Without thinking or bothering to look at the screen, I answered it.
“What the fuck do you want?”
There was silence on the other end. Unearthly silence. The caller definitely wasn’t Bruno. He’d never hesitated to shout at me as if I’d been the problem.
My mind fractured, images and thoughts regarding the worst night of my life claiming my resolve.
“What do you want?” I pulled the phone away. It was the same unknown number. With my hand shaking from both terror and a shot of adrenaline, I exhaled. “Listen to me, you fuckhead. Don’t call me again or I will have you arrested.” It wasn’t the first call, but it was the first time I’d confronted whoever was on the other end of the line.
Which I already knew.
It looked like I would need to change my number. Maybe the best idea was to contact the attorney involved in the case. I’d kept her card. Where had I put it? My dresser. I stormed into my bedroom, yanking open one drawer. Not in there. I jerked open the second, ready to toss every piece of underwear from inside.
My fingers finally felt a small card. Yanking it free, I hadn’t realized there was another one attached. It fluttered to the floor.
In my hand was the attorney’s number. Certainly, there had to be something Ms. Guthrie could do.
Yeah, right, Val. How the hell is anyone going to be able to prove he had anything to do with… calling and remaining silent. Well, what about the writing in the dust on my car?Seeing that had been horrible. But I lived in a less than stellar neighborhood where crime existed. Anyone could have vandalized my car.
I was no fool. He wouldn’t be stupid enough to lead me or anyone else right to him.
Still, I had to let her know. That’s what I’d been told to do. Before I left the room, I snatched the other card from the floor. As soon as it was in my hand, the full effect of the anger swept away. I’d tried not to think about the handsome, dominating man because doing so brought back both painful and amazing memories.
I rubbed my finger across the card, half laughing to myself for such a childish move. He’d managed to bring out such joy in me when I’d felt as if the world was crushing me into oblivion. As selfish as it was since a man had lost his life to a madman, at least something good had come from the horrible experience.
If only the just and formidable judge could help me now.
I left the card on my dresser, determined to leave the attorney a voicemail. Then at least I could feel as if I’d done something, bringing light of what the monster might be doing. With my phone in hand, another bolt of lightning dragged my attention. The storm would be a doozy.
After dialing her number, a bolt of current caused me to walk closer to the window. There was electricity in the air and not only from the storm.
At least the rain had yet to start falling. As expected, given the time, a voicemail clicked in. I pressed my hand against the pane of glass, absently scanning the street. Wait a minute. What in the hell was that?
The call forgotten, I pressed end, holding the phone close to my chest.
I craned my neck, trying to get a closer look. There was someone standing under the orange glow of the streetlight. Shrinking back, I blinked a few times. Now wasn’t the time for the hallucinations to begin. When I looked again, I wasn’t entire certain whether the object I was seeing was a person or just created from the incoming storm.
My bedroom was closer. I tiptoed my way past Bella’s room into my own, hesitating before I made my way in the darkness toward the window. Courage was something I’d had my entire life. While my ex had done his best to strip away some of the quiet resolve my parents had taught me, I’d fought back, only to be drowned in violence.
But here I was a survivor so courage I should have.
Fuck it.
I peeked out the window, breathing normally until I was able to focus. There was no doubt in my mind someone was standing against the streetlight, peering up at the apartment building.
And to my bedroom window.
With another bolt of lightning, the vibrancy of the flash allowed me a much better view of what I was seeing.
A living, breathing monster.
Instantly, my body started to shut down, my mind not far behind. I jerked away, hiding in the shadow, gasping for air. Not again. I didn’t have the strength to go through it again. Not this girl. Not after…
No. I couldn’t do this. I refused to fall into another panic attack. No one was going to intimidate me. Especially not some twisted killer who’d just won the lottery of life.
With more determination kicking my butt than fear, I returned to the window.
There was no one there.
