“I drove you. I’ll take you home,” Ian announced.
“You won’t be staying,” Becca’s voice was a whisper as she watched the passing tree line.
“I dinnae tell them that you could read minds, Becca. I only told them the stuff that matters to your well-being.”
“You don’t get a say in my well-being.” It didn’t matter how he tried to categorizeit. His betrayal was like pouring salt into an open wound. That bitch would sting for an eternity. She’d given him a chance, and he’d tossed it out the window. “I trusted you.”
Ian pulled the car over and reached for her hand. She pulled it to her chest and out of his reach.
“I’d do it again if it meant keeping you safe.”
Becca shoved the door open to the SUV, got out and started to walk. She didn’t look back when she heard the other door open and close.
“Becca.” Ian grabbed her arm and spun her around.
“You aren’t my keeper, Ian. You’re nothing to me.” Becca yanked her arm out of his hold. “You almost had me fooled.” Her look softened. “I believed you wanted to be with me.”
“I love you, Becca. Donae hate me for wanting to keep you alive.”
“You don’t love me, Ian.” She shook her head. “You don’t even know me.”
“Donae you dare try and tell me what I ken or how I feel,” Ian growled. His angry tone caught her off guard.
He stalked toward her, and she did good to stand her ground. No way would she back down from the likes of him.
“I’m no’ one of your damn sisters, or even the cop that you have fooled. Youarenae the sweet princess they all think you are. You’re piss and vinegar and sweet and hot all rolled up into one fucking bundle. My damn bundle. You want to chase killers, fine, but you’ll do it with me at your side, andafterI’ve trained you to fight. You want to kick and scream and throw a fit, go ahead. I’ll be here when your rant is over. You willnae scare me off.”
“I’m not some fucking child,” she screamed for the world to hear.
“Well, then quit acting like one. What would you have done, Becca, if this was reversed and you knew information that could keep me safe? Would you have kept your mouth closed if it meant possibly getting me killed?”
“That’s not fair,” she said, resting her fists on her hips.
“Why is it no’ fair? Because you donae like your answer? Because you would have done the same damn thing that I did?” Ian stepped closer and pulled Becca into his embrace. She didn’t make a move to hold him. Her body remained stiff.
He lifted her chin, forcing her to look up at him. “You can be angry with me when this is over. This is who I am, Becca. You’ve known that since the first day we met. I’m your lover; I’m your friend, and I’ll protect you even if it’s from yourself.”
“You’re hard-headed, egotistical, and arrogant.”
Ian’s face softened. “No one’s perfect. I can be a little overbearing, but I do it because I care, no’ because I want to fight. No’ that I donae enjoy great makeup sex, because I’m always open for that.”
“You aren’t staying over.”
Becca slipped out of his hold, walked back to the SUV and got inside. She was silent the rest of the way home, keeping her gaze on the passing trees and houses. There was one thing that still bothered her. One thing she couldn’t quite figure out. If Michael was still being seen by the shrink and had just been released, how was it that he’d been free to be roaming around and killing again? She needed to compare her timeline and list of murders and mutilations to when Michael had been institutionalized. That was the only way she’d be able to clear his name, if it didn’t confirm he had opportunity. Either way, she’d be a step closer to figuring this out.
Becca pulled out her phone and dialed Danny as Ian pulled up in her driveway. He went to get out, and she waved him off and shook her head while grabbing her key. Danny answered the phone. “Hey, Danny.”
“Hey, Becca. We still haven’t found him.”
“There’s one part that doesn’t make sense.”
“What’s that?”
“The day in the hospital parking lot when I saw you. You were picking up Michael’s release papers. If he was just getting released, how is it possible he was free to stalk and kill those women? Your timeline doesn’t work.”
Becca shoved the key into her door while Ian pushed past her and disabled the alarm before she could.
“We’ve got him on video at the hospital when you were there.”
