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I chew on my bottom lip. “Yeah. It’s horrible, but let’s not think about bad stuff.” I’m happy to change the subject. I’m not a fan of Sally, but she did just die, and what he said was kind of rude. Maybe he knew her better than I did. Who knows? I don’t want to think about death and murder.

“Agreed. I’d rather forget about work and focus all my energy on you.”

I sigh in relief. But that comment makes me wonder if he was on the scene this morning at the diner. I swear, the first time I spotted Pike in his cop uniform, I had to change my underwear. Talia seemed to understand exactly what I was doing because the darn woman wouldn’t stop smirking at me.

Even now, whenever I see Pike, and he’s wearing his uniform, I become a bit of a moron and can’t stop gazing at him. I get all nervous and trip over my words. I become a babbling idiot.

We set out and I’m trying to get over my jitters and not pick at my nails.

“So what made you decide to ask me out?” I blurt out, shocking myself that I’ve asked him that.

“I’ve always thought you were pretty, Dels,” he confesses casually, with a lift of his shoulder. I almost can’t believe the words roll off his tongue this easily, as though he says or thinks them often.

“Yeah, but you’ve never acted remotely interested, and now all the sudden we’re on a date.”

“What’s with all the doubt? I like you and I’m well aware you like me, beautiful.” His voice is sharp, rough, and I feel as if I kind of just got scolded by a parent.

“Okay. I get that. But if you’ve known I was crushing on you all this time and you liked me back, why wait so long?”

“I forgot how direct you can be sometimes when you’re on a roll.” He grins, and I give him a glare. “It’s not a bad thing,” he tacks on quickly with a bit of a chuckle at noticing my scowl. “I guess I was simply waiting for the time to be right. I paid my truck off and got my own place. I had to be able to take care of myself before I could take care of you in the ways that are important.”

His answer is nice. “You know I don’t need anyone to take care of me, Pike. But it’s sweet that you want to.”

“I’ll always watch out for you, Dels. I always have.” He reaches across the cab of the truck and squeezes my knee. Pike was there through the bad I endured at home. He knows about my nightmares. The abuse. All of it. The house I live in now belonged to the former librarian. It comes as part of the job because the pay sucks so bad. I will be paying off my student loan debt forever for obtaining my masters. At least I don’t have to worry about a mortgage.

“I know.”

He gives me another squeeze then returns his hand to the wheel.

We share a look and I know without a doubt that when I am with Pike I’m safe. Always. And not only because he is a cop. And maybe not only because I am his sister’s best friend. Maybe he really is that into me.

Chapter Eight

I thought I was going to be late tonight, after staking out where I know She used to live, but I couldn’t find her. Maybe she’s already out getting her kill on or stalking her next victim. Who fucking knows? I only know I’m pissed. Pissed even more because now that I’m here to get Delaney, I should have been watching her place instead.

That cunt obviously overheard me asking Delaney out, so I should have known better. That bitch sent her pink fucking flowers, and that damn card with that funeral shit on it. Fuck. Delaney tried pretty well to play it off, but I know damn well she’s spooked beyond reason right now.

Hopefully, I can salvage this night and make it better for her. I’m finally stepping up my game with Delaney, yet now I have this fucking road block in my way. Fat chance of that. No, not now that I finally have an in to be with my girl. I have to deal with this.

My killing spree only started because I wanted to slay Delaney’s fucking monsters. And I have, well, except for two. One is her stepfather, who’s locked up currently, but I know he’s due to be up for parole soon, something I will fight against, even if Delaney doesn’t. But if he ever does get released, I’ll unleash a whole new level of hell upon him. And now it looks like I need to take out this cunt who is obsessed with me.

Should have known, though. The stupid bitch was infatuated with me all throughout high school, then college. Talia even tried being friends with her for a short while, but realized the nut was merely using her to get close to me. Fat chance of that, because since I was a kid, I’ve always had a thing for Delaney.

Every bitch in town knows that, too. When I wanted to get my cock wet, I dipped into the city. Didn’t want that shit coming back on Delaney. Women, especially women like Delaney, don’t like to be reminded of the others that came before them. Of course, as a horny teenager, I didn’t exactly do that. I admit I was a bit of a dumb fuck. But I at least made sure the girls I was with kept that shit to themselves. And of course, the girls I did shit with in high school either moved out-of-town once they finished high school or were Sally.

Sally was a mistake from day one. I thought she knew the score. But no, the dumb bitch stayed in town, and fucked anything that moved, thinking I’d get jealous and want her. All it did was make me stay away from her. Though it didn’t seem to stop her. Figured she was being a bitch to Delaney the other day, hence me making it seem as if I wanted her. Knowing full well that the crazy ass stalking me was most likely watching, even if she hadn’t made a move in months.

Sure enough, Sally was murdered that night. Do I feel bad about that? Nah, not really. I’m only fucking happy it wasn’t Delaney. Part of me wondered if maybe Delaney was behind the murders at first, since I knew she’s always had a crush on me. Those thoughts faded quickly when I started watching and protecting her more often. She was always home, at work, or with my sister.

There was no way in hell she’d ever kill someone. She’s too pure. One time, she accidentally ran over a turtle in a rainstorm and held a funeral for it in her backyard. She won’t even kill bugs. Catches them and releases them back into nature.

Even the men in town knew to back off Delaney. Though some were stupid as fuck. Any time some moron flirted or show Delaney any type of attention, they quickly found their eyes gouged out and their fucking hands in a wood chipper. She’s mine, and only mine. Maybe that makes me a fucking hypocrite, since I haven’t been celibate, but I don’t give a fuck. Delaney has always been too sweet, too pure, for me to fuck up.

I wanted to wait until I was finished doling out my punishment. Had to throw in a few outsiders too, couldn’t have any of the fucks shining a light on my woman. Though I highly doubt Delaney even knew who the guys were.

One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that Delaney doesn’t really pay much attention to other people. At least not in a way that would make her think someone was into her. For someone that grew up the way she did, with the monster she had in her home, I’m not overly surprised. She’s cautious. She watches everything, everyone, with wary eyes.

She literally only trusts my sister, everyone else that she’s friendly with, she isn’t as close to. I hate she’s built up those walls, but I wonder if she even notices she does it.