It looks exactly like the shade Livy wears.
My fingers close around the edge of the note as I lift it from the desk, my eyes scanning the message written across it.
Stay away.
I feel a psychotic grin spread across my face. Whoever left this thinks they really did something.
All they’ve done is put a target on their back, because I will call in every fucking favor I’m owed to find this fucker. If he thinks he’s going to put distance between Livy and me, he’s in for a fucking surprise.
I will never share what’s mine. In fact, I’m going to go get her right now.
BASH
Ilet myself into Livingston’s dorm a little after two in the morning.
The lock clicks softly as I turn the key and push the door open, stepping inside without bothering to turn on the light. A real stalker would probably pick the lock, but I had a key made instead.
For a second I just stand there in the living room, letting my eyes adjust to the dim glow coming from the T.V. I knew Kalen was headed here to see Juniper. I’d called to tell him about the note and broken monitors, but I didn’t expect to find him groping his stepsister in his sleep when I got here.
He’s too fucking big to be sleeping on that couch, but he’s stretched out across it. He’s half on top of Juniper almost like he collapsed there mid-conversation. One of his arms is wrapped under the back of her neck, his face buried in the crook of it, his mouth parted slightly like he was pressing a kiss there before sleep knocked him out. He must be exhausted because he couldn’t have been here that long. His other hand has disappeared beneath the hem of her shirt, cupping her breast possessively.
Kalen is completely out, like dead asleep, which is so unusual for him.
Juniper, I realize, is very much awake.
She’s lying there beneath him like she’s accepted her captivity without putting up a fight. One of her hands is slowly combing through his messy dark hair while she watches him with an expression that almost makes me pause.
It’s soft.
Almost tender?
I don’t know what the fuck is happening considering the two of them spend most of their time together snapping at each other like feral cats.
Juniper’s eyes lift when she notices me standing in the doorway. I think she’s going to lecture me about letting myself in when she knows Livy is in her room asleep. Instead, she tilts her head slightly toward the sleeping idiot on top of her.
“Don’t give him shit for this tomorrow,” she murmurs quietly. “He’s having a rough time.”
I lift a hand in response, palm out in a silent gesture telling her if she doesn’t give me shit about breaking and entering I won’t bring shit up to Kalen.
The last thing on my mind right now is teasing Kalen for passing out on his stepsister. My attention is already on if I’m going to tell Livy about what happened tonight. I don’t want to scare her, but I want her to be safe also.
If whoever left that message was actually searching for Livy, they wouldn’t have wasted time tearing apart my surveillance equipment. They clearly knew where she was.
They could have come here instead.
That thought has been circling my head since the initial shock wore off.
But the more I think about it, the more my instincts push me back there.
Something about this doesn’t line up. My gut is telling me this isn’t the same person who texted my girl. Why was it only one text? That’s not typical behavior of someone who is obsessed to the point of being driven mad.
I texted her a billion times today because it’s addicting.
And somehow knowing that whoever texted her and whoever broke in to my room probably isn’t the same person who was asking for her info somehow makes the whole situation worse to me.
I push the thought aside as I move quietly toward Livy’s door.
It doesn’t matter right now. None of it matters. Because the decision has already been made. She isn’t spending another night without me.
