Apparently, stalking is.
Xavier has been on my mind all of last night and every minute of today. I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything except the questions that have haunted me for years. My need for answers from that night, and to know what’s going on with Ben, had taken over, possessed me until I no longer recognize myself.
I’m following a man who has confessed to murder.
Forme.
Maybe that’s why I’m not as frightened as I should be. I mean, my legs are shaking, but I’m not scared enough to walk away. That’d be the smart thing to do.
I’m a fucking idiot.
Xavier weaves between the vehicles with a lethal grace, his steps confident and sure. I trail behind, struggling to keep up although I’m jogging. He leads me further into the maze ofthe parking lot. Row after row of expensive cars are lined up like soldiers awaiting a general. Only the occasional pair of headlights cuts through the darkness surrounding me.
“Wait!” I call out, the sound of my voice startling me.
He pauses halfway down an aisle and slowly turns to face me. The moon hangs low in the sky, but it chooses that exact moment to break through the clouds, creating shadows all around him. Except for a sliver of light that rests against his mouth. Like three years ago, Xavier smirks at me, lips twisted with amusement.
I come to an abrupt halt as memories of him flood my mind.
“Becauseno onetouches what’s mine.”
“What the hell do you want?” he asks.
His question yanks me from my thoughts. I remain in the middle of the road, unable and unwilling to get any closer. I’m not sure any amount of distance between us would make me feel safe.
Every question I’ve ever thought of rushes from my brain to land on my tongue. It feels heavy in my mouth, but I force myself to say something, anything that’ll get this conversation going.
“Why me?”
He tilts his head. “Why not?”
I blink. “That’s not an answer.”
“It is, but not the one you want to hear.”
He’s right. What did I expect? I shake my head at my ignorance. And my ability to forget everything else when he’s near. Even Ben.
Xavier leans against the nearest car and withdraws a cigarette. He lights it up and takes a slow drag, his silver gaze boring into me. Smoke spirals lazily from his nostrils like a dragon. My skin nearly bursts into flame from the heat of his gaze.
“Where’s Ben?” I ask.
Xavier takes another long pull on his cigarette, his lips wrapping around the object in a way I find distracting. No man should have such a sensuous mouth. Or be this attractive.
It’s just fucking rude.
“He’s safe.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“But that’s all you need to know.” He puts out his cigarette by jabbing it against the hood of a Porsche before tossing it to the ground. “The next time you think to come looking for me, don’t.”
“Can you give Ben a message for me?”
Xavier continues to look at me with his arms folded across his chest. That’s not exactly a yes, but it’s not a refusal either.
“Tell him that I’m?—”
The screech of tires and the smell of burning rubber assaults my senses. I spin toward the sound, my hair flying off my shoulders. The glare of headlights stabs at my eyes, forcing me to squint and raise a hand to block the light. The purr of the engine becomes a roar, getting closer with every breath.
