Page 17 of Winter

“Thank God you’re here.”

“It’s okay … get in the car and I’ll see if I can start it.”

She climbed into her car and in moments heard him shout. “Try it now!”

She did – and it started. “Oh, thank God, thank you, thank you.”

Her savior got into her passenger seat. “Will you be okay now?”

“I think so, thank you.”

The car’s heater was kicking in now and she unzipped her jacket. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“How about a kiss?”

She looked startled. “Excuse me?”

“A kiss to say thanks.”

Oh God, a weirdo.She decided to keep him happy and pecked his cheek.

“Thank you.”

Relief. He was getting out. “Take care.”

She nodded and smiled as he got out. She switched her windscreen wipers on— just as her door opened and he dragged her out into the snow. She screamed, but her scream was lost in the storm. Watching in horror, she saw the knife.

“Oh God! Please, no, no …”

Her killer drove the knife into her stomach and she knew it was over. As he stabbed her again and again, the pain was unimaginable and as she felt her life slipping away, she wondered how someone so beautiful could be such a monster …

The girl died quickly. He could tell he had severed her abdominal artery when the hot gush of arterial spray hit him. God, he lived for those moments. Her blood on the snow. So lucky to have found her. Her black hair, her olive skin—she looked even more like his girl that the first two. The first two here in Washington. The first since he had foundher.

Inca.All the girls wore her face now. Maybe it was time she knew he was coming from her. He wanted her to feel that fear and know that she was going to die very, very soon. He pushed the dead girl’s shirt up and, taking his knife, began to carve …

Tommaso was still asleepwhen Inca woke the next morning. He looked so peaceful and boyish, she smiled down at him and silently slipped from the bed. Her legs wobbled; she grinned to herself as she remembered the night’s fun. Her thighs ached, and her vagina felt sore from the pounding of Tommaso’s huge cock. God, she had never realized sex could be so all-consuming.

She showered quietly and dressed. This time, she knew the way to the kitchen and walked down there. Raffaelo was already there as was Debbie. Raffaelo smiled at her.

“Good morning, Inca. I trust you slept well?”

Ignoring the heat in her face, she nodded. “Thank you, yes.”

“Have some breakfast,” Debbie said, setting down a plate of freshly baked croissants. “I’ll be making some eggs in a second. Would you like some?”

“Yes,” Inca smiled at her. “Thank you.”

She sat down opposite Raffaelo, who poured her some juice. She thanked him, watching as he also took the coffee pot and filled another mug for her. “I feel spoiled.”

Raffaelo laughed. “It’s just breakfast.”

“How are you enjoying living here, Raffaelo?”

She watched as he considered. “I’m not as gregarious as Tommaso, so I find it difficult to meet new people. Also, my English is not as good.”

She smiled at him. “I was wondering about that.”

He nodded. “Tommaso attended Harvard; I did not. In fact, this is my first time in America.”