Page 30 of Hidden Obsession

“Has Caitlin been told? Has she given Killian a bath?”

Shane nodded. “As soon as he was discharged from the vet, Caitlin bathed and groomed him, so he’s fine now. I’ll tell her about it tomorrow. I wanted her to have a break before being thrown into it again. She’s barely slept since it happened.”

Mason couldn’t agree more. “So there’s no way to know when the attack happened.”

Shane shrugged. “I asked Caitlin to retrace her steps for the two days prior. Alex and Wolf are looking into it, trying to check cameras or possible feeds, but I wouldn’t count on them finding anything significant. It’s a long shot.”

“Maybe I can help you with that long shot. Do you remember that lead I was looking into? I think we need to consider it a valid threat now.” Mason told his boss all he knew about Spears. He would have liked talking to Cleo first, but her safety came before her pride. “That’s why I don’t think Spears appearing at a nearby hospital with his sister suffering from a heart condition and Killian being poisoned by a medication related to that condition is a coincidence.”

Shane’s expression turned dark. “I agree with you, but we don’t have tangible proof Spears has gone anywhere other than the hospital or his hotel. So far, Mercy and Malco haven’t seen any suspicious behavior from him.”

Mason wasn’t convinced. “He could have an accomplice.”

Shane nodded when he took out his buzzing cell phone. One quick look was enough for Mason to see that something was wrong when he reached back for his gun. Mason automatically reached for his own gun.

“Message from Nick. Someone is lurking in the shadows behind the building. Kingsley is on the lookout too.”

In an instant, the warm night turned into a heated situation.

Shane gestured for Mason to circle the building on the right as he took a left. There were a lot of bushes and trees in the neighborhood, and the buildings and houses were close—too close. Whoever was out there could quickly disappear. Or hide in the shadows, ready to strike.

Trying his best to remain in the dark, while his eyes ceaselessly scanned around him, Mason was at the ready. Maybe it was nothing, but perhaps it was the threat that was after Cleo.

Adrenaline spiking in his blood, Mason decided to widen his search area and go around the house beside the apartment building. The house had a hedge down the side, and the faint wind rustled the leaves, making it even more challenging to see movement.

As he approached the hedge, he saw Kingsley’s tall figure several yards away, coming into the light before disappearing again.

Maybe it was a false alarm. Mason hoped so as he continued checking for a while. He was ready to return to the front of the building and meet up with the others, when something caught his attention. It may have been his imagination, but his gut pushed him to check the flutter of darkness on the other side of the house.

There was no time to call anybody on the team as he silently walked toward the side of the house, his eyes never leaving the point where he’d seen something appear then vanish. Careful not to be seen by the occupants of the home, he left his gun down along his thigh but was ready to use it if need be.

As he rounded the corner, his fingers twitched over his gun, prepared for anything, but there was nothing there.

The night remained calm, eerily so. Relaxing a bit, Mason went to turn around when a distinct figure shifted back in the shadows nearby. The clear sound of running footsteps fading away spurred him into action.

Sprinting around the second house, he saw a hooded figure, definitely male, running away. It was Cleo’s stalker without a doubt, and that pushed him to run even faster.

The stalker wasn’t running in a straight line, dashing between the houses, turning sharply into a garden before jumping through a small, broken fence. This man knew the area well, meaning he had walked it, analyzed it. At the realization, rage flared inside Mason.

At another turn, Mason pushed his body harder, gaining on the shadow until he took another sharp turn. Mason was so close; he swore he could hear the man’s breath. Preparing to attack, Mason became airborne as the stalker surprised him and his gun skittered away as he hit the ground.

Training took over, making him roll to his feet, but before he could react, the man punched him on his side, the one still healing from his wound. Mason was almost overwhelmed with the immense pain as he struggled to stay conscious and fight back.

He struggled back to his feet, dots dancing in front of his eyes as he hugged his side. His first clear view was the back of the stalker as he ran away.

“Mason!”

Kingsley was running toward him, but Mason just pointed where the stalker disappeared. Kingsley continued in that direction, and soon Shane was by his side.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” The answer sounded hoarse as he finally stood up fully and looked for his gun. Picking it up, he headed back to his building.

“Was he the stalker?” Shane looked around as he walked by his side.

“I wish I knew. That fucker punched me right on my wound.” As he said the words, he looked at his hand and was glad to see his scar had held up, although it still hurt like a bitch. “Strong punch, but not as strong as I expected from a man of that size.”

Mason was glad to see that James and Cain were still in position as he would have hated to have Cleo without a guard, although two lethal ladies were inside with her.

It didn’t take long for Kingsley to run back to them. “Didn’t catch sight of him. He just vanished. You okay, man?”

Mason nodded. “Yeah. Just bad luck he punched me in the very spot that could take me down.”

As they approached the front entrance, Cain and James disappeared to the back of the building, resuming surveillance.

“Call Mercy. Get her to confirm Spears is still in his hotel room.” Mason knew from Mercy’s pictures and description, tonight’s stalker was similar in build and size to Spears.

As Shane waited for an answer, Kingsley turned to him. “You want to tell the women inside? Cleo?”

Mason shook his head. “No, let them have their night off, there’s nothing to be done right now, and I doubt the stalker will return tonight. Also, I think it was more like a poke, testing us, instead of a full attack. You, James, and Cain can continue to keep an eye on the women. In the meantime, I think it’s time I had a little chat with Jeffrey Spears.”