Page 81 of Chalk Outline

“Go ahead.”

That woman never blinks.

“If she accepts me, I will marry her. Somewhere in the future, it doesn’t have to be now. But you won’t need to worry about her safety.” I know she would order me to stop seeing her or assign me to another job. But she trusts me more than anyone because there’s no one else I care about. I only have eyes for Winona. Right now, I’m the strongest card in her hand, and she can’t fold.

I’m not afraid to sacrifice myself for her. My only fear is being pushed out of her life for no reason or making her hate me. That would wreck my heart.

Pursing her lips, Romina sighs and nods. “Deal. Whatever Winona decides, I won’t intervene.”

I’ve uncovered Romina’s deepest secrets and revealed the most unsettling truths. She’s not a saint—clearly—she has blood on her hands and enemies across the globe.

The worst is yet to come.

Chapter fourteen

Winona Bishop

Vore — Sleep Token

Reeve’s head is planted between my legs, tongue licking my swollen clit, and I moan before a knock on the door startles us.

He lifts his face to look at me, and I jump back when I see his burnt flesh. The skin melted down to the bone, leaving him almost unrecognizable.

“What happened?” I murmur, concern echoing in my voice.

“You need to go,” he replies. “They are waiting for you.”

“Who?” I snap my brows together.

Sirens blare through the street, and it’s becoming increasingly chaotic outside as I look out the window.

Red and blue lights pulse against my outer walls as the vehicle comes to a stop next to my driveway. My heartbeat quickens when two officers exit the police cruiser and headtoward my door. My stomach drops as I lift the phone and glance at the screen.

He was supposed to call me.

He promised.

A knock on the door startles me, and the phone thuds to the floor. I take a deep breath and collect the device before heading to the front door.

It’s Halloween night, and although Salem embodies this holiday spirit, it’s the worst night of the year to go outside and indulge in the festivities. The Halloween Killers are out there, threatening to kill the Sacrificed. Most people refuse to let them dictate our lives because of a twisted game they started nearly twenty years ago.

I slowly crack the door open and wait for the officers to speak first. My heart pounds faster as one of the men opens his mouth.

“Hello, ma’am. I’m Sergeant Nicks, and this is my partner, Officer Diaz. We’re sorry to meet you under these circumstances, but… we have a reason to believe that your husband was involved in a car crash at the nearest parking lot.”

“What?” I eye him skeptically.

I don’t know much about my husband’s past, but I know he doesn’t exist in the system. He has a fake ID in case of an emergency. He’s part of Grandma’s secret organization, and no one else exists in the system except my grandma, who keeps her real name out of the business.

“There was a collision between a car and a bike. The bike was about to exit, and the car came in at full speed, crashed into him, and then exploded. We confirmed there was a bomb inside the car.”

“Is he...?”

“We believe he died due to the explosion. The flames severely damaged the body. Your grandma’s cooperation helped us identify him quickly through footage from surveillance cameras in the area. It confirmed it was him riding the bike.”

My throat tightens as I try to make sense of what they are saying. I tug at the collar of my shirt. The walls spin around me, and everything blurs.

“We’re very sorry for your loss. Salem increases investigation sources during this holiday to catch the Halloween Killers. We’re doing all we can,” he continues while the other officer keeps asking me if I’m okay.