I grab my bag and finally get off the bike, cursing myself the entire short walk to the apartment. Amber overhead lights illuminate the cement all around me, while daylight dares to peek through the gaps in the fencing that separates the garage from the street.
The night security guy, Josh, gives me a warm smile as I pass him and use my keycard to unlock the sliding doors. At least it’s quiet so early like this, peaceful enough to breathe and think.
Mornings before sunrise have always been my favorite.
Shower. Coffee. Run. Nap.
That’s what I need to clear my head.
I take the elevator in Building A to Bonnie’s floor, my body beginning to droop the closer I get to her door. I feel like I’m about to crash, possibly flop on her bed for a quick power nap even before I go on that run—
However, the sight of her door completely sobers me up.
There are scratches around her lock.
My heartbeat immediately picks up, hair standing on the back of my neck. It was not like this when I came back for the key earlier last night.
I take my phone out to turn on the flashlight so I can better see, and my stomach bottoms out at the dent in the metal and missing paint.
Shit.
I try the handle, pull my phone from my pocket, and slide the new key into the lock, trying to stay quiet just in case.
Someone tried to get to my girl.
It’s all I can think as I dial Kade’s number.
“Yeah?” he answers, his voice groggy.
“I need a camera in her hallway,” I hiss, closing the door behind me.
“Easy, killer,” he mumbles, and I hear the bed squeaking.
“I’m serious, Kade,” I go off.
“Ugh, I just got to sleep,” I hear him mumble. “Aren’t you tired? I’d be tired after all your sneaking around this morning. Oh wait, I am.”
He continues speaking, but I’m too focused on looking for any sign of a break-in or tampering.
The kitchen looks clear. Nothing is amiss that I can tell. I move on to the living room, picking up a few shirts from the floor and stuffing them into a hamper at the edge of her bedroom door as my heart pounds in my ears.
She’s safe at the studio.
You just saw her.
She was just in your arms.
I hear Kade clicking a few keys on his computer. “What am I looking for?” he asks.
“Someone was fucking with her lock tonight,” I say. “I’ll send you the photo. And no, it wasn’t just the maintenance guy. I checked it when I came to pick up the key after the gym.”
“So…”
“So, find out where the fuck thetrackstarasshat lives and what he wants,” I snap, ready to panic.
“Whoa, whoa—easy, Gem,” he says. “Let’s take a breath—”
“Fuckbreathing. What if she had been here? What if—”
