Page 31 of Prey

"She said," he stops, swallows. "She said you told her about us. About the bathroom. She said I was entertainment. A game."

She what?

"Grey..."

"She said to stay away from you. Or else." His knuckles are white around the phone.

"It's not the first time," he continues, voice thin. "She cornered me at the office. In one of the empty rooms. She listed things. Things that are supposed to be private, I thought she was joking. She said she could take it all to the board and end me, end you."

I walk toward him. "Let me see the phone."

He hands it to me. I read the messages. I know what you are. Entertainment. A game. Nothing more. Stay away from him, Grey. My blood turns cold.

"She's lying," I say. "I never told her anything. I don't even know how she knows,"

"Then how?"

I stop. How does she know?

"Grey, what does me mean about a bad past?" I ask quietly. "What is she trying to use against you?"

"It’s nothing," he says too fast. "Old things, before all of this. It doesn’t matter." His eyes are wide, breath shallow. Whatever Grey did to have his records sealed, still terrifies him and Rose knows exactly what it is.

"Grey," I soften my voice. "Look at me."

He does, but it’s like he is bracing for impact.

"I’m not going to walk away because you weren’t perfect before you walked into my building," I say "I don’t care what she things she knows. I care that she’s threatening you."

I pull out my phone to text the other person who knows about the cameras.

Me: Leo. Check the security feed. Someone who shouldn't have access has been accessing it.

Leo: What do you mean?

Me: I mean Rose Sophie has been watching Grey. She's threatening him. I need to know how she got in.

Leo: On it.

I put my phone away. Look at Grey. He's still pale. Still shaking. Still looking at me like I might be the enemy.

"I didn't tell her," I say.

He doesn't answer. "Grey. Look at me."

"I didn't tell her anything. You're not a game to me. You're not entertainment,"

I stop. I look at him. The man who broke into my office. Who collected my things. Who followed me for months. The man who stayed in my bed. Who held my hand. Who looked at me like I was the only thing in the world.

"You're mine," I say.

He blinks. "I know I said that before. I know it sounded like a threat. But it's not." I reach for him. "It's a promise."

He steps toward me. Into my arms. His body is shaking against mine.

"She's going to try to hurt you," he says.

"She can try."