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“Hey, Ash,” another male voice called. I knew this one immediately. Liam. “Any luck?”
“Nah,” Asher yelled back. “Found someone, but not who we’re after.”
“Oh?” Liam appeared on the trail ahead of us and stopped abruptly, running a hand through his scruffy hair. Twigs and leaves fell loose as he did so, and his gaze ping-ponged between Aiden and me. The flaring of his nostrils made me think he recognized Aiden from before. “Hey.”
I opened my mouth to assure Liam that Aiden and I hadn’t come here together, but Aiden beat me to the punch.
“I was out for a walk and ran across Kennedy,” he said. “Must be my lucky day.”
Liam grunted. I didn’t miss the assessing look in his eye. “I’m not so sure about that.” He stalked down the path toward us and jabbed a blunt finger into Aiden’s chest. “If I find out you’re the one who’s been harassing her, you’ll regret it.”
My heart jumped for joy. He was warning this guy off. Trying to keep me safe. Hecared. There was 100 percent no denying it now.
Aiden took a step backward. “Calm down, man. I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Liam thundered past, intentionally knocking into him. “You’d better not.”
Asher shot us one last look and hurried after him.
Aiden rolled his shoulder. “What’s that guy’s problem? And what did he mean about someone harassing you?”
I sighed. Damn. If Aiden was the stalker, he now knew I’d told others, and if he wasn’t, his curiosity would be piqued. “It’s nothing.”
“Clearly not.” He laid a hand on my upper arm, adopting a wounded puppy look when I flinched away instinctively. “If someone is bothering you, I’m happy to stay close and make sure they don’t get to you. Would you like that?”
“No, thanks.” I shrugged his hand off. “It’s under control.”
“Are you sure?”
I gave him a look. “I really am.” Sighing, I dragged a hand through my hair. “Actually, I think I’m going to turn around. I’ve had enough of the outdoors for one day.”
His brow etched with concern. “I can walk you back to your car.”
“No, thanks. You go on. I’d hate for you to keep your friends waiting.”
He seemed reluctant but eventually nodded. “I’ll see you around?”
I was noncommittal. “Maybe.”
I waved and started walking before he could decide to accompany me after all. It took less time to get back to my car than I’d expected, and I was looking forward to sitting down after my encounters with Aiden, Asher, and Liam. But when I got to the driver’s door, everything inside me iced over. There, carved into the silver paint—presumably with a key—were the words “you are mine.”
Gasping, I backed away. Nausea rolled in my stomach, and I clasped it, afraid I might puke. Light flashed in my eyes. I blinked, shocked, and stumbled over my feet as another flash went off. Looking around, I noticed the photographer from the scene of the traffic accident standing a few yards away, snapping photos of me and the words scratched into my Outback’s paint.
“Smile for the camera, sweetheart,” he called in a faint Bostonian accent. I could see the man better now. He was of average height, late forties or early fifties, with a pot belly and thinning hair. I mentally committed his image to memory. “Come on, make it a good one.”
Knowing the damage was already done, I didn’t bother throwing up my hands to shield myself. Instead, I fished in my pocket for the key and hurried, shakily, into the front seat of the car, ducking as low as I dared as I started the engine. My heart hammered a million miles an hour as I tore away from the parking lot.
What the hell had that been?
Had he been following me and lucked into prime story fodder? Or had he defaced my car himself because he’d grown tired of waiting for me to do something else newsworthy?
As soon as I’d put some distance between us, I pulled over and called Jeff.
ChapterTwenty-Three
LIAM
How the hellam I supposed to get closure when I don’t understand what went wrong? - Unsent text message from Liam to Kennedy
