Page 8 of Darkest Kiss

I lean against the wall across the street and watch the lights come on.

My phone buzzes again.

Hale texts me a thumbs-up. Even in his texts, the guy’s silent. I send him a thumbs-up in return and put my phone away.

The light in Noemi's window goes on. I can see her shadow moving across the ceiling when she crosses the room. What is she doing? Maybe putting down her coat, flicking on the lamps, getting ready to take a bath.

The rope goes through my fingers. Figure 8, loop, pull, release.

I can’t approach the object of my fascination. I've thought about it, obviously. I'm not a monk, I have an imagination, and Beast has a very active fantasy life that he shares with me whether I want him to or not. But approaching her would mean she'd know about me, which would mean the people who know about me would eventually know about her. Which is not something I'm going to let happen.

I've seen what happens to the things men like me care about.

If anyone knew Noemi mattered to me, they would use her against me. She'd be dead or living in someone’s basement by morning.

I’ve determined that Noemi can't matter.

She doesn't exist in this world. She exists in a blissfully unaware state, on the other side of the glass, safe inside the sealed compartment where nothing can get to her because nothing knows she's there.

That's the deal I've made with myself.

Beast thinks that’s the stupidest deal I've ever made and he's been cataloguing them since I was a child.

The light in her window goes steady. She's settled. She's fine.

I pull out my phone and call Ransom.

He picks up on the second ring. "Report."

"The Vitelli offices are quiet. Nothing unusual."

"Good." A pause. "You're still on her street."

It's not a question, so I don't bother answering it.

"Rian." His voice is careful in the way Ransom gets sometimes. "The Vitelli activity has been escalating for three weeks. Whatever they're running out of that office, it's bigger than we thought."

"I know."

"It means more eyes on that block. More men in and out. More chances that somebody notices you noticing them." Another pause. "Or notices what else you're watching."

My hand tightens on the phone.

"I'll be careful," I say.

"You're always careful. That's not what I'm worried about." He leaves it there.

He doesn't push. He just makes sure you've heard him.

And I've heard him. I’m just not taking his advice.

"I'll be back by midnight," I say.

"Fine." He hangs up.

I look up at Noemi's window. The light is still on. She's still awake.

I stay until she turns it off.