Page 17
Chapter 5
That had gotten her attention.
“Excuse me?”
He nodded for her to come back inside. And like a lamb to the slaughter, she did. Thankfully, there was no one in the hallway to witness this weird spectacle or to comment on what they might be doing in the restroom.
“As I said, there is not time to fully explain. But—”
“You tell me a gorgeous—”
“And dangerous.”
“Fine. A gorgeous and dangerous man”—she would play along—“shows up in Stone Haven on the same day as you. Said gentleman—”
“I’d hardly call Kenton Morley a gentleman—”
“Asks me on a date and you tell me to be cautious because, let me get this straight, he wants to kill me. But we can’t discuss the particulars because there is no time. Got it.”
“Are you finished?”
If it weren’t for the strange circumstances, Alessandra might have smiled. Lawrence had sounded very much like her brother just then.
“Quite.”
“I did not want to involve you, but it seems Kenton will not be put off. If we tarry much longer, he will know I spoke to you. If he doesn’t already.”
“This is absurd.”
“Very much so. But it also happens to be true. I will find a way to get you alone for longer so I can explain everything, but in the interim, I need you to be cautious around Kenton.”
“As if I would go on a date with a man who’s trying to kill me. Not that I believe you, but just in case you’re not fully crazy—”
“You must go.”
She really should call the cops.
“If you don’t go out with him, he will know I spoke to you. And your mother and brother are in danger from him too.”
Alessandra’s blood ran cold at his words. Not that she’d thought this was some kind of a joke, but he knew about her family. This guy was not just a stalker . . .
“You can’t go to the police either. Trust me. He won’t hesitate to kill you and your family. I have to go, but you must trust me to protect you.”
“Protect me?” Who the hell was this guy?
Alessandra sank into a crouch on the floor, no longer able to stand. But not willing to sit on the floor of a public restroom either.
Lawrence knelt down beside her. “I promise to explain everything, but please, do not let him know we spoke.” He paused, then added, “Trust yourself. Your gut. Logic does not always win the day.”
With that, he opened the door and left.
Alessandra stayed where she was, crouched on the cold tile floor of the bathroom of The Witch’s Brew, until a knock at the door made her jump.
“One minute.”
She stood, flushed the toilet, and went to the sink. Turning on the water, Alessandra stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes looked wild, and no wonder.
Holy shit. What was that?
