Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
I glanced at my watch and tugged down my baseball cap and put on mirrored sunglasses. I would wait three more minutes before starting to walk the perimeter of the side street where the private patio entrance to Dana’s apartment was, never letting her front door out of my sight.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Dana
I turned the key and exhaled as I gripped the doorknob. I was in the hallway that led to the back of my apartment. The one I took to do laundry. The plan was for me to go in without attracting attention at first. But the idea suddenly seemed less than stellar… the hallway did not feel safe.
The hairs stood up on my arms as I glanced deeper into the building.
The hallway looked like it went on forever. I blinked, wondering if it had always been this dark… maybe a couple of the fluorescent bulbs need to be replaced, I thought inanely. I was so scared I could barely think. I closed the door behind me and locked it, leaning against it heavily.
I was safe. I just had to get settled and start showing signs of life. Hopefully that would be enough for my stalker to let down his guard…
I reached over and flipped on a light switch.
I covered my mouth to stifle the scream. I was staring down at my feet. I was standing on a pile of notes. At least twenty of them. They all said the same thing.
Come back
Come back
Come back
Come back
I exhaled and moved my hand away. The notes had been pushed under the door. I was alone in the apartment. There were men all over the building who were here to protect me. I had my phone and a walkie-talkie. I was safe.
‘As safe as kittens’, like Auntie used to say.
I set my bag down on the kitchen table and clenched my phone in one hand. I took out the walkie-talkie and held it in the other hand. I looked around. My coffee maker caught my eye. I had missed the clunky old thing. It was old and cheap, something I had picked up at a yard sale during nursing school. But it was one of the most reliable things in my life.
For some bizarre reason, it made perfect coffee.
“Make some coffee, girl. What are you worried about?” I muttered to myself. It was better to be alert anyway. I went through the motions without having to actually think about it. It was comforting. It was just what I needed. I stared out the window while the coffee brewed, trying to calm myself. Trying to be centered.
I took a sip and closed my eyes. Heavenly. Who knew why, but my crazy old stainless coffee machine made the world’s best coffee. Better than any fancy coffee shop, for sure. It was the best in my mind, anyway.
I decided I might as well pack up some few things while the guys had their eyes on me. There were literally about fifteen guys stationed around the apartment complex. I had never been safer in my life.
I stepped into my bedroom and froze. Oh no. Oh no no no no no.
The coffee cup hit the ground and shattered on the ground.
My bed was covered in rose petals. They weren’t old. They were fresh.
And they spelled out two words.
COME BACK
In the dim light that filtered through the tree out front, the rose petals almost looked like blood.
I was about to run for my phone when I heard it.
Someone was turning the key in the lock.
Someone was trying to get in.
The door opened.
Someone was in.
I swallowed and backed slowly towards the closet, slipped inside, and pulled the door shut behind me.
The levered doors were flimsy. It would buy me moments at best. I needed more than moments. I hadn’t gotten a chance to let them know about the key. But Drake would come for me.
I knew it.
He had to.
I closed my eyes and started to pray.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Drake
“Has anyone heard from Dana in the past ten minutes?”
My walkie-talkie crackled to life. I headed back towards the car so I could answer without alerting the target.
“Negative,” I said, glancing at my phone. I had hoped she would text. All our phones were on silent, including hers. I had been on the verge of demanding a status update from her.
My anxiety was through the roof.
“What’s up?” I asked, trying to keep my voice down as I slid into my seat and shut the door. I’d finally gotten that new SUV to squire Dana around in. I didn’t feel much like celebrating it though. The tension about this insane plan had been weighing on me since the moment the idea was hatched. Using my woman as bait was the worst idea I could have imagined. But here we were. I gripped the walkie-talkie and waited for a response. If the fucker was watching, I had already blown my cover. If not… better to be safe than sorry. The game was still on.