“You sound like a popular girl,” he offers.
Enough.“What do you want?”
“I want to watch you.”
“Watch me do what?”
“Have your own secrets,” he replies. “Hawke and Aro were sweet. Hot and sweet to each other. Dylan and Hunter were alive. Volatile and alive.”
My stomach knots, and I narrow my eyes. He’s been watching us for years.
“But you’re the one I’ve been looking forward to,” he says in a breathless tone. “You excite me.”
“Because I look like her?”
The line falls silent, and I can’t believe the question came out before I could stop myself. I wait as one second stretches to ten, and I can’t even hear Deacon breathe.
I shouldn’t have asked that. It would be stupid of me not to assume this guy is dangerous, and who knows what will trigger him?
“Hello?” I say.
I check the phone, seeing the call is still connected, but he’s not talking. I mean to ask him about the phone he left. What was on it and why did he want me to have it? What about the diary? Did he leave that too?
But I watch the ceiling door, my skin crawling at his silence. I end the call and set my phone down, keeping my eyes trained above.
I’ve got a lot of men in my life all of a sudden. I can’t tell anyone about this one, though. They’ll react just when I’m gaining some freedom.
He’s been watching my family for a long time without incident, it seems. Should I be more scared?
What’s Deacon’s goal? It’s not me.
It wasn’t Hawke and Aro or Dylan and Hunter, either.
In fact, my family members didn’t sound like they’ve ever seen him or his brother. Have they talked to either of them? Have they questioned where these men live, work, or what their endgame is? It’s been going on for years, and that’s an incredible amount of patience for nothing. There has to be a reason.
He said Manas was in New Orleans? Is that their permanent residence now? I need to make a list of things to find out when—if—I talk to him again.
My cell vibrates in my hand, and I look down, seeing a text from Hailey.
Here.
Shit. I dart back out of the hideout, concerned for her as much as me. She’s sitting in her car in the alleyway alone. It’s one thing to make guesses about my own safety, but the people who work for me?
I need to get rid of Deacon and Manas—whoever they are.
Leaving the mirror, I close it back up and scan the street for anything suspicious before I dive into the kitchen. Juliet needs snacks for the staff in the morning, and I offered to run any leftovers to her. I needed time to sort through everything and close up, so Hailey ran home, showered, and ate dinner.
Grabbing the bags with the boxes of pastries, I shut off the light with my elbow and push through the door, handing her the food.
She smiles, taking everything.
“Thank you,” I chirp before spinning back around and locking the door.
I hear her start the engine to her Toyota RAV4, and I throw a quick glance up, worried I’ll see Deacon peering down from the roof. I exhale, comforted that I don’t have to be back till morning.
Holding up both hands, I catch her keys like a basketball and walk to the driver’s side, while she hops into the passenger seat.
I don’t drive much, but I do when necessary. Like when I don’t want to make my younger employee cart me around, even though I have to mooch off her car.
