Page 1 of Behind the Shadows
PROLOGUE ~ KIP
The sharp clang of my shovel reverberated through the silent graveyard as it pierced the earth. The oppressive Eastern Oregon heat clung to my skin like a suffocating blanket, but I couldn’t stop when I was so close to the truth. My mind raced with dark thoughts as I dug deeper into the ground, each clump of dirt threatening to reveal a new layer of depravity inside me. I laughed to myself. If people only knew how fucked up I really was.
My attention briefly drifted to home. I was anxious to return to Portland before anyone missed me. Plus, I was eager to see the pretty little thing who had captured my attention at the coffee shop yesterday. My cock throbbed at the thought of her hips swaying in her jeans as she strolled to the pastry display. Her long, blonde hair flowed past her shoulders and down her back while I envisioned wrapping it around my hand and forcing her to her knees. I’d fucked a lot of women, and none of them meant a damn thing to me. She wouldn’t be any different. Ignoring the intrusive thought, I smirked, sick amusement bubbling up inside me. I chuckled at the irony of being turned on while desecrating the resting place of the dead.
As the shovel bit deeper, the soil grew colder and damper. The sky darkened, the once-bright moon was quickly obscured by thick clouds that materialized out of nowhere. The air turned sharp, like ice against my lungs, and a sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach. On high alert, I glanced around, certain that I was being watched from the shadows of the tombstones.
While I focused on the job, thirsting for answers and revenge, I couldn’t escape the smothering weight of betrayal. Each hour that passed only fueled my burning desire to confront the past, which refused to stay buried. Lies and betrayal had led me here, and I could trust no one—especially not …
Shaking my head, I pressed my lips into a thin line. They had molded and manipulated me into a monster, stripping away my humanity until all that remained was a vessel for darkness and vengeance.
My nostrils flared as the memories assaulted my senses. They were the reason why I was in the graveyard, digging up a goddamn body. If I got caught, my life as I knew it would be over, and that couldn’t happen. At the same time, I would go to any length for answers—even if it meant murder.
A sudden chill slithered down my spine, and I tried to shake off the foreboding feeling, attributing it to the lateness of the hour and the eerie surroundings. But as my shovel gathered another pile of dirt, a glint of something metallic buried in the earth caught my focus. Brushing off the soil, I realized with growing horror that it was a rusted old locket, its chain tangled with decaying roots. My jaw twitched, blood pounding in my skull. The name blurred under my gaze, carving itself into my brain.
I staggered backward, dropping the necklace as if it had burned my hands. My pulse jackhammered in my throat as I stared into the night. A corner of the coffin grabbed my attention, and I hurried back to the pit.
The sharp edge of the shovel blade sliced through the last layer of soil, and I leaped into the gaping hole. With cautious steps, I made my way to the front of the casket and uncovered the rest of the ornate wooden box.
My heart thundered inside my ribcage as I wiped away sweat from my stinging eyes. I inhaled deeply, trying to ignore the pungent scent of earth that threatened to choke me. As I reached for the lid, I braced myself for what I would find inside. I lifted it slowly, the creak of the hinges breaking the otherwise silent night.
I froze, staring at the satin lining interior of the box. My mouth hung open while my brain scrambled to make sense of the sight in front of me. The son of a bitch mocked me as my chest heaved with anger. The casket was … empty.
THE GHOST ~ KIP PRESENT DAY
The darkness was suffocating, swallowing me whole until I couldn't even make out the outline of my hand right in front of my face. When would this relentless madness finally end? I was a grown man, yet evil shackled me, unyielding and merciless. I pressed against the wall, the frigid cement gnawing into my bare back like icy teeth. There had to be an escape, a different existence out there, shimmering on the horizon. But every time hope dared to flicker in my mind, the rancid stench of my true nature tore viciously at my soul.
The door cracked open with a jarring creak, unleashing a blinding stream of light that sliced through the blackness of the room. I shot to my feet, my pulse pounding in my neck, and furiously clawed at my arm, where the needle marks seared and itched, like a thousand tiny fires—relentless, unforgiving.
She glided in, the light framing her as if she wore a halo.
“Kip.” Her voice was hollow but held a familiar tone.
“Yeah?” I straightened to my full six-foot-three height and squared my shoulders.
She strode toward me, her stare avoiding mine, while her long hair cascaded like a waterfall down her back. The whitedress, with its scooped neckline and a row of buttons that seemed to strain against her curves, clung to her figure with an allure that was impossible to ignore. My body reacted instantly, tension coiling within me as my gaze devoured the sight of her large breasts and the mesmerizing sway of her hips. My worn, grimy, gray sweatpants hung precariously low, utterly incapable of concealing the desire that surged through me. Her slender fingers reached out with intent, tracing a path between my pecs, dancing tantalizingly along my abs, before teasing the edge of my waistband.
“You’re happy to see me.” A soft giggle filled the room, and an eerie echo bounced off the walls.
The hair on my neck bristled, a primal jolt clawing at the edges of my consciousness. But it vanished in an instant when she yanked my sweats down, liberating my throbbing cock. Her petite hand engulfed me, stroking with a deliberate rhythm that sent waves of pleasure shivering through me.
I gasped, my breath hitching as she sank to her knees, her lips brushing against the tip of my cock with a tantalizing softness. A feral hunger ignited deep within me, swirling like a storm in the pit of my stomach as she took my length into her velvety mouth, drawing me deeper into the depths of ecstasy.
“That’s it,” I muttered as I cupped the back of her head and moved her closer.
My eyes slammed shut, blocking out the chaos that threatened to consume me. I concentrated solely on the intense sensation of her mouth moving with fervent precision. But why was she here? Who was she? I banished the intrusive thoughts, shoving them deep into the recesses of my mind. I would deal with them later—right now, they had no place here.
“Suck my cock, my pretty little whore.” My hips bucked as she pumped me with her hand, her saliva coating me as sheworked her magic. Her grip grew firm, and I couldn’t help but grin.
“You like being my dirty slut?”
I continued to fuck her mouth, a primal growl escaping me as she gagged. My fingers tangled in her hair, grasping roughly, and I twisted the long strands around my fist, yanking her head back to take me in deeper.
“That mouth of yours is hot, but what about that pussy of yours?” I growled. I pulled out and forced her to look at me. Her facial features blurred in and out, and I blinked several times in a vain attempt to bring her into focus. It was no use, though.
I yanked her to her feet, and a little yelp escaped her.
“Why are you here? Who sent you?” I asked, running my knuckles down her slender throat.
