Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“Excuse me,” the elderly woman calls out, waving at us. “Could you explain the materials used once again?”
At this rate, they’re gonna be here until lunchtime.
Owen winks at me before heading off toward the pair, smile number five in place, and I exhale, glancing back at the snow globe and the young elf that reminds me of Hot Blake, who waits for me in the cellar.
Ah, if only things were as easy as Owen paints them.
‘Show him what you’re good at’ bounces around in my mind, because, yeah, I’m already planning our date. I want him to get to know me, to see I’m more than just the Christmas Killer. And since he’s so keen on true-crime stories, I’m sure he’d appreciate a glimpse behind the curtain. Wouldn’t he like to know what I do with my murder souvenirs?
One step at a time, Nico.
First a nice dinner, then the snow globe filled with teeth shavings.
Chapter 5
Nico
I shouldn’t be this nervous.
I’m a man of twenty-seven, with my own business and several notches on my bedpost, but somehow this young man, whose life I’m holding in my hands makes me jittery as if I’m about to embark on my first-ever date.
There’s something about him. Something special, and it’s not just his pretty face and hot body. And while I do feel responsible for his life now, that’s not it either. I suppose after listening to every single episode of his podcast, being an active fan for three years now, pre-ordering his merch twice, and jerking off to his hot voice while imagining what he might look like spread out naked on the same desk he records at, I am a bit starstruck.
I don’t want to give him that impression though and make things weird. He’s stayed anonymous for a reason, and I don’t want to cause him discomfort by using the knowledge I’ve already gained from the podcast. I prepare a nice hot dinner for us. Turkey, mashed potatoes, veggies, an indulgent gravy, and red wine to go with it, plus hot chocolate, in case he doesn’t like alcohol. I put on a dark green shirt this time, and after half an hour of testing the look, I settle on two buttons open, showcasing my snowflake tattoos. I get a new one for every kill, and I kind of want him to ask about the ink. I put on a nice watch and use my favorite cologne with notes of pine, cedar, and pomegranate. A gift from Owen, who claimed it’s gonna get me laid. Let’s hope he’s right.
And yeah, I discreetly pack some lube and condoms in case I do get lucky. I will be the perfect gentleman, but Blake has been through lots of stress in the past twenty-four hours, and adrenaline makes people horny. It’s science.
I glance at the reindeer-shaped clock on my wall. The turkey’s just come out of the oven, so it will be fine resting under aluminum foil, which should give me more than enough time to get my date ready. I grab the clothes I prepared for Blake earlier, my best, softest towel, and walk downstairs, all the way to the basement that serves as the main stockroom. There are three rooms down here, all overflowing with Christmas decorations and gadgets, and at the very end of the one that at first glance appears to be of least interest, as it contains many of my personal belongings, is the narrow staircase leading to the lowest level of the property, which is cleverly hidden inside an old wardrobe.
My stomach tightens as I prepare myself to see Blake again after a whole day of longing and questioning whether Owen’s idea can pan out in my favor. I reach between the coats inside the wardrobe and pull on the lever disguised as an empty clothing hook. The mechanism installed by my grandfather many years ago is still functional due to regular maintenance, and it clicks as the back of the wardrobe opens like a door and reveals steep stairs.
Last night, after I hit the wall in my quest to find out who might have hired Blake’s abductor, I came down again, but Blake was already sleeping. I took some time with impromptu decorating, so he could wake up to a more cheerful space. I even brought down a pink Christmas tree and hung some lights in the room containing the cell.
Blake slept right through it all, and it made me feel like a Christmas elf, just working through the night to provide a surprise. Every now and then I’d glance at Blake’s serene features. He was adorable. I wish I’d been there to see his reaction when he woke up to all the magic around him.
I could have set up a camera to capture it, of course, but it would be impolite to violate his privacy like that.