My throat went dry. I didn’t know what to say to her. Hearing someone else confirm how he felt and how much he needed me, gave me even more perspective. And if he wasn’t even telling Maggie what else was going on, it was something he felt he couldn’t share. Probably because he felt like he was in danger.
Or because he was trying to protect me.
“I think he’s keeping something from me too,” I told her. We turned back and headed toward my apartment again. We passed Parker and I caught his eye, indicating that I needed to talk to him when we got back.
“I’m afraid he’s in danger,” Maggie said.
“Me too,” I admitted. My stomach clenched with nerves, and my heart rate picked up.
“What should we do?” she asked.
“I need to go see him.” I squeezed her arm in a silent thank you. “Stay safe. I’ll check on Declan and then hopefully we can get together again soon.”
She gave a ghost of a smile. “In a normal circumstance. I’d like that. Thanks for taking the time to meet with me.”
I met her eyes, more grateful than she knew. “No, thank you.”
Chapter 34
I ran inside just long enough to grab my work badge and holler up to Xander that I had to go. I told him I’d text him on the way and then raced back out the door and ran down the stairs instead of taking the elevator.
Parker was waiting for me. He opened the back door for me to get in.
“Take me to the office, please,” I told him.
Parker gave a firm nod. “Of course.”
As I rode, I looked at my phone and the single text message that Declan had left last night. I love you.
My heart twisted. I love you too, I wanted to write back. But no, I had to tell him in person. I had to tell him I was sorry for running off. I had to tell him that I needed the truth. I had so many things that I wanted and needed to tell him, but most of all I just wanted to make sure he was safe.
Listening to Maggie talk about how heartbroken he was killed me. I knew how he felt. It had only been a day since I had seen him and I already felt lost without him.
Instead of texting, I called him and waited nervously for him to pick up the phone. But he didn’t answer. It rang several times before it went to voicemail.
I cursed when I heard his voice and hung up. Where was he?
A meeting probably. That made sense. He had a lot on his schedule, especially on Mondays. However, if I’d gone in this morning, I would know exactly where he was.
I tapped my foot nervously on the ground. I expected at any moment for Declan to return my call or for him to text, but the phone remained silent the entire ride.
But the time we got to Dark Enterprises, the sky was completely overcast and it looked like it was going to rain at any minute. I opened the back door before the car came to a full stop and got out even as Parker was trying to reach for the door. “Miss Patterson? Is everything okay?”
“I hope so. Thank you, Parker.”
“Of course.”
I hurried to the building and tugged my badge out of my pocket just in case. The security guard at the desk recognized me and waved me on, so I don’t even have to stop.
I arrived at the elevators and pushed buttons on both sides. “Hurry, hurry.”
One of them dinged and the doors opened. I got inside with a few other people, irritated that I had to stop on their floors on my way up. But it wasn’t long before I was at the top floor and I stepped out. The moment I saw Brittany, I realized how underdressed I was.
This was the first time I’d been in this office without looking like I belonged here.
“Royal,” she said with a smile. “Tim said you were coming in today.”
“I wasn’t supposed to but plans changed. Is Declan in?”
“He left a few hours ago, but I think he’s supposed to be here soon.”
I frowned. A few hours? Why had he been gone so long?
Before I could move, Tim walked out of his office and nodded. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”
I gave him a patient smile but didn’t explain. “Do you know where Mr. Dark is?”
He checked his watch. “He had a meeting. I don’t expect he’ll be in until close to two. Anything I can do for you?”
I shook my head. “No, I’ll wait for him in the office.”
Dammit. I stepped inside, wishing I could enjoy the view as I usually did but I was too nervous. And now, I was a little worried. It must have been an important meeting if he hadn’t even seen my message and sent something back just to let me know he was okay.
I walked to his desk, standing in the same spot that he liked to pace. If I closed my eyes, I could picture him wearing one of his sexy dark suits. I could smell his cologne and feel the heat from his skin a moment before he wrapped his arms around me.
I bit my lip and turned to the desk. When I saw a note near his phone, I paused. There was a name on a sticky note with a time on it. One o’clock. And just below, it said, Johnson. Just that one word, but it made me
