Standing in her living room, I was brought back to our last time there together, the bliss of sex spiraling out of control once that son of a bitch showed up smiling, proud of himself and his little games. I’d smashed it from his face, setting off a chain of events I couldn’t stop no matter how hard I tried.
I should have told her then. Fuck, I should have told her the night of the Lorelei auction. I took away her voice by staying silent. Then I left her, the worst thing anyone could do to her. I abandoned her when she needed someone most.
There were no obvious signs she’d been there since that morning, everything where it should be. In fact, the place was pretty damn tidy for Kee, the queen of clutter.
I headed to the bedroom, feeling sick as soon as I looked at her bed, our first time rushed and rough, nothing like she deserved. I tried to block it out as I searched, checking her dresser for potential clues, but my mind kept drifting back to Kee on top of me while I fucked her like she was nothing. Like she wasn’t my universe. No wonder she wanted nothing to do with me.
As I fingered through old mail on her dresser, my phone chimed. It was probably just another security update letting me know they turned up jackshit. But I answered anyway, hoping they had something I could run with. “Barrett,” I answered, holding it against my shoulder to keep both hands free for searching. Even the dud of a paw in a cast.
“He’s following me,” a voice whispered.
Kee’s voice.
She hushed Stanley in the background who was rumbling with his usual growls.
My heart dropped to the floor along with the mail I’d been holding. “Who? Where are you?”
“Rick.” She was still whispering, Stanley now silent for a change.
I’d kill him. He’d been forced to issue a retraction, but he couldn’t let it die. He had to keep fucking pushing.
“Where are you? I’m on my way.” My feet were carrying me to the front door before I processed the thought, ready to go to the end of the Earth for her.
“Queens.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. “Where in Queens?”
I didn’t have time to wait for a commercial flight. I’d have to call in something private to get there. Not that it was an issue with the security firm. They had aircraft at their disposal. But it would still be at least an hour and a half until I got to her.
“I’m in Room 104 at the Runway Inn.”
I locked her apartment and made a mad dash to my car, fear gripping me in a vice. “Tell me what’s going on. Is the door locked? Can you see him?”
“I have it locked, but he’s yelling at the man at the front desk. I can hear him. I’m close to the lobby.”
“What is he saying?” I asked, putting the phone on speaker once I was inside the car, texting orders to have something ready at the airport. I fired up the engine, motor roaring as I rocketed east on the narrow street.
“He’s asking for my room number,” she choked out, a sniffle at the end. “I’m so scared, Eth!”
“Call the police! Now!” I ordered, clenching the steering wheel so tightly I was surprised it didn’t bend. God help the prick if I got ahold of him. He wouldn’t be able to say her name when I was done with him.
“They’re already on the way,” she whimpered. “But I’m scared.”
I cut a corner close, tires screeching, no doubt gaining the attention of every cop in a five-block radius. “Is there a dresser in the room?”
“Yes.”
“Slide it in front of the door, and don’t open it until you’re certain the police are on the other side.”
“It’s already in front of the door with the end tables.”
Of course, it was. Kee wasn’t stupid.
“Good job. I’m proud of you, baby. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” I turned onto the highway, climbing to 110 mph in seconds. I dodged those who didn’t understand the concept of a passing lane as I headed to the airport.
“No.”
Rage boiled over. “He hurt you?” I roared. He was as good as a dead man if he had. He’d never work in journalism again. He might not work period by the time I was done with him.
“No, no, no!” she breathed. “He hasn’t found me yet. But I’m not okay.”
“Give me an hour and a half, Kee. I’m sorry, but that’s the fastest I can get there.” And when I finally saw her, I wouldn’t let go. I might just haul her out of there over my goddamn shoulder kicking and screaming.
“I’m sorry I left.” I could hear the tears in her voice. “None of this would have happened if I stayed.”
“This isn’t your fault.” I sped up, seeing 130 mph on the digital reader for the first time ever.
“I was so mad. I didn’t think of why you’d hide so much. I can’t imagine living like this 24/7. I don’t blame you for being secretive.”
I could see the blinking lights of planes taking off in the distance, the airport just over the water as I floored it down I-90. “You don’t keep secrets from those you love. You have every right to be mad. I lied, plain and simple.”
“You were protecting me.” She shushed Stanley again, a rumble in the background followed by a sudden inhale, Stanley erupting in barks. Not his typical yaps, but deep, ferocious snarls.
“Kee? Kee, what’s happening?” Thank God, the police were there. Stanley was probably losing his mind at their knocks. She was safe.
At least I thought that was the case until she screamed, “Rick, no!”
They were the last words I could make out before a crashing sound followed, Kee’s words descending into shrieks.
Keely
“Time to chat, princess!” Rick taunted from the other side of the door, trying to force his
