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I won’t give him a reason to break the lock or the remaining shreds of my dignity.
At the sound of his footsteps receding, I release a sigh of relief. I might’ve held my breath when there was a mere three inches between us, but my tears continued to stream down my face. Sometimes, I think they’ll never stop. But like all things, they come to an end.
I lie down on the floor, uncaring about comfort or anything else while chasing the blissful reprieve found in sleep. Closing my eyes, I concentrate on my heartbeat instead of the man down the hall.
Except my brain refuses to cooperate. I might’ve told Hayden he’ll never invade my mind, but I lied.
The man follows me into my dreams.
Turning them into nightmares.
Chapter3
Hayden
The entire dayhas been one giant clusterfuck.
I grip the edge of the counter until my arms tremble and my muscles ache. This tiny bit of discomfort pales in comparison to the frustration coursing through me like molten lava, incinerating my insides with guilt. I want to rip this emotion from my chest, but no amount of violence will rid me of the unwelcome emotion.
My only hope for serenity lies in a woman who despises me.
I shove away from the island and walk into the living room. My thoughts are as scattered as the pearls all over the floor. I bend down to pick up the pieces of jewelry and curse myself for not being more careful to hide them. If I hadn’t been so obsessed with finding Calista’s assailant, then I wouldn’t have forgotten the pearls in my coat.
In a manner of minutes, they’re back in my pocket.Allsixty-four of them. I counted the total the night I broke into Calista’s apartment. I wanted to know how many times it’d take to fuck myself before I was through giving them back to her. Turns out I didn’t need that many.
I might now.
Of its own volition, my head swings in the direction she just left, my eyes hungry for a glimpse of her. The hallway is empty. My disappointment rises, along with my craving for her. After my discovery of the date-rape drug’s connection to all three crimes, I wanted to ease my worries in the heat of her cunt and the warmth of her embrace, but the look she gave me when I walked in the door…
I shake my head as if that’ll rid me of the mental image. In my mind’s eye, Calista gazes at me with something worse than anger. The pain of betrayal. In that moment, I would’ve given anything to erase that hurt from her expression. Witnessing it was pure agony, but knowing I’m the reason for it?
Brutal.
I won’t apologize for stalking her. If I did, it’d be a lie, and I’ve told her enough of those already. That doesn’t mean I’m going to reveal the truth about her father’s murder. If Calista thinks she hates me now, then knowing that will ruin any chance of me winning her heart.
I’ve probably already fucked up my chance with her.
But I won’t give up. I can’t, not when she’s my reason for living. Before her, I simply existed. Now that I know what it feels like to receive her affection, I can never go back to the way things were before.
Revenge isn’t enough.
Maybe it never was.
My need for justice still lingers. If anything, it’s amplified because of Calista’s history. The secretary’s murder led to me killing Senator Green, which, in turn, ruined Calista’s life. I’m going to make things right, no matter what or how long it takes.
The only thing stronger than my determination is my need for her.
I stare out of the window, my gaze tracing the city’s skyline. The lights battle against the darkness of night and cast a glow on everything they touch. That’s what Calista does for me. She sheds light on my dark soul.
A muffled tapping reaches my ears, and I tilt my head, concentrating on the noise. I straighten and follow the sound until I’m standing in front of the door to the guest bedroom, where I can clearly hear it.
Along with Calista’s sobs.
They gut me, and I nearly double over. Instead, I remain completely still, unsure of what to do. Instinct demands that I break down the fucking door, but I can’t give into my urges.
I can’t listen to her suffering either.
I raise my hand to knock and end up letting it fall to my side. This might be my house, but right now, Calista holds all the power over this situation. Overme.
