I snag my keys from the counter, the metal biting into my palm like it’s hungry. “Come on, Lila. Let’s go collect the evidence of our old lives.”
I pull into a spot and kill the engine, the quiet roaring in my ears. We already hit Lila’s; now it’s time to gather my shit. I lean back, letting my head thump against the headrest, eyes closing as I drag in a deep breath. “Are you okay? We can figure out something else if you don’t want to do this.”
I turn my head to face her. “I never meant for you to get dragged into this.”
Lila grabs my face and pulls it close. “Bitch, I would have willingly gone into this. I know what Wade did.” She lets go of my face, eyes softening. “I love you, and I’m here by your side. No matter what. What I was asking, though, was…are you okay with staying at Sterling’s?”
I sigh. “No. You know I’m not good when people get too close. But if it keeps you safe and I’ve got more eyes on you, then I’ll do it.”
Lila nods, understanding where my head is. “Let’s go then. We’ve got a few more hours before dusk sets.” She slips out of my car and heads toward the elevator. I jog to catch up, and we make the rest of the walk in silence. A chill skates down my spine.Something's wrong.
I freeze as I reach my apartment; the door is cracked.I didn’t leave it like that.“Wait!” I grab Lila’s arm, pulling her back. “Go back to the elevator. Now.” With a confused look, she does what I ask. I pull out my phone, pull up my security app, and look through the video logs. Someone enters my apartment, moving through my things, clearly searching for something. The next clip shows them leaving. My stomach drops. I exit the app and fire a text to Sterling, letting him know someone’s been in my apartment. His reply comes almost instantly: he’s on his way.
“Come on, Lila. Let’s make this quick.” I slip inside first, every nerve on high alert. The open floor plan helps—nowhere to hide, nowhere for anything to jump out at us. I beeline for my closet and drag my luggage down, tossing it open on the bed. Leggings, shirts, bras, underwear—I shove them in by handfuls, adding a couple of pairs of jeans. I’m already in my favorite jacket and Converse, so at least that’s handled. After my clothes are packed, I move between the bathroom and bedroom, sweeping stuff into a toiletry bag. I’m wedging it into my suitcase when I hear heavy footsteps storming down the hallway. My blood goes cold. I dive for the knife under my pillow, fingers closing around the familiar handle. Spinning, I swing, blade cutting through the air toward whoever’s rushing me.
Sterling clamps around my wrist, stopping the blade just shy of his skin. “I love a little blood play, but now's not the time.” He smirks at me, a wicked grin that melts me from the inside out.
I pull my hand back. “Well, don’t charge me like that.” I shove the rest of my makeup and hair products into the suitcase and drag the zipper closed.
Sterling grabs the bag off the bed. “Why didn’t you wait? I said I was on my way.” We walk toward the living room, his shoulder brushing mine.
“I can’t just depend on you. I could deal with it—I just wanted you to be aware of the situation.” I shrug and cross to the couch, grabbing my favorite throw blanket and Kindle.
“Just because you could doesn’t mean you should,” Sterling mutters. Lila and Cam sit on the couch, silently watching everything unfold.
“It’s bad enough I have to stay with you and drag you guys into this. Now I need your protection twenty-four seven? I don’t think so.” I stalk out of my apartment toward the elevator. “Just because you fucked me a couple of times doesn’t make you Prince Charming now,” I call over my shoulder.
Sterling cages me in; his palms are braced on either side of my head, the cool elevator wall at my back. “Oh, Thorn, I never said I was the good guy,” his voice dropping into a smooth smoke filling the elevator. “I’m the villain that gets stuck in your head.” My brain screams this shouldn’t be happening, but heat pools low in my stomach. “I’m not good,” his voice a dark promise, “but I’m good for you. There’s a difference.”
Lila clears her throat. “Are you two done pissing on your territory? Cause I’m fucking starving.”
Cam snorts at her commentary and presses the button to the parking garage. He steps in beside Lila—close enough that it’s not just about fitting in.Someone’s interested in her.I grin to myself. When the door slides open, I dart for my car. I toss the tote bag into the backseat, and Sterling heaves the suitcase on top of it. “Watch it!”
He shoots me a confused look, eyes scanning the lot for a threat. Lila bursts out laughing. “Her Kindle. She’ll die without that thing.”
I shrug and slide into the driver's seat. “What can I say? Book boyfriends just hit the spot.” I slam the door before he can fire back, and Lila climbs into the passenger side, still grinning. “See you back at your place,” I call, throwing the car into reverse and backing out of the garage before speeding away.
Once Sterling catches up, he tailgates me all the way back to his place, a shit-eating grin plastered on his face. I roll my eyes as I climb out of the car. “If you’re going to ride my ass, dick, at least pull my hair and call me a good girl.” Lila starts laughing so hard she can’t breathe, and Cam bolts into the house.Oops.Sterling is still by his truck, so still he could pass for a statue. Then, in a blur, he’s charging me. I yelp and take off running toward the back of the house, feet pounding the grass. “Going to have to be faster than that, Ghost.”
Apparently, that wasn’t as fast as he could go, because he shifts into another gear. I hear his footsteps pounding closer—and then, suddenly, they’re gone. The silence makes me slow, frowning as I glance back.Where the fuck did he go?I smack into something solid and drop on my ass. Pain jolts up my spine. I snap my head up to find Sterling in front of me, annoyingly composed. “How?” I wheeze. “You were just behind me.”
“I’m called Ghost for a reason, Thorn. Did you really think you could run from me?” Sterling hauls me up, helping me off the ground, only to toss me over his shoulder. He lands a sharp smack on my ass and starts back to the house. “It’s almost like you enjoy the consequences.”
“What can I say? I was made to be a masochist,” I laugh, the sound bubbling out of me before I can stop it. Sterling carries me through the front door and drops me onto the couch. “I’ve got to go get my bags out of the car,” I say, starting to push myself up.
“Sit. I’ll get them. Cam, come help with Lila’s,” he orders over his shoulder as he heads back out the door. Cam mumbles under his breath as he follows Sterling out the door.
Lila scoots closer and drops her head onto my shoulder. “This is going to be weird.”
“Probably. But do you want to argue with the caveman?” I ask, trying to make light of it.
Lila laughs softly. “No, not really. Guess we’re bunking in the guest room?”
“You mean you don’t want a replay with Cam?”
Lila smacks me in the arm. “It was a late-night, heated argument. That’s all.”
Laughing, I nudge her with my shoulder. “Yeah, it was heated, alright.” Heavy footsteps stomp up the steps, and the front door bangs against the wall as they shove it open.
