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His head whipped toward her.“Are you making a joke right now?”
Wearily, she rubbed her left temple.“I don’t know what I’m doing.Pretty sure it’s close to four a.m.”Because they’d talked to the Feds and the local authorities forever.“I’m dead on my feet, plus I’ve got a ton of scratches and bruises both from my fight with the jerk in the car…” A nightmare she was sure would play in her head over and over again.“And from our lovely tumble onto the pavement when the Escalade was charging at us.I want to get inside.Take an exceedingly hot shower.And pass out.”Though she feared her sleep wasn’t exactly going to be peaceful.
It never was.
“Why the hell did you movehere?”
The man had obviously gotten obsessed on that point.So she’d help him out.“I’m trying to conserve money.After my brother’s arrest, my customers stopped coming to the store.I had to close it.”What did he think?That she was drowning in cash?“My brother’s money has all been frozen.”And as for the business Lane ran…another nightmare.“I sold my house because I was getting harassed.”Her lips twisted in a humorless smile.“The listing agent told me that I got lucky.Someone actuallywantedto buy it because it was a serial killer’s home.”Just saying those wordshurt.“He’s not a killer,” she whispered.
“But we both know that he is.”Quiet.
She flinched.
“And I’m not talking about those three women.I’m talking about what happened long ago.The very thing that made him fit my profile.”
She closed her eyes to hold back tears.“I’m exhausted.And really, really not up to another one of our battles right now.”She was also not up to facing the past.After a few bracing moments—when she was steady—Lark opened her eyes.She turned and reached for the door handle.“Thanks for the ride home.”Her mother had been a stickler for manners.Even though she really wanted to tell Oliver to go fuck himself, the thanks just rolled out.
Some things, you never forgot.
His hand flew over and curled around her wrist before she could open the door.“Do you seriously think I’m just dropping you off?After what happened tonight, consider me on high alert.”
“What, exactly, does that mean?”
“It means I’m not leaving you in a shithole with zero security and a flimsy lock right after some creep was just waiting to attack you in your car,” he bit out.“We’re going inside—together—and you’re packing a suitcase.Then you are coming home with me.”
We made love at his home.“No.”She jerked her wrist free.“I’m good.”This time, she succeeded in shoving open the passenger side door and darting out with her umbrella and bag.
Only he’d jumped out from his side, and he rushed to meet her.“You arenotgood.”
Her stomach dropped.He had no idea how very, very true those words were.
“You were just attacked.The perp got away.That means he could come for you again.”He glared at the parking lot and the assortment of vehicles that filled the area.“For all I know, he could be waiting inside your place right now.”
Her gaze darted to the right.Her apartment was number thirteen.Unlucky, right?Story of her life.And it was on the ground floor.The lockswereflimsy.The windows in her bedroom could easily be broken.And…
And I’m scared.“Fine.You can walk me to the door.”She rolled one shoulder in a shrug as if she was not absolutely terrified.But I am.
He grunted.Caught her hand with his.Threaded their fingers together and started walking straight to number thirteen.
At first, she took a few sluggish steps with him, then she dug in her heels.“How do you know I’m in thirteen?”A low whisper because, as she’d discovered days after moving in, the walls were paper thin.
He tightened his hold on her.“Because I’ve been stalking you.”
Automatically, she tried to jerk away.
“Fuck, wrong thing to say.”
“You think?”Lark demanded as her heart lurched in her chest.
The door to apartment fourteen flew open.“Shut the hell up!”A drunken voice raged.All of the words flowed together.Shutthehellup.
Oliver yanked out his FBI ID.“Federal agent.Go back inside!”
Her neighbor swayed in the doorway.“Federal agent can…shutthehellup.” She slammed her door.
Oliver stared at her neighbor’s closed door, then swung his attention back to Lark.“Whyare you here?”
“Because it’s cheap.Because I’m trying to make my money last.Because I have to help with my brother’s defense.Because, shocker, a lot of people were not thrilled when the sister of a suspected serial killer wanted to move in next door to them.”She huffed out a breath and tugged away from his grip.She ignored the warmth that had come from his touch.The way she had to keep ignoring the heated awareness that would not stay buried.
