He takes another step closer, stopping when he spies me edging away.
“It’s nice to see you again, Rose.”
I don’t say anything, a little shocked he remembers me—or well, the fake name I gave him that one night, almost five years ago. But if he’s standinghere, in my bedroom, he very well knows thatRoseisn’t my name at all.
He moves again, shifting his attention to my bureau, pretending to study the knickknacks I have there. I’m instantly grateful there are no pictures of Remi in here. But, she’s right across the hall. No less than ten feet away.What if he sees her? Then he’ll know.The thousands of scenarios I’ve played out over the years flood my mind, and my heart races, but I shake them away.I need him out. I need him out now.
“You didn’t answer my question,” I shoot back at him, my voice gaining strength.
He notices, lifting his dark gaze to meet mine while holding my music box in his hand. His eyes drop back to the tiny dancer in his palm as though he has all the time in the world. He sighs,before placing it back down onto my dresser and turning to look at me.
“I’m here, becauseyoulittle Rose.” He looks at me, the streetlight pouring in from outside highlighting the cold glint in his eye. I take a step back. “Yousaw something you shouldn’t have the other night.”
The blood in my veins chills as I process his words.Aidan. He’s talking about Aidan.I force away the horrific memory of him bashing in Lorenzo’s skull.
“And I can’t have you go running your mouth now, can I?”
Fuck.
I straighten my shoulders and lift my chin to glare at him, my fists tightening at my sides. If he’s here to kill me, I’m going to make it really fucking difficult for the asshole.
“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I hedge, refusing to shrink under his narrowed stare. “I didn’t see anything.”
He looks away, and suddenly, I can breathe again with the weight of his gaze off of me.
“You didn’t call the cops.”
It’s not a question but I answer it anyway. “No.”
“Why not?”
I let out a dark laugh. “Because I like breathing.”
A beat of silence and then, “You should leave town.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s not a suggestion.” He takes a step forward and I steel my spine.
“I’m fine right here.”
Koen’s jaw tightens, the green of his eyes holding a warning. “The people who targeted you?—”
“You killed them.”
“I killedlackeys. This—” His jaw clenches. “What you’ve gotten yourself swept up in, it goes so much deeper than you know.”
Oh, I know. Trust me. I know exactly what kind of shit I’m in.
“I’ll take my chances.”
He scoffs, taking yet another step and closing the gap between us, forcing me to tilt my chin so as to not break our shared gaze.
“What you saw the other night?—”
“I didn’t see anything,” I say again, keeping my voice firm and even despite how my body shakes with fear.
He stares down at me for a long time, studying my face, my eyes…
