Within a few minutes, her trembling subsided, and a few minutes after that, despite the chaos of thoughts and worries tumbling through her head, Chloe somehow fell asleep.
Erik stayed with Chloe, holding her while she slept. It was not a peaceful rest, which wasn’t surprising after all that had happened. Several times, she’d whimpered or thrashed, like she was in the grips of a nightmare, but she’d always settle when he whispered, “I’ve got you, Chloe. You’re safe.”
He’d used the time to update Jayla on what was happening via text and go over the crime scene photos Lark had sent him. They weren’t pretty. Drayton’s badly beaten body was lying on his blood-spattered kitchen floor. He was only wearing a pair of thin, pale blue pajama bottoms, suggesting he’d either been pulled from his bed or had possibly come out to investigate a noise. Erik was willing to bet that any blood found at the scene would be Drayton’s. The man kept himself physically fit, but purely for appearances. He was no fighter, and Savoy likely wore gloves, both to avoid leaving fingerprints as well as to protect his knuckles.
Erik hadn’t known Drayton much beyond the background they’d pulled on him for this mission. He was a talented tenor with stage presence who was well-loved both inside the musical community and out. Moreover, he’d been a good friend to Chloe. He hadn’t deserved this.
It was clear they needed to flip the script. It was time for Jackson Savoy to become the hunted. The problem was finding him. Lark, who had called to tell him about Drayton’s death since she had access to the 911 database, had been continuously running facial recognition software, searching for Savoy without a hit. That software was limited as to what sources it could pull from. Police-operated CCTV, traffic cameras, and a few privately-owned surveillance networks, all of which Savoy could easily avoid. They didn’t know where he was staying, what he was driving, or how he was moving around the city. They also had no idea if or howhe might have disguised himself to avoid detection. A needle in a haystack.
Erik wanted to hunt, the primal urge to track down his prey driving him, but he also didn’t want to leave Chloe alone, and the urge to protect her was even stronger. Especially when he had no clear trail to follow. Savoy was a ghost. Erik could call in some of the other Beasts, but this wasn’t a sanctioned op, and they had official duties and responsibilities. Not that that would stop them if he called for an assist. His family had a habit of going off-book when it suited them. But again, without a starting point, they’d only be wasting time hunting blind.
To catch Savoy, Erik needed to think like Savoy. What would he do next? He’d eliminated a rival, so now he’d…
The funeral. Drayton would have a funeral, and Savoy would likely be there, watching. Even if he didn’t intend to grab Chloe there, he’d want to see her, see the damage he inflicted.
A grim smile touched his lips. Erik would be sure to be there, too.
Chapter Sixteen
Chloe felt like she’dslept for several hours, and somehow, she knew Erik had stayed with her the entire time. Holding her and keeping the chills at bay. He hadn’t just held her until she fell asleep, and then come back when she woke up. He’d stayed. Despite numerous other things he could have been doing, he’d stayed. Because she’d needed him.
“Hey.” Her voice was rough, still sore from before.
His hand stroked over her arm. “How are you doing?”
Her eyes were gritty, a mild headache pulsed at her temples, and there was a heaviness in her heart, but she said, “I’m okay.”
“I’ll go make you some tea.”
Erik went to pull his arm away, and Chloe latched onto it, keeping him in place. “We need to find him before he hurts someone else.”
“I know.”
Chloe turned over so she was facing him. “Use me.” The words came out shaky and left a bitter taste on her tongue. Her stomach twisted with fear at even the thought of seeing Jackson again, but she couldn’t keep doing this. She couldn’t keep hiding in herapartment with a protection detail while Jackson picked off the people she cared about. Danny…
Her sinuses prickled with impending tears as she thought of her friend, his bright light extinguished because of her. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths.
Erik didn’t protest the suggestion, but there was a hint of a growl in his words. “I suspect Savoy will make an appearance at the funeral, or at least be close enough to see you.”
“I’ll sing at the service.” Jackson had been especially enamored of her voice.Sing for me, Chloe baby.He’d sit and listen to her rehearse, then remark on how she must have been one of the sirens of mythology in a past life. Maybe this time, her siren’s song would lure him to his doom.
“Jayla and I will work out the logistics.” He jutted his chin toward something behind her. “I turned off the ringer on your phone so it wouldn’t wake you, but you’ve had several calls. I’ll go get you that tea while you check them.”
When he pulled away this time, she didn’t stop him, though it was tempting to pull him back. She immediately missed his warmth. Before he could leave the room, she said his name. When he turned to look back, she said, “Thank you. For staying with me. For… Well, for everything.”
“You’re welcome.” He reached for the door, but paused. “We’ll get him, Chloe.”
The confidence in his words helped buoy her flagging courage. She’d made the offer to act as bait, but words were easy, and now that Erik wasn’t right beside her, lending her his strength, the thought of going through with it was terrifying.
Chloe was just lying there, staring at the ceiling as a chaotic mix of thoughts and memories whirled through her head when she heard the brief knock and called out, “Come in.”
She’d had multiple missed calls and voicemails. Her dad, her mom, Lattie, John, and several other people from the opera house. While her parents may have just been checking in, news of Danny’s death had likely reached the others, and she found she couldn’t call them back. Not yet. Her emotions were too raw, too close to the surface, and she knew if she tried to talk to any of them, she’d break down and cry again. She’d taken the easy way out and texted that she’d call them later.
It wasn’t Erik who came in with the promised tea, but Jayla. She stepped through the door with a tray, and Chloe sat up. “You don’t need to wait on me.” She may not have felt like getting out of bed, but she wasn’t an invalid, and this wasn’t their job.
Jayla waved off the protest as she set the tray holding a cup of tea and a bowl of soup down on the bed beside Chloe. “I wanted to come in and talk to you anyway. How are you holding up?”
Chloe reached for the tea and nodded. “I’m okay.” She took a sip, the warm, herbal brew immediately soothing her throat.
