“My cameras.”
Eddie’s expression hardens.“You put cameras on Sera’s property?”
James’s mouth lifts, but it’s not a smile, just teeth.“Aye.”
Eddie turns to me.“Did you authorize this?”
I stare at the porch rail where the nail heads look like rusted smiles.“I didn’t know.”
The detective whirls back to James.“That’s illegal surveillance.What gives you the right—“
“I dinnae give a toss about rights.”James’s voice is a low snarl.“I give a fuck about keeping Prayer safe and alive.Without someone watching her, we dinnae know someone was in her car in the first place.”
Eddie blinks at him.“So you’re stalking her?Is that what this is?”
The light in James’s eyes crackles as he clenches his fists.“I’m watching over what’smine.”
The word lands like a grenade.Even though the house behind me tightens, my skin hums.I like being his.I like being my shadow daddy’s too.
Eddie goes very still.“Yours?”
“Aye.”
“She’s not property,” Eddie snaps, every syllable a blade.
“Never said she was.”James steps closer to Eddie.They’re nearly the same height, but James is broader, all coiled muscle and barely restrained violence.“But she’s under my protection.Whether she likes it or nae.”
“Protection?”Eddie’s laugh is bitter.“Is that what you call it when you watch her through hidden cameras?When you—“
He stops, his eyes flicking to the tablet in his hands.I watch the realization bloom and then burn his face, and I already know where this is going.
“You’ve been watching her.Allof her,“ the detective spits.
James’s smile returns, sharp and vicious.“Every.Single.Moment.”
“Okay, enough.”I step between them, my palms up toward their chests.“This is getting us nowhere.”
Eddie jabs a finger toward James.“You’re a sick fuck, you know that?”
“What can I say?I like te watch.Including the moments with ye, Detective.”James’s voice drips venom.“On this very porch every night.Ye always give quite the wee performance for our lass.Lot of heart.”
Eddie’s face goes white, then red.“Are you fucking her too?”
“Stop.“ My voice cracks like a whip.
They both turn to me.
I start to tremble, a core of molten fury that threatens to incinerate everything in its path.“Both of you.Stop.”
Inside the house, something crashes.Glass shatters.Shadow Daddy’s jealous fury given form, because yes, that’s exactly what we need more of right about now.
I look at James.“You put cameras outside my house.”
“Aye.”
“Inside my house?”
A pause, then, “Cannae get past your daddy, can I?”
