“Is he that intense? Tell me, tell me,” she breathes.
“He’s that intense. Did I tell you he was at my house last night?”
Silence. Then, “Say what?”
“It’s not like that. He knew where I lived and wanted to, ah—” Well, shit, I can’t tell her he wanted to see me again because we kissed. “—to see if I was okay. He saw me with Terry at a bar.” Well done, the perfect lie.
“How did he know where you lived?” she questions.
“He, ah, followed me home.”
“Oh my God, Gracie, that’s dangerous.”
I snort. “It is not. He’ll go to jail when I catch him.”
“Yeah, he will, but then he’ll get out of jail—”
“You’re thinking too much about it, it’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. Maybe he’s a psycho killer and he’ll want revenge.”
“He’s not a killer,” I scoff.
“Isn’t that what he’s being charged with?”
I sigh and drop my head back. “Kady, can we talk about something else?”
I can nearly see the look on her face. Disgust. Horror. Disappointment. Whatever, she’s not the one doing the job. I am.
“Fine, but when they find your chopped-up corpse, don’t blame me.”
I laugh softly. “I can hardly blame you if I’m a chopped-up corpse.”
“Not funny.”
I bite back another laugh. “I’m going to bed, call me tomorrow.”
“I will, keep your windows locked.”
Rolling my eyes I hang up.
But deep down, I wonder if she’s right. How much danger am I in?
Chapter Twelve
I’m buzzed and desperately trying to find a quiet spot where I can make a call and track Kady down. It’s Friday night, and we’ve been out for three hours, hoping Raide would show at one of his favorite local clubs. No such luck. After giving up hope of finding him tonight, I nursed two martinis while Kady got her groove on on the dance floor. But it’s been an exhausting week, and like the granny I am, I have decided it’s time for home and bed.
But I can’t leave Kady here alone, so I need to find her first.
I didn’t plan on drinking much tonight since I needed to stay sharp, but the stress of my job lately and my disappointment at not finding Raide called for it. I manage to find a quiet spot and press my body against a brick wall and start scrolling through my phone to find Kady’s number.
“Well, hello there.”
I lift my head to see a young man standing, smoke hanging from his lips. He looks pervy, and quite frankly, I’ve had enough of them tonight. “Go away,” I mutter, focusing back on the phone.
“That ain’t no way to talk to a man,” he says, stepping closer. “I was just sayin’ hello.”
I shoot him an angry glare and push off the wall. “I’m not interested, perv. Now, move.”
I try to step past him but he lashes out, curling his arm around my waist and hauling me back against the wall. “What did you call me?”
“Let me go,” I growl.
“I said—” He lifts me off the wall and slams me back again. “—what did you call me?”
“You just made a mistake.” I lift my knee, hitting him in the balls.
He screams and drops to his knees.
I lift my leg, not very gracefully, and plant my heel in his chest, kicking him backwards.
Damned bastard is quick, or maybe I’m too slow, because he manages to wrap his fingers around my ankle. He takes me with him and my body flies down to the ground at rapid speed.
I land on the pavement with a thud and cry out as my ankle twists beneath me. “Jesus!” I cry.
“You stupid bitch!” he roars, trying to flip me over.
Suddenly his entire weight is gone and I’m left staring up at nothing. I blink and my eyes scan the lot, to see Raide, of all people, launching the man through the darkness until he slams into a nearby car. He cries out in pain, and Raide, in all his gorgeous glory, prowls over, lifting him by his shirt and launching him again. Damn.
“Get the fuck out of here!” he bellows. “You touch her again, I’ll kill you.”
I shudder and stare as the man scrambles away and Raide turns, pinning me with a glare. I flinch, and I would scurry backwards but my ankle is throbbing. I watch in fascination as Raide comes toward me, his strides determined, his body wound up tight.
I pull out my sass as he looms over me, looking pissed. “Anyone would think you’re following me,” I smirk.
“Lucky for you I was. Get up,” he orders.
Wait, what? He was following me? How the tables have been turned.
“You were following me?” I squeak.
“Yeah, went to your house to get that drink I earned and saw you leaving. Followed you. You owe me a drink.”
Oh. Wow. “That’s creepy and sexy all at the same time.”
He sighs. “Get up.”
“Can’t.”
“Why not?”
I lift my leg, shoving my ankle toward him. I cry out as I do and quickly let it fall back down. “My ankle is twisted.”
“Jesus,” he mutters, leaning down and scooping me up into his arms. “You always so much trouble?”
I laugh. “Yes, sir, I am.”