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.