The Darkness Within (Shadows And Strings #1) Read Online KB Winters

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Dark, Suspense Tags Authors: Series: Shadows And Strings Series by KB Winters
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Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
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But it’s the bedroom where the real treasure lies. Decorated in a deep, sensual purple. Her sheets are silky, cool and inviting. I want to lay her out on the bed, map every inch of her body with my hands and mouth until she’s thrashing beneath me.

Focus, Damien. Business before pleasure.

Her closet reveals the duality of her nature, the split between her public and private lives. Work and play, neatly divided, just like the two sides warring within her soul. Even her shoe collection tells a story—sensible heels for chasing down criminals, strappy sandals for dancing the night away.

I drink in every detail, committing her sizes to memory with a satisfied smile. My first guesses were so close, just a hair off the mark.

The fabrics she chooses for her personal life are a delicious contrast to her professional armor. Silky, flowing, soft—a whisper of the woman beneath the tough exterior. “Oh, my sweet contradiction,” I say, trailing my fingers along an interesting dress.

On the surface, Francesca’s hard edges and cold logic, a detective through and through. But I see the truth lurking inside, the shadows that mirror my own.

We’re kindred spirits, Francesca and I, concealing our true natures behind meticulously crafted masks.

I move to her lingerie drawer, a treasure trove of silk and lace in every hue imaginable. Red, purple, green—a rainbow of temptation. Sheer panties that leave little to the imagination, promising untold delights. This is definitely a side of her she keeps hidden, a femininity she reserves for one special man.

Me. It has to be me.

No one else could want her the way I do. Appreciate every facet of her beauty. She’s mine, even if she doesn’t know it yet. But I’ll make sure she realizes it soon enough.

This little home invasion is about more than just getting to know Frankie. Her favorite color and how she takes her coffee are just the appetizers. I want the full fucking feast. I want to crack open her skull and suck out her secrets, the ones she keeps locked away tight. The ones that keep her up at night, staring at the ceiling, fingers twitching for her gun.

I set to my real task, placing the cameras I brought with meticulous care. The living room, the kitchen, the bathroom. And, of course, the bedroom. I need to watch every move she makes, hear every gasp and sigh. When she thinks she’s alone and she lets that iron control slip just a little bit, I’ll be watching.

I sync the cameras to my phone and test the feeds. Crystal clear, every angle covered. I allow myself a moment of satisfaction. My kitten thinks she’s the hunter, but I’m always one step ahead. This is my game, and I’m very, very good at it.

I tweak the audio, cranking up the sensitivity until I can hear the whisper of her curtains and the hum of her fridge. I want it all. Every sigh, every gasp, every whispered curse. When she screams my name in the dark, I’ll be listening.

There’s nowhere to hide now, Francesca. Every inch of this place is mine, just like every inch of you will be. Your secrets, your fears, your filthy little fantasies. I’ll peel them away, layer by layer, until you’re laid bare before me.

The cameras are sleek, discreet, tucked away in the shadows. She’ll never spot them, even with that keen eye. I’ve been playing this game for far too long and perfected my craft. When I’m satisfied that I’ve left no corner unwatched, I allow the tension to drain from my shoulders.

My pretty little mouse thinks she’s safe in her maze of case files and red tape. She has no fucking idea that the big bad tomcat is already inside, claws out and ready to pounce.

This is my favorite part, the thrill of the chase. I could end it quickly, snap her pretty neck and be done with it. But where’s the fun in that? Where’s the slow, sweet seduction of fear?

Like Kowalski, Donovan and that smug prick Beaumont, I like to revel in my work and be a little creative. I could have killed each of them the first night I found them, but I didn’t.

I saw them and followed them, learned their patterns of behavior. I knew what cologne they wore, who they fucked, and what secrets were on their hard drives. I knew it all because I had to.

And when I finally made my move, when I showed them the monster behind the mask, their screams were a fucking masterpiece.

Before I go, I leave her a little present. I select a delicate purple negligee from her drawer and lay it out on the bed like an offering to a goddess. And beside it, a real message.

A pair of sheer black stockings, more expensive and finer than anything she owns. A sign that someone’s been here, touched her things. It will unsettle her cool composure and make her question her safety in her own home.


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