So, I keep my mouth shut. Hurting Arlo and sending him into a spiral could potentially mean he’ll relapse, and I’d rather die than be the cause of it.
“It is,” he argues.
“Please, baby,” my voice cracks as I cup his cheek, the warmth of his face sending shivers down my body. “Don’t do this. I could blame everyone in this world, but not you. Never you. You’re the reason I’m still alive.”
He sighs but doesn’t press the issue further. Instead, he wraps his arm around me, and I all but melt into his side, snuggling and holding him tightly. He’s my lifeline, the air I breathe. It might make me pathetic to admit it out loud, but I’m nothing without him. He completes me in a way no other human being could ever, and I’ll forever be grateful to God for sending this man my way.
“What did you discuss during the meeting?”
He stiffens beside me but slowly starts relaxing when I start stroking his back softly.
“The focus is on finding the mole. We find out who it is, we find out where Flint and Woods are the weakest.”
I nod. “That seems reasonable. Any leads?”
Arlo shakes his head. “Not yet, no. I’ll figure out a trap to set. Then, we’ll have to wait for the rat to take the bait.”
“Alright.”
“But that’s not what worries me.”
I look up at him, pausing my movements for a brief moment, then pick it up again. “What is it?”
“Agent Arnault is after us.”
“You have high connections in law enforcement. Can’t you at least deter him?”
“That’s not a permanent solution. He’ll back off for a moment, then pop up again after some time. And until I know who fucking tipped him off — which is definitely the mole, by the way — it will be useless going after him.”
“Has he made a move yet?”
“No, but from what I’ve gathered, he’s been visiting Hudson. He thinks the old man will speak, but there’s no way for my dad to open his mouth. He’d rather shit in his hands and clap.”
That earns a chuckle out of me, and I know it’s true. Hudson is many things, but a traitor or someone with a loose mouth isn’t one of them. He’ll never speak about the business, and he won’t allow himself to even be put in that position.
“But, we’ll figure it out soon.” Arlo kisses the top of my head. “Now, what do you want to eat?”
I purse my lips, thinking about his offer. “How about one of your sandwiches?”
He chuckles. “I’ll go shower and have it ready soon.”
He stands up, not before kissing me. His lips are so addictive, and when he pulls back, I almost whine. He smirks, winks, then picks out some clothes and leaves the bedroom.
I slump into the bed, lying on my back and staring at the ceiling. My thoughts wander off to the past couple of months, and somehow, I can’t fucking believe this is what my life has become. Last year, this time around, I was in Long Grove, terrified of my stalker.
Who would’ve thought that my stalker would end up being the most important person in my life?
I was so naive back then. I wanted revenge, yes, but I hadno idea what the near future held for me, all the obstacles I’d have to get rid of. And I’m still not nearly done.
My thoughts vanish when my phone buzzes on the nightstand table. Lazily, I roll over and pick it up. It’s a message from an unknown number, and when I open it, I see a video.
With a puzzled expression, I open the video, and what I see shocks me to my very core.
It’s Noelle’s hospital room. There’s a person that’s hidden from the view, but their hand is very visible. It’s gloved with leather, holding a sharp, big knife pressed against Noelle’s throat.
My blood runs cold, and I sit up abruptly, staring at the video in pure shock. Nothing else seems to happen, except the person moving the knife left and right, not quite touching Noelle’s throat. All I can do is stare at the screen, wide-eyed, unable to move.
The video lasts fifteen seconds, and when it finishes, another message pops up.
