The words stick in my throat.
Tomorrow, I tell myself. I'll tell her tomorrow.
It's the same thing I told myself yesterday. And the day before.
Outside, the city glitters in the darkness. In this room, I hold onto her hand like it's the only thing keeping me from drowning.
CHAPTER 31
THE WAY HOME
EMMA
The elevator opens directlyinto the penthouse. I step out and stop.
Floor-to-ceiling windows span the far wall. The city sprawls beneath us, a glittering grid of streets and buildings stretching to the horizon. The living room alone could swallow my apartment twice. Modern furniture in neutral tones. Art on the walls I recognize from museum catalogues.
I turn in a slow circle, take in the space. My shadow catches in the polished floor. I don't quite belong here, surrounded by all this glass and money. But Kai hobbles in behind me on his crutches like it's just another room, I try to see it through his eyes. Just home.
“What do you think?” he asks.
“It's beautiful.” I mean it, even if beautiful feels inadequate.
Someone clears their throat.
I spin around. The man standing by the kitchen island is built like a wall. Broad shoulders, shaved head, tattoos climbing his neck. He wears a leather vest with patches. I don't know what they mean, but everything about him reads motorcycle club. Massive and intimidating. The kind of presence that fills a room just by existing.
“Emma,” Kai says. He shifts his weight on the crutches, won't quite meet my eyes. “This is Tank. He's been... watching over you. Since the night James showed up at your apartment.”
I step closer so he can't avoid looking at me. “Define watching.”
“Protection detail.” Kai's gaze finally lifts to mine. “After what happened, I needed to know you were safe.”
I turn to Tank. “You've been following me for weeks?”
“Yes, ma'am.” No apology in his tone. Just fact.
I think about the figure I saw that night, walking home from the hospital. The shadow that kept pace with me, then vanished.
“The night I walked home from St. Catherine's,” I say slowly. “That was you.”
Tank nods once.
“Has James...” I swallow. “Have you seen him? Near me?”
Tank's expression doesn't change, but his jaw tightens. “Three times.”
The floor tilts. “Three?”
“First night, he was waiting outside your building. Saw me, changed his mind. Second time, he followed you from the dance studio. Got within half a block before my brother intercepted him. Third time was outside your office. He sat in a car across the street for two hours. Left when I approached.”
Three times. James was that close, three times, and I never knew. The panic attacks, the checking locks, the constant looking over my shoulder. I thought I was being paranoid.
I wasn't paranoid enough.
“Why didn't you tell me?” I ask Kai.
“I didn't want you to be more afraid than you already were.” He holds my gaze. “And I didn't want you to feel like I was controlling your life.”
