The rage arrives so quickly, I feel like I’ve been gutted. I burn with rage at the idea of someone torturing my woman.
YOU’RE NEXT. God, when I find the person tormenting her, I’ll carve it into their fucking throat.
But what could anyone have against her? Unless that summer had affected her more than I thought. Maybe she’d grown up as twisted as I.
No. She’s too perfect. There’s no reason I could imagine that anyone would want to hurt her.
The idea of someone other than me trailing her has me roiling in anger.
Ellie is still talking as I stew. About insurance and Kat’s mother. I nod and murmur enough to appease her while she finishes talking, waiting for her to go so I can punch something.
When she goes, I put my head in my hands and let out a deep growl. Kat is mine. Mine to protect. Mine to crave. Whoever is after her will pay dearly when I catch them.
I take the pink cotton out of my pocket and press it to my face, but the smell of her islost to the coffee.
I stalk the entrance of her alley like a desperate tiger. Back and forth, my gaze trying to find any trace of Kat’s tormentor. I stare daggers at everyone who walks within ten feet of the entrance, getting more than my share of odd looks.
Ellie’s dot remains at the bar across town where she works. Kat’s curtains are closed tight, not even a sliver of the room available beyond. Light leaks around the edges, but that’s all that the flat gives me of Kat.
I decide I’m too obvious, loitering at the mouth of the alley, and cross the road to lurk in the doorway of the betting shop. Darkened as it is at night.
I stand in the shadow across the street and watch until my eyes burn, the hours growing later and later, and the road growing quieter.
Who could this person be? Could it be someone who knew what happened all those years ago? Surely not. Not unless Kat had told anyone.
And why now? Unless, of course, she’s picked up a run-of-the-mill stalker. Given how perfect she is, I wouldn’t rule it out.
The light reflecting off the bricks in the alley goes out, marking my love’s bedtime.
I stay at my post, my eyes stinging until I no longer believe them to be true. I’m close to giving up for the night when a movement in the dark makes me freeze.
A wiry male figure is moving fast toward the alley. He pauses at the entrance and looks around him. It’s too dark to see beneath his hood. Every muscle fires at once, and I tear across the road, determined to get to him before he can get to her.
He clocks me as I close the space between us and takes off. A fast little fucker. His slenderness carries him faster than my more muscular frame can keep up with.
Damn.
My anger fuels my thighs as I push myself behind him, sheer rage making me gain ground.
He cuts between the off-licence and the bookies, and I’m close enough that I can nearly grab his shitty jacket by the scruff.
‘Stop you little shit,’ I grunt, but he takes a sudden left that catches me off guard, sending me slamming into a wall opposite. My shoulder bursts with pain, but I don’t have time to worry about it. I pull myself back up and throw myself after him.
He’s gone.
I stand there with my heartbeat thumping in my ears and failure wrapping its arms around me.
He knew the area. Clearly had scoped out an escape route. That’s more than just opportunistic.
I go back to her. I need to make sure she’s okay.
I’m halfway down the alley and pressing my face to her window when I hear a voice.
‘Don’t move, you creepy fuck.’
Kat.
Oh fuck.
