It would be stealing.
I would take it just until I got to Declan’s, I decided. Then I would mail it back to Colt.
I grabbed my bag and headed down the hallway.
The club was still dead at this time of day, and I didn’t run into Colt or pass anyone else.
When I got outside, I had that same feeling of relief that I’d had last night, like I’d escaped a bad place that was trying to pull me under.
A tiny shiver of anxiety slid up my spine when I remembered what had happened to me the last time I was alone in this neighborhood, when those two men had attacked me.
But the streets were busier now, with people going in and out of the stores and restaurants that lined the street.
I pulled up the bus schedule on my phone, studying it until I figured out which bus would take me to Declan’s neighborhood. There was a bus stop two blocks away, and the bus I needed was coming in about twenty minutes.
I ducked into a drug store to kill some time.
I picked out a bottle of water and then moved to the cosmetics aisle and browsed the nail polishes, sliding my hand over the row of bright colors, wondering which one Declan would like. I couldn’t believe I was going to be at his apartment soon.
I tried to conjure up the desperation I usually felt when I thought of Declan.
But I couldn’t think of anything but Colt.
Flashes of him pulsed through my body.
His kiss.
His hands.
His cock.
All of me, tangled up with him, the feeling of him buried inside of me, our bodies moving in perfect rhythm on that couch.
Longing and desire slid through me.
It was so strong it almost took my breath away.
“Hey,” a voice said next to me, and I turned to look. A man was standing there, giving me a friendly smile. He looked slightly familiar, but I couldn’t place him.
“Hi,” I said, smiling back and then trying to move away.
“Olivia, right?”
I turned around.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Caleb, from last night. My friends were being raucous assholes?” He looked sheepish.
“Oh,” I said, remembering him from the club, the guy I’d served drinks to, the one who’d given me a big tip to make up for his friends being rowdy. “Oh, right. How are you?”
“I’m good.” He ran his hand through his hair. “How are you?”
“Good,” I said, and then stood there awkwardly. I wasn’t sure how friendly I was supposed to be with a guy who’d come into Loose Cannons.
“Listen,” he said, “this might be a little weird, but do you want to grab lunch or something?”
“Oh,” I said. “I’m sorry, I can’t. I’m running late. But it was nice to see you again.” I turned around and rushed to the cash register. I paid for my water, making sure not to turn around, not wanting to give Caleb a reason to try to talk to me again.
Once I was outside, I still had a few minutes before the bus was supposed to come, and I wasn’t sure where to go, so I walked around the corner, looking for another shop or café to duck into it.
But suddenly, he was behind me.
Caleb.
“Olivia,” he said, his strides lengthening as he fell into step beside me. His voice was completely changed now, gone from friendly and flirty to serious and dark. “Don’t be scared. I need to talk to you.”
“I’m sorry, I told you,” I said. “I’m late.”
I began hurrying down the sidewalk, but he was able to keep up with me easily.
I quickened my pace, but I couldn’t shake him.
Finally, I darted into a restaurant, figuring if he was going to try to hurt me, at least there would be people around.
But I never made it past the lobby.
Caleb stepped in front of me.
He was holding something in his hand.
A badge.
“Olivia,” he said. “I’m with the FBI. I need to ask you some questions about Loose Cannons.”
“I don’t…what?” My head was spinning.
“Loose Cannons. We’re investigating the club. And you’re going to help us.”
END OF BOOK FOUR
Part V
Protected By Him by Hannah Ford
(Obsessed With Him, Book Five)
It took me a second to realize what Caleb was saying, because at first I was just relieved he wasn’t some psycho who was following me down the street so he could mug me.
But my relief was soon replaced with an even worse feeling – yeah, maybe Caleb didn’t want to hurt me, but he was with the FBI? And he was investigating Colt’s club?
I opened my mouth to ask Caleb what the hell he was talking about, but then I immediately clamped it shut. If there was one thing I’d learned while navigating my way through the tangled system of DCF and foster care, it was that the less you said, the better off you were.