This time, I gave in, reaching into my back pocket for my phone, unlocking it, and handing it to him. He twisted slightly, leaning on the counter, typing something into it before giving it back.
“Now you have my number. Not so I can rescue you, you understand, but maybe if you want some late-night chats.”
I chuckled. “Don’t you want me to call you so you have my number?”
He gave me a look like it was a stupid suggestion. “Already have it. I’m a man of many talents, remember?”
“You’re a psycho… possibly a stalker. This is just more evidence of that.”
He leaned in closer so only I could hear what he said next. “Would that be such a bad thing? Having someone look out for you?”
I didn’t reply because it would. The last person who looked out for me cut me off and then died; the one before that… I shuddered at the thought, sucking in a breath as I recoiled. Roman took me in, his eyes assessing like he could read my thoughts, and I definitely didn’t want anyone knowing about my past.
His expression softened. “Hey, I promise. I’m not here to make your life harder.” I nodded, glad that he seemed to understand without me having to explain. “But I’m here. If and when you need me.” And with that, he took his car keys, which were tucked to the side on the counter, and walked away without another word.
16
ROMAN
The last fewweeks had been like the old days, but better. I’d kept my physical distance from Hana. I wanted her to come to me, to crave me, and in order to do that, I stayed away. But I’d watched her… through the cameras in her house, through the ones I’d fitted in the diner when I broke in one night after she’d closed up. I’d followed her through the CCTV dotted around town, and through the tracker I’d put on her phone when I gave her my number. Knowing her movements soothed me, but it fed my obsession, and things had spiralled to a new level. My urge to touch her had gone unfulfilled, and I was growing desperate.
My name sounded out, and I looked up from my laptop.
“Sean?” My new boss stood in front of me. I had mainly dealt with Thomas since I’d started work, as Sean had been away on a job, but he’d come back a few days ago.
“Can we chat?”
I pointed to the chair next to me. Thomas had offered me an office, tucked away, but I wanted to be surrounded by the tech and my team; it was the best way to keep a handle on what was going on around here.
He sat, leaning back, looking far too relaxed for a man as alert as Sean was. “How are you settling in? Small town life driving you mad yet?”
I shrugged. “It’s not as bad as I imagined.”
He laughed. “Is that because you actually enjoy it here or because the woman you’ve been obsessed with for a decade is here?” My eyes flared. “Tom and I don’t have secrets, but also, I was obsessed with a woman for a while, so I know the signs.”
I drummed my fingers on the desk. “Oh, yeah, and how did that go?”
He smiled wide. “She’s mine now. For keeps.”
Nodding my approval, I spoke again. “I don’t think you came here to swap love stories, Sean.”
He shook his head. “Nope. I didn’t. I have a job for you. Bit of a puzzle really.”
I waited for him to continue as he unlocked the phone he was holding and placed it in front of me.
“This is Cole Larson. He made an announcement yesterday that he was running for mayor in the city. He’s a big-time property developer, has a clean record, lived with his wife and a couple of kids.” I stared at the image of the unremarkable looking man—50-ish, dark hair greying around the temples, shaking hands with a woman I didn’t recognise in some fancy glass-walled building.
“Right. What do you need me for?”
“He’s dead.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
“Dead. Murdered. Single shot to the head, execution style.” He flipped over the top photo to show a much more graphic one below of the now-deceased man. I hissed, and Sean covered the image with the original one. “Probably about twelve hours after this photo was taken.” He tapped the publicity image with the tip of his finger. “Wife came home and found the body. No sign offorced entry, nothing taken, no evidence at the crime scene. Very professional hit in my opinion.”
“So someone didn’t want him to be mayor?”
Sean raised his eyebrows in a silent agreement as he reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out something small and black that I soon realised was a flash drive.
