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“It is, though.My concern.Because Lark Lawson ismyconcern.She was attacked…late last night.And I’m looking at a man who has a history with her.A man who—once upon a time—seemed to have stalkerish tendencies of his own where she was concerned.”
“Lower your voice.”
“I actually thought it was low.”No, he hadn’t.
“I will have your badge!”Blain threatened.“I will have you benched from the FBI!”
Cool.Do that.Should be easy since I benched myself already.“Odd reaction,” Oliver noted.“You know, for someone who is such a fan.”
Blain’s eyes narrowed into small slits of fury.
“Relax, Representative Montgomery.I was just making friendly conversation.”Bullshit.He was always profiling.Always analyzing.Every single second.And there was nothing friendly about this conversation.
“Sounds more like an interrogation to me.”
The man was not wrong.Points for him.
Blain’s neck craned forward in a turtle-like move.“I was a kid back then.A dumb kid who got hung up on a pretty girl.And her insane brother—who had anger issues then and is akillernow—broke my hand.He came out of nowhere and attacked me without a word.”A slow exhale.Some of the red faded from his cheeks.“My parents shipped him off the next day.”
You just lost control, but you got it back, fast.Blain Montgomery had an anger issue.What other issues did the representative have?Oliver pushed a bit more and questioned, “They shipped him off, but you tried to keep her, didn’t you?”
Blain searched Oliver’s gaze.“She’s told you about me.”
And, yeah, creepy…because Blain seemedpleasedabout that fact.“Nope.It was her brother who did the telling.I just have to ask…what were you planning to do when you were in her bedroom?I mean, if Lark hadn’t woken up and screamed because she saw you?What were your intentions?”
“I was confused,” Blain answered smoothly.His neck retracted.His smile slid back into place.He blinked once.“I used to do a bit of sleepwalking when I was younger.Must have wandered in there during my dazed state.”The fingers of his right hand curled.Then flexed.His stare didn’t waver from Oliver’s.“It was all a big misunderstanding.If her brother hadn’t attacked, I could have explained everything.I always wanted to apologize to Lark.Not like I want her to go around thinking I’m a monster.”
“Course not.No onewantsto be the monster.”But someone still always had to be.
Blain’s mouth tightened.“Perhaps I can meet with Lark.Finally bury the past.”
Oliver squinted at him.“You want to meet with a serial killer’s sister?With your law-and-order platform?How will that play for you, PR-wise?”
“Lark isn’t guilty.I bare no ill will to her.”
Huh.“Did you happen to miss the news segment she did recently?Lark is convinced someone else is behind the murders.She’s fighting to prove her brother’s innocence.”No way did Oliver think this man had missed that news story.
“It’syourjob to make sure she doesn’t succeed in that quest, isn’t it?”Blain swept an assessing stare over Oliver.“You put him in jail.Now I expect you to keep him there.”
“Or what?You gonna threaten to take my badge again?”I’m so scared.No, he wasn’t.
Before the representative could answer, someone called his name.An older couple waved excitedly toward him and asked if they could take a picture.
“My constituents,” Blain murmured.“Can’t very well have them waiting.”His smile was wide.His expression friendly.And with that friendly expression in place, he leaned toward Oliver and rasped, “The next time you want to interrogate me, you better have fucking good cause.It will damn wellnotbe in public.But just know, if you come at me again, my lawyers will be ripping you apart.And that badge?I won’t have to threaten to take it.Iwilltake it.You need to remember exactly who I am.”He slapped Oliver on the shoulder.“Great to meet you,” he declared loudly.“Keep up the good work.”
The representative walked to meet the couple.Even posed for a selfie with them.
Oliver unclenched his back teeth.Don’t worry.I know exactly who you are.
And he wouldn’t be forgetting.Oliver yanked out his phone and rushed for his car.Midas answered him on the second ring.“Are you at my house yet?”Oliver asked.“Do you have eyes on her?”
“Dude.Settle the fuck down.I am on my way.I am—”
“Nate Quest is in the wind.Memphis found knives and rope and Lark’s address in his hotel room.There is no settling the fuck down.”What hewasgoing to do?Cuff Lark to his side.This time, he wouldn’t be bluffing.If the cops and Feds didn’t find Nate…
I will be cuffing her to me.Because there was no way Nate could hurt her.Not Nate.Not Blain Montgomery.Not anyone.
It can’t happen.
