Page 96 of Beneath the Light of the Moon

Slipping from your car, you trailed after the man with your footsteps in time with his to avoid the echoing crunch beneath your boots. Subtly, you scanned the shadows making sure you were the only one with devious intentions. In the underbelly of the city, one could never be too cautious.

But nothing.

Adrenaline fluttered in your pulse, your body ready for whatever fight was about to come.

No, not adrenaline, excitement,a whisper said, brushing against your brain. It taunted a dangerous locked away portion of your head, coaxing it to come out and play. Tonight, that side would emerge, and everything you’d yearned for would be attainable under the cover of night.

The man you were following would discover this soon enough; he’d see what you were really made of.All sharp edges.

You weren’t scared of the dark; you were the only thing mad and fearless enough to thrive in the night.

Time forhimto discover that too.

“Hey,” you stumbled out the shadows and the man startled slightly until he realized who you were, “I think I’m a littlelost.” He smiled at your slurred words and lilted laughter, his own barriers falling away.

Such a shame…

29

The Spare Key

Anika

Aweek had passed since Mikko had showered in her house. He’d been eerily quiet since then, a fact she hardly found reassuring. If anything it meant he was plotting something nefarious. Levi had been his usual chattering self, excited to take her out and replace all the makeup she’d “dropped in the sink and ruined.”

She’d sent a picture of her haul to Mikko as a big “fuck you,”but he’d left her on read. Boring.

Now, daylight streamed in across her work desk. The warmth of it made her tired, her sleeping patterns completely messed up. As much as her discretion mattered, Anika couldn’t hold onto all the loose ends for much longer. Her body was giving out, and she needed to act soon. Levi and Mikko were closing in on her in their own way, and it made her skittish.

“Anika,” a voice said from her doorway, “someone delivered flowers at the front desk for you.” Looking up, Anika caught sight of their office manager walking away. She wasn’t expecting flowers…

With wary footsteps and her heart in her throat, Anika made her way out to the front desk. Rounding the corner, the deep hue of violets popped against the white counter. Baby’s Breath was tucked around the purple flowers, offsetting their vibrancy wonderfully.

But the hidden meaning behind these had Anika’s movements faltering.

Watchfulness and everlasting love.

Two sides of a coin.

A crisp piece of folded cardstock with her name on it protruded above the flowers. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, Anika picked the whole arrangement up. She’d deal with this in the privacy of her office. It was either Levi buttering her up or Mikko taunting her. Both of which she didn’t want her coworkers to see.

Gracefully sitting back down into her chair with her office door securely closed, she plucked the note from its holder.

We need to talk. Leave the spare key out for me.

—M

Anika snorted and pulled two small tubes that were nestled next to the note from the greenery as well.

What’s this?

Perfume and lip gloss.

The fragrance brand he’d gotten her was one she’d been running low on and needed to buy.Her brow quirked.

She broke the seal of the lip gloss and opened it, the shade pale and creamy and—

Pulling up Mikko’s number in her phone, she quickly typed up a response.