Page 19 of Hollow Forest

“There will never be a problem with what you make me,” he rumbled.

Any coherent thoughts flew from my brain at that declaration. I swallowed thickly, managed a stiff nod, and had to force myself not to run when I moved away.

It wasn’t because I hated the idea of him touching me.

Why do I not hate the idea of him touching me?

I grabbed the next drink order and absently started working on it. That man put me off-kilter, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for the attention.

Chapter 7 – The Monster

The new tenant flicked on the kitchen lights. She was home. She was safe. No one dared interrupt her walk down the country lane. If they were stupid enough to try, they would have to deal with me.

I spun my knife between my fingers.

Before the winter snow came, Sam would have a car. I was torn between delivering one with the title and registration in an envelope on the dash or just outright gifting her the vehicle. But I hesitated to do either. An independent woman like her wouldn’t except such a lavish offering. The food was one thing. It was a necessity, and she forced herself to accept it.

A grin split across my face, knowing she would find fresh groceries tonight.

Those were gifts she couldn’t turn down.

And when her new furniture arrived tomorrow, the workmen setting them up would explain that the landlord included it in the renovations. Again, she wouldn’t be able to refuse.

But a SUV was personal. She needed it for the winter road conditions and a safe commute. Plus…it would make hauling another body into the forest so much easier. A grin split across my lips. Samantha played the part of an innocent little woodland creature. It was an act. My girl was a monster.

She was made for me.

I’d watched her kidnap Carlo Mancini, force him into the bed of his pickup, and then haul him into the yawning maw of the forest, never to reappear. The rules of this town were that we didn’t let domestic abuse fly. However, with the ever-growing population of San Pietro Cove, Carlo’s sins had flown under the radar.

Until this radiant angel of death brought justice to the situation. The Ravello Famiglia owed her a debt of thanks.

A SUV would be just the thing.

I slid the hunting knife into the sheath at my side.

Nope, I was going to have to make my beautiful creature fall for me first before I forced her to accept such a grand gesture. Which meant it was time we spent more than a few minutes together.

Plans formed as she moved about the kitchen.

I remained hunched against a tree in the backyard, my Carhart jacket impervious to the howl of the autumn wind. I would watch, and I would wait. Sam wasn’t going to escape me, so the rush to go to her was my own impatience for us to be together.

***

In the dark-drenched kitchen, I pulled the crockpot from the box and quietly washed it before setting up the appliance on the brand-new butcher block counter. Stacks of other kitchen essentials waited on the table to be unpackaged and stored in the freshly installed cabinets. It was genius to have this place renovated during the day—and stocked by me at night.

Unwrapping the butcher paper, I dropped the roast over a bed of cut vegetables.

My girl was going to have a proper dinner to come home to.

A scream cut through the house.

My heart stopped fucking beating. Dread seeped through me, and it was impossible to draw a proper breath. I was, however, able to snatch my gun from my waistband. I rushed from the kitchen, sprinting up the stairs and to my girl.

I burst into her room. The red bead from my laser flashed across the space.

There was no threat.

No one would dare invade this cottage under my watch. Except…something had.