsea Curto

“You do have fun when you do it, don’t you?” “Yeah.” I smirk. “Best adrenaline rush in the world.” “Guess Elle Woods was wrong about happy people killing other people.” “She wasn’t wrong about the endorphins, though.” “Fuck. I’m a sucker for a smart woman. And all that pink? Sign me up.”

Janey always takes care of me, and she has for years; escorting away a group of girls who started to grope me when I tried to exit the haunted house for a break. Keeping idiots out of the line so they don’t try to fight the actors. Feeding me after my mom died so I didn’t wither away.

“I’m not hiding in the shadows. I’m using my resources. Taking her on a long, romantic walk, except she doesn’t know I’m there.” “That is literally stalking.” “Potato, poh-tah-toe.

“I’m okay. This time of year is always weird. Halloween used to be my favorite holiday, and now…” I trail off. “It’s complicated.” “She’d be so proud of you. Getting out of your shitty situation with your dad. Putting him in his place.” “Six feet under.” “Should be more like twenty.” Leo scoffs. “I’m sure your Mom is looking down on us and smiling from ear to ear.”

I’m going to track you down, Maxine. And when I do, I’m going to make you mine.

“What if I want to be bad?” “That’s the wrong thing to say to a guy like me.” He leans forward, a hand on the wall next to my head. He’s caging me in, body almost flush against mine. “I have a habit of getting attached to things. If you keep talking to me like that, I might fall in love with you.”

“When I play with things I like, I make sure to have my way with them.” “Does that mean you like me?” “Oh, Maxine.” He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, mouth right at the pulse point on my neck. “That’s one way to put it.”

“My last name? My favorite food? My credit card number so you can buy yourself whatever you want? I can give you the world if you let me, Maxine.”

We have a serious fucking problem. I was already addicted to her, and this just sealed the deal. I need to consume her. I need to have her in a million different ways. I need to make her mine with a ring and a house and five kids,

I’ve always liked being on my knees, but I just found my favorite alter. My new house of worship, and she’s never going to be able to get rid of me.

“You should know something about me, angel. If you want it? Ask. I’ll give it to you. Do you want me to kiss you, Maxine?” “I think I’d like that,” she whispers, and I smile. “Please.” “With pleasure,” I purr, crashing my mouth against hers.

I don’t need to hear his story. I don’t need to find out that he’s a playboy or a womanizer who picks a new victim every night. By keeping my mouth shut, I can pretend I’m one of a kind. I can pretend he’s somewhere thinking about me right now, even though I doubt he remembers my name.

Oh, girl

I also promise to let you have a front row seat the night I invite Maxine over—as long as she’s comfortable with being watched. I don’t want to push her to do anything she’s not fully onboard with.” “But you want to invade her privacy? I can’t wait to be there when she realizes you broke a dozen laws to find out who she is.” “It’s romantic.” “I’m sure every creep in history has said the same thing. I’m going to need more than that as a reward. I’m a good guy, Hunt. Cyberstalking isn’t in my wheelhouse.”

I don’t walk around killing random people who cut me off in traffic. There’s a vetting process. A waiting period between someone applying to the program, to the target being taken out. We need probable cause. A motive for the violence and assurance the world would be better without the deceased in it. Proof that their behavior is beyond fixing and no one would miss them if they were gone.

A good bad guy, if you will

She’s consumed all of my thoughts, and while I want to know everything about her, I also want to be respectful. Busting down the door to her house and demanding she give me her attention because I’ve missed her borders on extreme, so I’ll have to get creative. Luckily, thinking outside the box has always been one of my strengths.

“She’s made of magic, dude. My heart’s been broken since Mom passed, but I think she might be the cure.” “Damn. Okay, Shakespeare. You tell her that and there will be a wedding by Christmas. I’m glad my romantic ways are rubbing off on you.”

This bromance is top tier

I’ve always been a determined motherfucker. Someone who goes after what he wants, and right now, the only thing I need is Maxine Walters. I need her like I need air, and I’m not going to stop until she’s mine.

I told myself I was only going to pass by, but now that I’m here, I might as well look inside to make sure she’s taking care of herself.

Might as well

I slip into the foyer and shut the door, taking time to kick off my riding boots so I don’t track dirt inside. I might murder people for a living, but I’m also a considerate guy.

The hamper is full of dirty laundry, a rogue sock hanging over the lip of the basket. If it’s full again when I come back, I’m adding it to the list of things I’m going to take care of for her. I’m great at being domestic.

I play well with others on my terms, and two times with Maxine has shown me when it comes to her, I’m the only one allowed to play.

I’m a protector. I always have been. When I saw kids getting picked on in school, I was the first one to put the bully in their place. As an adult, I know what happens to people—primarily women—when they don’t have someone in their corner willing to fight for them.

I’ve spent less than an hour with Maxine, and I already know I’d torture anyone who laid a finger on her without her permission and enjoy doing it.

What every girl wants tbh

I’d never consider a woman to be my property. I’d never fall into the bullshit they must submit to me alpha male rhetoric, but she’s mine now, which means it’s my responsibility ...

“I think that’s the nice thing about life. We’re all doing things at our own pace, and one path isn’t better than the other.”

It’s easy to see why people get addicted to this lifestyle, and I’m glad it’s me observing her. Anyone else would’ve done something unhinged by now, but I’m not that guy. I’m only hiding in her closet so I can check on her. There’s a difference.

“Now everyone in hell will know how to welcome you when you arrive. I hope your soul stays stuck in purgatory until the end of time.”

Time is precious, especially when you spend it with people you care about,

A bloody knife? A saner woman would be halfway home by now, but as I’ve learned over the last couple of weeks, I can’t think rationally when it comes to Hunter.

“I know you said I’m a serial killer. And, by definition, I guess I am. But I feel pain when I hurt someone I care about. I cry. I’ve never laid a finger on a woman out of anger, and I never will.” Hunter rests his forehead against mine and sighs. “If you want me to stop, I will. I care more about you than the money this brings me.”

“Max Walters.” I roll on top of her, my hips pressing into hers. “Are you asking me to be your boyfriend?” “No. You told me you murder people, so it seems like this has gotten pretty serious.” “Should I get a little piece of paper that says check yes or no?” “You’re exhausting.” She touches my cheek, but she can’t stop smiling. “But, hypothetically, how would you answer?” Baby, I’d put a ring on your finger tomorrow if it wouldn’t scare you off. What cake flavor should we go with? Do you want two kids or four?

I love you, I almost shout. I love you so fucking much. Take my bleeding heart and keep it in a jar, because I’m never giving it to anyone else.