“Maybe,” I admit, thinking about the unit next door. The lilies. “But I’m not sure what it means, yet. I’m looking into it.”
He nods, satisfied. “Keep your eyes on her. Dante is planning something, and we can’t let her get caught in the crossfire.” Alecdraws his shoulders back. “I’m done waiting for him to make his next move. It’s time to go on the offensive.”
“The offensive?” I repeat, raising an eyebrow.
“We hit him hard, where it hurts. Strike back before he can take this further, draw his focus off her.”
“What are you suggesting?”
Alec’s grin is dark and terrifying. “I want to take everything from him. Wipe everything he’s touched off this Earth.”
36
SYDNEY
Finalizingthis month’s book orders takes me longer than expected. With our new surge in business, and corresponding spike in inventory purchasing to replenish our stock, it takes me nearly twice as long as I’m used to.
I told Jade to head home early, and she dropped Bea off at my apartment so I could concentrate on finishing everything without her distracting me. Since she had to cover for me this morning, it felt like the least I could do was give her the night off to relax.
It’s cool outside, with a bite to the air, when I finally finish and lock up for the night. A light breeze dances over my arms, making me shiver, as I insert my keys and turn the lock.
As I turn to leave, my eyes catch on him, and the keys slip from my hand, landing noisily against the pavement.
Viper.
He’s standing at the mouth of the alley, half hidden in shadow, watching me. He’s so still, so silent, I could almost convince myself I’m seeing things. But the headlights from a passing car wash over him, illuminating his dark eyes and razor-sharp smile for just a moment before casting him back into the dark, and there’s no mistaking it’s him.
I should run.
My legs tense, ready to bolt. He told me I can’t escape him, that running is useless, but maybe I could make it behind the building, to my stairs. Maybe I could make it to the camera at my doorstep and draw Sebastian’s attention, let him know the danger I’m in.
I can’t bring myself to move. I’m terrified, frozen in fear.
And Viper just watches me.
Waiting.
Until finally, he turns, hands in his pockets, and disappears into the alley.
Now. Now is when I should run. Now is when I can escape.
I don’t.
For no sane reason, after picking up my keys, my feet begin to carry me toward that alley. Not away, not back to safety, not into my shop to hide or up the stairs to my apartment. Towards him.
Because you want the darkness. You want the pain.
My heart is beating so fast I can hear it, echoing around me, beating so hard it hurts. The alley is pitch black, so dark I can’t see my own hand in front of my face.
I don’t see Viper when he grabs me. I only feel him, hard rough hands on my back, his mouth colliding with mine.
Viper doesn’t kiss me. He fucks my mouth with his tongue, shoving it so deep I can’t breathe. The wall of the alley hits my back, brick digging into my skin, as Viper tries to consume me.
I’m dizzy and gasping for air when he finally stops.
“No cameras here,” he whispers. It’s so dark I can’t see his face, can’t see his terrifying grin. But somehow I can hear it in his words. “Not inside your precious shop. No one to save you, little rabbit. How long do you think we have before Doc notices?”
Long enough for him to kill me, I realize in horror. Long enough for him to do all manner of unspeakable things.
