Page 76 of Make You Mine

He was nice to me after my hangover. I could return the favor.

“You sure you’ll be okay, getting back home alone?”

“I’ll be fine,” I reassure Hannah when I leave her at the bus station. “I’ve got enough notebooks and pens to make a dent if someone tries anything on me.”

***

“Kayden? I’m home.”

I take off my shoes and walk inside, but it’s silent.

“Kayden, are you here?”

I leave the bags with what I bought on the floor and do something I never do. I spy on Kayden’s room, tilting the door open with ease. It’s empty.

He isn’t home.

And he’s lied to school to skip work. God knows why.

The thought of Kayden not being here leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Being alone means being an open field for my stalker. But it also opens another possibility…

What if he…my hub—stalker got Kayden, too? What if he did something to him?

My stomach turns with the thought.

Nope. I’m not going there.

He was at school today.

He willingly chose to leave. He has to have another reason.

Maybe he’s avoiding me. Regretting what we did the other night. After all, why would he be any different than the other guys who passed on me?

Where are you? I shoot him a quick text, and immediately wish I could unsend it.

Kayden’s not a little boy. He can take care of himself. Why am I doing this?

I stare at the phone for a couple of minutes to no avail. Leaving the medicine I got for him on the kitchen counter, I head to my room to arrange my shopping.

Taking a shower and getting ready for bed proves to be the right thing to do.

Let Kayden be Kayden.

It’s nine o’clock by the time I’m done with everything, ready to lay my body to rest.

But first things first.

I tear the packaging off the camera and prepare for the events about to unravel tonight.

I set it in front of my bed, on my bookcase, between a few books, not to make it too obvious.

It’s small enough that in the darkness of my room, it can hide in plain sight.

The app that connects to it is easy enough to install, and with one simple click, it’s done. Camera activated, and I see my bed on my phone screen.

A smile creeps up my lips. Tonight is the last day I’m being bullied and blackmailed by him.

I’m going to catch him and be free.