In The Shadows

In The Shadows A dark stalker romance Riley alves Copyright Ⓒ 2022 by Riley Alves All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Cover Design: Books & Moods Trigger Warning This is an adult dark romance that contains graphic and explicit content as well as dark themes. The content of this book is only intended for adults of legal age. This story contains several incidents that could be potential triggers, such as drugs, sexual assault, stalking, violence, abuse, explicit sexual situations, and possibly more depending on what triggers you so I’m writing a general blanket trigger warning over this. Please be aware before stepping into this world. Playlist d4vd- Romantic homicide Cigarettes after sex- Crush The Neighbourhood- Sweater Weather Sam Tinnesz- Play with fire (feat. Yacht Money) Ruelle- War of hearts Adam Jensen- Friend of the devil To those of us who have felt lost in this world. Do whatever it is that you desire as you navigate your way through life. Don’t give up. He’s always in the shadows, watching, waiting. PROLOGUE 7 years ago Maeve: Hey <3 Jayson: Hey babe, sorry it took so long to message you today. You know how my parents are lol. How was your day? Maeve: It’s okay lol, I missed you. It was pretty good, you? Jayson: Missed you more gorgeous. Would have been better if I could have seen that pretty face. Maeve: Mr. Tarren, are you flirting with me? Jayson: That depends Miss Weston, are you enjoying it? ;) Maeve: Why of course I am ;) Ugh when am I gonna be able to see you finally? Jayson: Hopefully soon. Maeve: You always say that but it never happens. Jayson: Babe I’m trying, you know I’m saving up for my car. You live far, can’t get there until I have it. Maeve: I understand that but you still won't video chat with me. It’s been almost a year and I’ve only ever seen you in pictures. Jayson: It’s not that I won’t, I told you my camera’s broken. I can call you in a bit, if you want. Maeve: So use someone else’s phone. You don't even try. Jayson: Come on babe, can we please not fight right now. Maeve: Um this isn’t a fight, it’s called communicating. You know, like how real couples solve their issues? Not that you’d know anything about that. Jayson: Oh so now all of a sudden we’re not a “real couple”? Maeve: I mean, are we? How can we be when I can’t see you? And on top of that you never actually asked me to be your girlfriend. Jayson: I didn’t think I needed too, which is stupid. I’m sorry. Maeve: Whatever, not the point. I’m just trying to tell you how I feel and you’re acting like I’m trying to start a fight. Jayson: You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll start trying CHAPTER 1 Present day Jayson “Later D!” I yelled while quickly shoving on my sneakers and grabbing my headphones off the side table in the living room. “Later J!” Devin yelled back from his room. Devin’s my older brother, not biologically but still my brother nonetheless. We met in foster care as kids, got stuck with the same piece of shit foster parents. You know, the ones that have everyone fooled into thinking they’re amazing people. The ones who scream from rooftops that “helping us kids in need is their passion” and then turn around and abuse the fuck out of us behind closed doors? Yeah those ones. Devin and I weren't always close, I used to think he hated me growing up when in reality he was just trying to get through each day without snapping. Given our circumstances, I get it. We all were just trying to get through each day. Now I’m 24, Devin’s 26 and we live in a pretty nice apartment. As soon as I turned 18 we moved here to Massachusetts and got our first apartment, not this one, this ones a lot nicer than our first one. We did a lot that I’m not proud of to get here, but we needed out and the system wasn't our friend. What’s our excuse for still dealing? Well it’s easy and it’s all we’ve ever known. Again, not proud but it is what it is. * * * Morning runs always help me clear my mind, well as clear as my mind can get while having ADHD, which isn’t much. I should really start my meds again, but I can never stick with- I stopped dead in my tracks. There’s no way. “Maeve” I whispered to myself while staring through the coffee shop window, am I hallucinating? Because again, there’s no way.