“Callie.”
She jumped, her gaze flying up to see Antwan standing in the bathroom doorway, shirtless, his jeans hanging low on his waist and a towel slung over his shoulder.
She’d been so focused on the photos that she hadn’t heard the shower turn off.
His gaze shifted from her face to the phone in her hand, then back to her. Nothing changed in his expression, but the energy in the room was thick and heavy and dangerous.
He stepped toward her. “You weren’t supposed to see that.”
Run. Get away.The words screamed in her head. But she’d never make it.
“It’s been you all this time,” she whispered, still not believing it.
“Yes.”
Yes?Really?That was all he had to say?
“Youkilledpeople.”
“For you. To protect you.”
He said it so calmly, like taking a life was the most normal thing in the world.
“I can’t…I have to go.” She stepped back.
“Don’t make me chase you, Callie. I don’t want to hurt you.”
What was the alternative? Let him do God knows what to her? He would never let her go now that she knew.
One heavy second of silence passed, and in that second, there was stillness. As if they were both waiting for the other to make a move.
Her blood pumped so fast it was all she could hear.
One more beat of silence—then she turned and sprinted down the hall.
She was a foot from the front door when Antwan’s arms wrapped around her waist and he shoved her against the wall. Then his body was against her back, his mouth beside her ear.
“I told you not to run.”
She tried to shove him back, but it felt like trying to shift a mountain…immoveable. “Get off me!”
“I can’t do that, Callie. I won’t hurt you, I promise, but I can’t let you go.” He wrapped an arm around her throat and pressed his other hand to the back of her neck. There was intense pressure, then the world around her hazed and she blacked out.
Aspen was nervous.One look and Lock could see that. Did she really know who was stalking Callie?
She paced Eastern’s office, but so far hadn’t said a word.
“Aspen,” Eastern pushed, gently but urgently. “What do you know?”
“So, this morning I was at your house, Lock.” She didn’t look up or stop pacing as she spoke. “And there was this moment where Jesse hugged Callie, and Antwan…”
Lock’s heart began to beat faster. “He what?”
“His eyes narrowed. It was only slight, but I don’t know, it was…strange. And his muscles tensed. He didn’t say it, but I could tell he didn’t like Jesse touching her.”
No. No fucking way. She was saying it was Antwan?
“What else, Aspen?” Eastern asked.
