Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
When I step back into the kitchen, I find Oliver already cleaning up after dinner. He’s a perfect mix of Noah and me. He has Noah’s eyes but my almost-black hair. He also has the kind of smile that makes my heart happy whenever I see him. If I’m having a bad day, I picture his bright grin, and it instantly improves.
I approach and wrap my arms around his small body. He’s getting bigger and bigger every day, it seems. I can’t get over the fact that I’m raising a little man, and he’s going to be amazing. He has excellent manners and does well in school. I didn’t realize how lucky I could be until I had him.
While Oliver is used to being around Noah’s side of the family, he’s not as familiar with my side. We try to make it out to see my family at least once a year, but we haven’t visited them in more than a year because I’ve been so busy with work, and they live on the other side of the country and hate flying.
Noah’s family spoils Oliver because he’s their only grandson. Noah is the oldest of his siblings and was the first to have a child. It doesn’t help that he is also the favorite among his side of the family. I wouldn’t be surprised if they leave everything to Oliver. He does no wrong in their eyes, and a part of me loves that. Loves that he has a connection with people who are always going to have his back. A lot of people in this world don’t get that luxury.
“I missed you today, buddy.” I hold him a little tighter.
“I missed you too,” he says with a squeeze that is almost too big for his little arms.
“How was school?”
“Good. I got an A in math. Dad thinks I’ll be an amazing banker.” He laughs.
“Only if that’s what you want,” I tell him, knowing he’s always wanted to be a banker like his father.
“My teacher asked me how you are.”
I lean back and look down at him. “What do you mean?”
“He said he loves your writing and is sad he hasn’t seen anything from you in a while.”
I smile as I brush Oliver’s hair away from his face.
“Tell him I’m working on something big,” I reply, then kiss his cheek. “Now, bedtime.”
“Can I play Fortnite?” he begs.
“No. You know you’re only allowed to play that game on the weekends.” I shake my head at him.
“Okay,” he says, but it is tinged with disappointment.
I watch as he sulks off up the stairs to his room, then I check my phone and see an email from a name I know well.
Good afternoon, Miss Knight,
I have concluded that you won’t stop harassing me until you get what you want. So, I will give you the interview you have been requesting.
Under one condition…
From,
The Man You Stalk
The man I stalk. I let out a little laugh.
Well, I guess it’s partially true.
FOUR
SOREN
Once she reads the email, I get a notification and wait for her to reply. When I don’t get a response after ten minutes, I turn off my phone and step into the shower. She’s been investigating me, but I’ve been doing some digging of my own. I can easily do this with the help of my fellow Society member, Boston, who is a detective and will get me anything I ask for. But I feel like with her, I can tend to it myself, except she doesn’t seem intimidated by me. Actually, she seems to think she is in control, which is amusing in itself.
I keep a lot of pieces of my life hidden, and I’m good at it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be the Lord of the Forsaken Society. I’m a natural-born leader, and I don’t take my position lightly, but I do revel in being in charge. And while the Forsaken doesn’t take up all my time, it does take up a good chunk of it, especially when it involves the hunt. The hunt is held twice a year, and I select the chosen prey. Usually, Boston finds fucked-up people, and we choose from them, but sometimes someone will piss me off so much that I’ll be vindictive enough to pick them as our quarry. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, no one else knows apart from me—that is, until the hunt is over.
It’s one of the perks of being in charge.
The time for another hunt is upon us, and I’ve been so preoccupied I haven’t had a chance to look at the options Boston sent me. So, after I shower, I sit on my brown leather couch, wrapped in just a towel, and check the files.
The first option is a man known to kill women while they’re walking alone to their cars late at night. Boston hasn’t caught him yet because he’s good at hiding, but he knows who the man is. A picture in the file shows he’s a large man, which means he would probably be caught easily and too quickly, so he goes into the reject pile. We want them to run and lead us on a long and exciting chase. It’s the chase we crave.