Page 175 of Trick or Stalk

Smart woman.

Presley's house is dark when I arrive.

She’s still at the bookstore. She gets off in an hour. Plenty of time for what I need to do.

I carry the package onto the porch and crouch beside her front door.

I open the box one last time, double-checking I have everything.

Sweater.

Book.

The fucking note I’ve rewritten three times.

The first sounded like Hades.

The second sounded too much like the man in the mask.

The third does exactly what I want.

I set it on top.

For you.

And something for the girl who keeps trying to protect you.

Enjoy the book.

I leave it unsigned and close the box.

Maybe that's fucked up, but I want to know who she thinks sent it. Hades or the masked man she keeps searching for through windows?

I leave the package beside the door and disappear into the trees.

Then I wait.

Headlights sweep across the driveway as Presley’s car pulls in.

I straighten against the tree.

She climbs out and moves to the passenger side.

When Penny’s paws hit the ground, she immediately starts sniffing everything within reach. Presley gently coaxes her toward the porch, Penny's leash in one hand.

Presley makes it halfway to the porch before she notices the package.

She stops.

So does Penny.

Even from here, I see Presley's entire body stiffen.

My pulse kicks harder.

She looks toward the woods, her gaze searching. It sweeps toward me, but she doesn’t see me.

A thrill rolls through me that she’s looking for me.