Page 144
My pen stilled. Teeth pinned my lower lip. I hesitated… then kept writing.
He’s kinder than he realises.
He thinks nobody notices when he’s hurting.
He’s wrong.
—Nyssa.
The corners of my lips tugged. Then the black sedan cut across the window to the study. Rafe would see the light on. Alaric would sense me the moment he walked in. I wanted to shove the notebook back into the drawer, but I didn’t. I left it on the desk for him to find. The front door opened. Then closed.
Footsteps.
Thundering.
Heading this way.
I fought the need to rise from the chair and watched the doorway. I wanted him to notice. No. More than notice. I wanted him aware.
Footsteps kept coming.
Louder now.
I caught sight of him as he stepped through the doorway from the front of the house and cut across the library. He moved like a man possessed. Long. Even. Strides. His brow pinched to perfection.
A shiver tore through me as he entered the study. He didn’t glance my way. But he knew. Of course he did. He cut across the room, pressed a section of the wall and with a click, a section of the wall moved, exposing a safe.
He reached into his jacket, pulled a gun free and placed it inside. Then locked it with a click. He slid the wall back in place. Then turned around. Those pale eyes scanned the room as though he could see.
“Comfortable?”
I didn’t move. “Very.”
Silence.
The notebook rested on the desk between us. I could feel his attention.
Heavy.
Focused.
Dangerous.
“You’ve been through my things.”
“You’ve been through mine.”
The corner of his mouth twitched.
He took a step.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Dangerous.
My pulse stumbled.
