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“Tell me about it,” Max echoes and I swat at him. At least we can get a small laugh out of this, and even better that Max and Ethan are getting along.
“I’m going to go,” Max says, making his way past us and to the door. “Let me know what the detective says.”
“We will,” Ethan responds, taking my hand in his. “Let’s go, Zoey. We need to get over to the police station.”
“How do you think the person knew we were going to be at the police station?” I now ask, my mind overstimulated with everything that is happening. I really thought the problem with Casey would be the worst of it today, but holy shit was I wrong.
“I don’t know, but it’s clear this person has no fear of getting caught if he’s still out there watching us, sending threats…” Ethan’s words fall quiet at the end, but I hear them, and back is the fear that seems to ebb and flow.
“Threats? What threats? Ethan…” My voice cracks, and I feel the tears spill down my cheeks. I don’t want to give any more value to this, but here I am crying and scared.
“We’ll talk at the station,” he says, and that does nothing to ease my fears.
“No!” I shout, stopping him as we reach his office. Cameron peeks his head out of his office, watching us. “Don’t hide things from me, Ethan.”
Closing his eyes, Ethan shakes his head, tugging a hand through his hair, he opens his eyes, looking at me.
“The picture had something written on the back,” Ethan admits, but not fully forthcoming with what it said.
“Is this person after you now?” I ask, my words coming out on a ragged sob, hating that we’re in this situation.
Falling in love with Ethan was simple, but this, I had no idea falling in love with him would come with a price tag that we can’t buy our way out of.
CHAPTER17
ETHAN
Idon’t know how to answer Zoey’s question. How to tell her that I thinkallof this is about me and that she is just a pawn in this sick fucking game.
Maybe the initial ransom notes to her parents and me were to try and throw me off, but sending this to my work, with a picture of the two of us and a threat that’s directed right at me. It all just feels too personal now, like whoever is doing this is pissed at me and they’re taking it out by going after the one thing that matters to me.
Zoey.
Jesus, and I thought the fact we worked together, and I was her boss was enough of a reason for me to stay away from her, to deny my feelings and not give into temptation. As much as I’d tried though, I hadn’t been able to resist, especially when it became so obvious that Zoey felt the same way.
Now though, it feels like my feelings for her are more selfish than ever, because in falling in love with her, all I’ve done is put her in danger. Serious fucking danger considering this asshole has already managed to take her once.
And considering the threat that landed on my desk this morning, I’m not sure she’ll be so lucky if there’s a next time.
God, fuck, just the thought of a next time, of something happening to her sends a spike of fear right through my heart.
“Ethan?”
The sound of my name snaps me back to what’s really important. Lifting my hands to her jaw, I cup her face as my thumbs brush the tears from her cheeks. “Baby, please don’t cry,” I whisper, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her lips. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
It feels like a lie, a false promise, even if it’s not because the intention is true. I will do anything I can to protect her, go to any lengths to make sure she’s safe, even if I know there is a chance that might not be enough.
“What was written on the photo?” Zoey asks now, her voice low as we step into my office.
I close the door behind us, pulling her into my arms. “It was just one line,” I start, the nausea churning in my stomach.
“What did it say?”
I tighten my arms around her, pressing my lips to her temple. “And you think she’s safe,” I say, the words tasting like acid on my tongue.
Zoey gasps, her whole body flinching in my arms, even as I hold her close. “Why do you…why do you think this is happening to us?” she whispers.
I can hear the fear in her voice, and it guts me. “I don’t know,” I admit. “But I’m pretty certain it’s me they’re after. They’ve just figured out that the only way to get to me is by going after you.”
