Page 8 of Far From Sherwood Forest (Far From #3)

It wasn’t enough. Shooting him and watching him bleed wasn’t nearly enough. But it’s alright because we’re far from finished.

A quick death is too good for him.

Even though I have so much more planned, I can’t stop thinking about last night.

No, it wasn’t enough, but it was at least something.

Making him run was meant to be a game, a way to fuck with his head, but I’m almost ashamed to say I liked it.

I used to hate chasing him, but maybe what I really hated was that he always got away.

He didn’t get away this time.

As I drive through the park, I grin as each memory of him screaming in pain plays back inside my head like a movie.

I love that fucking sound.

I can’t wait to hear it again.

Turning down the road that leads to the office, I try to remember that I’m on patrol and need to stay focused. It’s not that this job means much to me, but I’d rather not lose it before I’m done playing with Robin.

That’s exactly what it is. Playing . Like how a lion plays with its food before eating it.

Robin has no idea what’s coming.

My afternoon patrol is almost over, so I pull into the lot for the office. I scowl when I see the red truck parked in its usual spot. Brian is another ranger here, and, well…I fucking hate him.

He’s not a bad guy. Quite the opposite. He’s always too damn cheery, smiling at everyone and everything. Always wanting to chat .

So, naturally, I despise him.

Slamming my door a little harder than intended, I march inside, hoping Brian is either in his own office or too busy talking to the receptionist to pay me any attention.

When I get inside, he is having a conversation with Laura, but he stops in the middle of it to look up and flash me that smile that’s nearly as obnoxious as Robin’s.

“Hey, Henry!” he says. “Laura and I were just talking about the spring dates for next year.”

“Sounds like it can be an email,” I tell him as I keep walking. “I’ve got some other work to get done.”

With that, I step into my office and shut the door.

Truth be told, I was never much of a people person before being thrust into this world against my will. Add two years of being completely and utterly alone on top of that—never seeing or hearing or speaking to another human, not once—I just don’t know how to be around them anymore.

My cell rings, and I take it out of my pocket as I sit down behind my desk.

The name of the one person I don’t seem to have as much of that issue with pops up on the screen.

She called to see how I was settling into the new park about two weeks after I transferred, but I haven’t heard from her since.

I answer. “Hey, Ivy.”

“Hey, big guy! How’s it going?”

“Everything’s fine.”

“You found him, didn’t you?”

My brow draws tight. “How’d you know?”

“A hunch. I’m pretty good at those. Not to mention, every time you talk, it sounds like you’ve been stuck in line at the DMV for an entire year. You don’t sound as grumpy today.”

I’m not sure how to respond to that, so I don’t, offering little more than a grunt.

“So?” she asks eagerly. “Are you going to tell me how it went?”

“You’re pretty good at hunches. You tell me.”

She hums. “Well, since I haven’t heard any reports about a body being found at your park, I’m guessing you didn’t kill him.”

I lean back in my chair. “I have other plans.”

“Oh, come on! Share all the juicy details.”

“Why are you so interested?”

I know she understands the reason behind my need for revenge, but the fact that she actively supports and encourages it throws me off a little. Maybe back home it wouldn’t be as strange, but here? Where she’d be considered an accessory and go to prison?

I wouldn’t say I like Ivy—I wouldn’t say that about anyone —but I wouldn’t want her to go to prison because of me.

“Because! It’s like a feud out of time. Like Romeo and Juliet or Pride and Prejudice .”

My face scrunches in a grimace. “Why the hell would you use those?”

“Okay, so it’s more violent and bloody and…less kissing. Unless…”

“I will dig a second grave just for you.”

She cackles. “Okay, okay.” She continues laughing long enough that she has to take several seconds to catch her breath. “Just keep in mind you could’ve been squatting at someone’s place who’d cash you in so some mad scientists could run lab experiments on you.”

“Make another comment like that, and I’ll gladly trade you for the mad scientists.”

“Noted,” she says, a grin still in her voice. “But fine. I’ll let you go since you don’t want to share all the juicy gossip with your bestie.”

I sigh and roll my eyes. “Goodbye, Ivy.”

Tossing my phone on the desk after hanging up, I open up my wretched laptop so I can respond to the few emails I have in my inbox. I don’t get too many, but I ignore them long enough that they start piling up.

I’d so much rather be torturing Robin than having to use this stupid computer.

I’m about halfway through the emails when there’s a knock on my door.

Could I just pretend I’m not here?

I suppose that’s not realistic since Brian and Laura saw me come into my office a few minutes ago. So, attempting to wipe the scowl off my face, I tell whoever’s on the other side to come in.

Brian opens the door and steps inside, followed by another man who’s a few inches taller than him with blond hair and wearing a plaid jacket.

“Sorry to bother you, Henry,” Brian says with a sheepish smile like he’s sincerely apologetic. I bite back a retort that if he was really sorry, he wouldn’t be bothering me. “I know you’re working, but since I’m going to be out of town for the next week, I wanted to introduce you to Spencer.”

My scowl comes right back.

I’ve heard about Spencer—a little more than I would’ve liked.

He’s Brian’s boyfriend .

I’m fully aware that this world, this time, is vastly different than the one I come from, but it’s difficult to shake my devout Catholic upbringing despite the fact I no longer consider myself religious.

Sure, as much as Prince John claimed to be doing the work of God, serving him never felt very Christian.

But back where I come from, being gay was punishable by death. Or, worse, castration and then death.

Even if I had ever thought about it—which I didn’t —it would never have been worth it.

So, just seeing Brian and Spencer together makes me… uncomfortable .

“Why?” I ask before I can stop myself.

Spencer laughs and bumps his shoulder into Brian’s. “You weren’t kidding.”

Brian’s mouth forms a thin line, and his cheeks turn a little pink. He clears his throat as he tries to ignore his boyfriend. “He’s going to be doing that wildlife tour this weekend. Thought you should be able to put a face with the name.”

“Right.” I nod and look back down at my laptop. This is my office, yet no matter who or what I look at, I want to punch it. “Well, now that that’s done…”

“We’ll leave you to it,” Brian says, finally getting one thing right.

Wanting to make sure they’re actually leaving, I glance up just in time to see Spencer subtly grabbing Brian’s ass on the way out the door, their cheerful, lovesick laughter still audible even after it’s shut. My hands ball into fists. Gay or not, they could at least not make a show of it.

As I try to return to my emails, I start doubting that that’s the reason for my unease.

I was completely alone for two years, and ever since Ivy got me out of that cabin, I’ve still been alone. I haven’t tried to change that, and I haven’t really wanted to. I’m fine on my own. The kind of isolation I suffered through back then was less of a choice than it is now.

But after seeing Robin for the first time in five years last night?

I don’t feel so alone anymore.

The thought that it’s fucking Robin Hood of all people who’s managed to make me feel that way has me wanting to say screw all the other fucking plans and kill him now.