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I go to move past him, but he grips my arm.
"Is Xan the reason that you're here?"His other hand grips my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes.
"No"
"Then why do I smell your fear so thick that I feel like it's choking me?”
“It's not fear. It's lust.” I lie.
“Bullshit. I want the truth this time.”
“What’s going on?” Riley asks from the doorway, looking half asleep as if he hadn’t long gone to bed. He probably hadn’t since I’d heard him outside my door last night, probably making sure I didn’t try to make a run for it for the second time.
“Lei is just about to tell us about her new boyfriend, Xan.”
“Xan?” Riley asks, confused. “Who’s Xan?” He steps further into the room, his green eyes watching me closely.
Shit.I may be able to lie to Corbin, but Riley could always see right through me.
“He's just a friend.”
Riley scowls. “Try again.” His eyes leave mine as he glances over to my bedside table and the photo of Steven. “Is this him?” he demands, picking it up.
I shake my head. “No. That’s Steven. He’s my friend. Was my friend.”I correct.
“What do you mean? Was?”
“He—” I jump as my phone beeps, and Riley scowls as he picks it up from the bedside table.
“Don’t.” I say as he swipes at the screen, unlocking it. I already know who it’s from. No one has this number. I had changed it right after Steven’s funeral before making my way to Redwood.
I watch as Riley’s eyes darken and his face tightens in anger before he eventually looks up.
“Start at the beginning, Lei. I want to know everything because this motherfucker is dead.”
Chapter Nine
CORBIN
Hunted. That's how she described it.
I'd been ready for an argument when I entered her room, for her to admit that she had found someone. That coming back here and ripping my heart into two again was all part of some sick game. But the truth. The truth is far worse.
Lei had a stalker, and he'd already killed once.
Once she'd told us her story, I had to get out of there.
I was suffocating in her fear.
Hating the fact that she’d gone through this alone.
That she hadn't come back home, to me.
That she hadn't trusted me enough to protect her.
And now, as I stare at the bouquet of red and black roses on my desk, I reread the card.
Dying to be with you, Xan xxx
