I squeeze her hands. “No need for that. Let’s talk about what’s going on and why someone would want to do this.”
The police seem to think it’s just a crazed fan, but something feels more off than that to me. I’m sure Lana has more than her fair share of obsessed fans, but this is…well, this is more. The cat was almost decapitated. All the blood, the message in the mirror…it’s very personal. And disturbing as hell.
She gulps. “I should probably show you something. I didn’t think much of it before, but I got a couple of letters a few months ago. I showed the cops today, but they didn’t seem too concerned about them.”
She hands me several plain white pieces of paper with words typed neatly on each page. I scan them, knowing it will take hours to analyze the single-spaced lines. There are phrases written repeatedly, like “you ruined my life” or “you are the great pretender”. The letters are both signed, “the forgotten one”.
I raise an eyebrow. “You showed these to the police?”
She flushes and nods. “I get weird stuff all the time though. And um…” she twists her hands together. “I guess they thought these were just more of the same.” She wrinkles her nose, “but these letters sure didn’t feel like the ones I usually get.” She takes a long, deep breath in. “I don’t want this getting out everywhere. The only reason I called them in the first place is because I was absolutely terrified.” Her brown-eyed gaze shifts away from mine. “Besides, I don’t have the greatest faith in the police. That’s one of the reasons I called you.”
I sigh and run my hand through my hair. I know exactly why she doesn’t trust the police. I researched Lana’s background when she was involved with Schroeder. Her dad was abusive as hell and her mother was a drug addict. Most people in her hometown knew what she came from and felt sorry for her, but did absolutely nothing to help her. The local law enforcement did nothing to protect her. That’s why she ran out to L.A. as soon as she turned eighteen.
“I understand.” I glance down at the papers again. “Any clue who could be writing these?”
She shakes her head emphatically. “No idea.”
“Any guys on the radar? Men you’ve dated who might want revenge?” My stomach roils with nausea at the thought of her with another man, but I need all the pieces to the puzzle.
“No, no one. Not since…” she bites down on her lip. “Not since Scott actually. I decided I couldn’t trust my own judgment after that one.”
She hasn’t been with a man in five years? Fuck…
Desire drums through my system.Now is not the time, Grainger. Keep your libido in check.
“I’m on it, Lana. Until we find this guy, I’m your shadow. I’ll have some of the guys at my firm working on it, but it’ll mainly be me.”Because I choose it to be. Because I don’t trust any other guy, even my best friends, to protect her like I will.
A hopeful smile crosses her face. “That’s good. I’m okay with that.”
I sure as hell hope so, sweetheart, because you’re stuck with me. I’ll never let this monster near her again.
Chapter Five
Lana
I never wanted to be famous. I just wanted to survive. -Lana
My hands are shaking as I unlock the door to my house a few hours later. Not only am I genuinely freaked out by what I just encountered, but I can feel Grainger’s compelling presence behind me. There’s something about this man. He feels like safety, like my savior, but he still makes my heart race.
I let out a long breath as I gesture towards the inside of my home. “Well, this is my place.” I swallow self-consciously. “I bought it after the show got a third season. It’s my main place. I have an apartment in L.A., but Atlanta is where we are with the show, so it only made sense to make a home here.”
My home is not a lavish mansion. It’s not what most people would expect a young, successful actress to buy, but it’s all mine. The four-bedroom family home is the kind of house I always dreamed of growing up in. It’s comfortable, bathed in brightcolors; made to feel like stepping into a place of happiness and joy.
It’s the opposite of where I grew up. That damn trailer with brown everything…brown walls, brown, worn furniture, and horrible brown shag carpet. This place was everything that place was never able to be for me.
Grainger glances around and I find myself holding my breath. It matters to me what he thinks. It matters more than it should. “It’s a nice place, Lana. Not as big as I would expect a famous star like you to live in, but it’s very you.” He sends me a soft smile as if sensing how important his opinion is to me. “The gate system looks secure, and your security here seems to know what they’re doing. I won’t step on their toes, but I will be making sure everything is top-notch.”
A lump forms in my throat at the thought of the lunatic who killed a cat getting into my safe haven.
Grainger knows in that uncanny way of his that I’m on the verge of freaking out again. He places a hand on my shoulder. “Lana, we’re going to catch this guy, I promise.”
I find myself just wanting to fold into him and let him take every worry away. I resist that temptation, but just barely.
Remember, Lana. Remember that you can’t trust a man to stand by you. They will always disappoint you.
Chapter Six
Grainger
