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“Fine,” I huff, throwing it back and swallowing, gratified as the smooth liquid slides down the back of my throat. If it’s my last, I might as well enjoy the jolt to my bloodstream.
A ding alerts overhead, and the elevator doors open. My mom and Allie, along with a team of four security men dressed in the signature black suits and crisp white shirts who look more like models on a magazine cover, walk in. Allie is quick to leave their sides as she strides across the room and throws her arms around me. She’s still holding me close when my mom joins our hug. “I’m so sorry that you both got dragged into this mess.”
“Shh. Lexie, I’m glad you’re okay. They’ll get it sorted,” my mom replies.
I step back from our embrace. “I sure hope so. I didn’t realize what a sick man he really was until I saw my pictures pinned up at the salon with blood running down them and all over the walls. I don’t even want to think about where all that blood came from. Just the thought sends shivers down my spine.” No one says a word. I glance up, and Allie is looking at me with her mouth gaping open while all the blood has completely drained from my mother’s already light complexion.
I look to the security guards. Trent’s mouth has shut tight, and his jaw is clenched. Damn me and my big mouth. It’s obvious no one filled them in. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t realize you didn’t know what happened,” I say to Allie and my mom, narrowing my eyes at Trent and then at Liam, who both could have told me they didn’t know so I wouldn’t have said a word.
“Did someone call the police? Exactly what happened?” Allie asks fiercely, looking from me to Trent, then to Liam and back to me. “Tell me, Lexie,” she demands, her voice softening.
“We went to the salon, and pictures of me, Allie, pictures no one could have gotten from anywhere but our apartment were pinned all over the walls with blood running down them. The pictures were all slashed.” My breath is coming faster just thinking about it, and Allie pulls me in for another hug. “Shhh … don’t worry. These guys will take care of this. They’ll find him and lock him up, okay? He’s not going to hurt you, Lexie. Right?” She’s watching Liam and Trent with tears in her eyes.
“He won’t get near her, Allie. We’ll make damn sure of that,” Trent answers.
“Good, I feel so much better that she’s here with you guys and safe. I’m supposed to be at work in a couple hours,” she states, glancing up at Trent.
He shakes his head at her suggestion. “Sorry. No work for you today. It’s too dangerous.”
“I appreciate you taking care of us, but there’s not a remote chance that I can stay here too. This Darwin guy is not after me, Trent, and when I checked back in at the hospital earlier, the entire facility was full to capacity. Who knows how long it will take to catch this man?” Allie remarks, waving her hands around the room. “It could be days, weeks! I can’t just not show up to my job.”
“If you’re quite done, I was going to say that we just need to keep you here until we have a well-developed plan to ensure your short-term and long-term security. We don’t expect to keep you prisoner here for long, although I can see what a huge hardship that may be,” Trent responds.
This earns Trent a withering glare from my best friend, and she’s quick to fire back. “How long? Lexie needs to be here until he’s apprehended, but I don’t.”
Trent narrows his eyes at her. “You’ll be the first to know. The police said they will be here in a couple hours and take a statement from Alexis. Which in all likelihood means they won’t be round until later in the day. If there’s anything strange that’s happened, anything that seemed out of place in the last few days, no matter how small of a thing, I need you to try to remember it before they arrive,” Trent directs to both of us.
“Fine, but this whole thing needs to get wrapped up quickly. We have patients who need to be cared for,” Allie states.
I know she thinks they’re taking this security thing too far, and so did I at first, but she didn’t see what I saw. She didn’t see all of that blood—all of that dark red blood covering every single fucking wall of the salon. I head to the bar and pour myself another shot, not even glancing back to see if Trent approves or is scowling at me as I down my third straight shot.
“Why don’t you ladies put a list of clothing and hygiene supplies together? I’ll have them ordered in and brought round. There are three bedrooms down that hall, and a small office space,” he says, gesturing through the living room.
I’m starting to really feel the effects of the alcohol and try to suppress a yawn.
“Make the list, and then why don’t you try to get some rest and sleep off the tequila,” Trent says to me, eyeing my empty glass.
I scribble down a few necessities and hand the sheet to Allie so she can do the same. Then I find a bedroom to call my own with every intention of passing out, at least for a little while.
It’shours later and already dark when Allie wakes me up to let me know the police have arrived and need to talk with me.
I freshen up, allowing myself time to fully wake up before heading to the living room where I am introduced to the officers who have been assigned to my case. I take a seat by Allie on the couch, and everyone looks on as the officer leading the investigation fires off one question after another, writing down my answers in his notebook. Both officers take notes and flip through pages before asking more questions and taking more notes.
The inquisition goes on for almost an hour, and by the time they’re done, I’m frazzled and starving after only eating a granola bar and having more tequila than I’ve ever had in one sitting.
The officers apologize for taking so long to come out and assure me before they leave the penthouse that they’ll do their best to find the person responsible, but this Darwin character is still running around the streets of New York and stalking me because no one can find him. He is elusive. Sheldon called him a chameleon, and I’m beginning to think he’s right.
“Why don’t we order in for dinner? I’ll buy,” I offer, feeling bad that Mom and Allie have both been put into this situation on my account.
“Dinner is already on its way. Sheldon had it ordered for everyone some time ago,” Trent replies as I reach for my vibrating cell, expecting to hear his voice, but the deep-pitched voice on the other end of the line sends a chill right down my entire spine as he speaks.
“I hope you enjoyed your newly decorated walls, Alexis.”
Chapter Seventeen
Sheldon
It takeshours to get everything in place to ensure Chase and Katarina’s safety while I’m gone, but as soon as I tell Chase what’s happened to Alexis at the salon, he has the jet ordered up, and a car arranged to drive me to the airport in under ten minutes.
