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)
Nico trails his fingers from my chest to my stomach. “You actually want to go hunting with me?”
I have him. The Christmas Killer has taken the bait.
I wipe my face with my forearm and nod. It will be scary out there with a hit ordered on me, but I won’t be on my own. And once I’m out of this prison, access to a phone will only be a question of time. My brother and his lawyers will surely be able to weasel me out of trouble with the law if Nico reveals my wrongdoings.
“I’ve been into true-crime all my life, and this is my chance to see it from the inside. Please,” I add, because he seems genuinely excited that I share his murder hobby, even if in a very different capacity.
He stands taller and smiles. “If your hacker story checks out and I let you out, you’ll go on a date with me. A real one.”
I stall, my mouth falling open as I try to process his words to make sure he’s asking for what I think he’s asking. Romance of any kind has never been high on my agenda. I planned a life of travel, fun, and friends with benefits, and this guy, this ruthless killer with a hard-on for Christmas wants to take me out on a date?
“As in, you want us to hook up?” I ask to make sure I understand him correctly. As terrifying as it would be to be naked and vulnerable with someone like him, I could do it. He’s good-looking, and the kiss proved that we have sexual chemistry. If I’m to lose my V-card soon, might as well do so in style and use it to buy my freedom.
Nico raises his hands as if he’s an innocent. “Whatever happens, happens, but I mean a date. I’ll plan everything, you just have to bring an open mind and a joyful spirit. I promise there won’t be any dismemberment,” he adds quickly.
I laugh even as dread coils in my guts. “That would be preferable, I’m rather fond of all my limbs, digits, and appendages.”
Jesus. Will he now think of my cock as an appendage? Why couldn’t I just keep my mouth shut?
“And I’m fond of them too,” Nico’s eyes glide to the front of my tiny shorts and I suddenly feel so naked even the festive pajamas don’t seem so bad. “It would be a shame if you had to lose any as punishment for screaming when we go up.”
As terrifying as the not-veiled threat is, my heart pounds faster because he did say when not if.
“I’ll give you the passcode for my email. You can find the proof there and send it to yourself. We’ll have a mutual destruction pact to ensure we both behave. Does that sound fair?” I ask and stroke his palm to stimulate his dirty thoughts, because if I get stuck down here, he might never choose to let me go.
“My apartment is a bit messy…” he warns, but unless he’s sleeping on a bed of corpses, it will be preferable to the cot two storeys underground.
“That’s fine, I’m messy too,” I lie, though to be fair, I never needed to keep my place tidy, as the staff would do that for me. “I’m curious how you decorated it, since you put so much effort and thought into this,” I tell him, indicating the tacky trinkets around the cell.
He lights up, and while for all the wrong reasons, I have to admit his smile is pretty swoony. I wouldn’t be surprised if he spent his free time volunteering at a soup kitchen.
“Just a warning. I do only have one bed.”
What a fucking surprise.
Chapter 8
Blake
I am now reasonably sure that my kidnapper doesn’t want to outright kill me, which is a huge relief. Though if he does end up taking my life, I hope my head is found wrapped with the Christmas Killer’s vintage ribbon, so that I stay in the public consciousness as the next victim.
I can imagine my fellow podcasters expressing their not-so-genuine grief as they report on the serial killer’s revenge, while all that sweet ad money pours into their accounts. What would be the appropriate thing to advertise during a podcast or video discussing my death? A VPN service, so a dangerous individual cannot track you? A point-and-click murder mystery game? An online therapy service, to help deal with the trauma of listening to details about gruesome murders and whatever other mental health issues fans might be dealing with?
I know a few people who’d just say fuck it and have a segment promoting microwavable meals before discussing violent crime. To each their own, and I won’t care once I’m dead anyway.
Nico did keep his word, and once he was satisfied with the contents of my phone, he gave me some privacy in the shower, which was a huge relief. A part of me suspects he might have been watching me through the keyhole, but I’m clean, I smell of Caribbean storm (at least that’s what it said on the bottle of shower gel I used) rather than sweat, and I’m no longer wearing the tight shorts/stockings combo. I detest the cheerful reindeer pattern on the cozy one-piece pajamas Nico left for me, but the garment is soft, warm, and not too tight around the hips, which is a giant improvement. I hope it means he does actually want to do more than perv on me at every opportunity.