Page 14 of Best Laid Plans

I grip the edge of the island so hard my hands turn white. Lil lays one of her hands over mine. “I’m okay,” she reminds me. I feel like a dick. I’m the one supposed to be making her feel better, not the other way around.

A couple walks into the screen and notices the bag on the ground. The video doesn’t have sound, but Lil must have screamed or something because their heads whip to the left. The woman covers her mouth with her hands before she springs into action, charging into the alley.

“Damn, I wish I knew who she was so I could say thank you,” Lil says softly as the guy takes off after his girl.

G speeds up the recording. A moment later, the attacker runs out of the alley, briefly looking toward the camera. G freezes it and blows it up, showing the guy’s face. It’s not the clearest picture, but it’s not bad, all things considered.

Lil leans forward, studying the man carefully before she looks up at G. “I don’t recognize him. I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen this man in my life.”

I frown. “Could James have hired him?”

She flinches at James’s name.

“It’s possible,” G says. “But I looked into crime in the local area, and there has been a spate of attacks, all against women, all in a fifty-mile radius. Most of the victims who were snatched were grabbed from behind and didn’t get a good look at their attacker. Those that did gave a description that pretty much matches this guy.”

“The other women…are they okay?” She rubs one of the bruises on her thigh, and I know exactly what she’s thinking.

“The women that could give a description? They were able to do so because he faced them while he was raping them,” G tells her gently.

Lil shakes her head, tugging the T-shirt down a little farther. “That couple saved me from that. Do you think you could find them so I can send them something? I know it’s probably silly, but…”

“Doesn’t sound silly at all. I can pull their information from the police witness statements. I’ll have it ready for you tomorrow.”

“Thanks, G.”

“You got it. I’m gonna let you get some rest. I’ll look into this guy further, but as it stands, I’m not sure he’s connected to you in any way. I think this was a case of wrong place, wrong time. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. That’s a woman’s lot in life. I should have paid more attention when walking past the alley. I know better.”

“Don’t do that. Don’t blame yourself,” I tell her.

“Why? The world does. The justice system does.” She waves me off when I’m about to say more. “It doesn’t matter anyway, and I agree with G. This isn’t…him. It’s not his style.”

“Attacking women is exactly his style, according to dozens of HR complaints.”

“You misunderstood. He would absolutely do this and worse, to anyone but me.”

Chapter Five

LIL

I leave them to it and head back to the bedroom. My statement just opened the door for a dozen questions, but I don’t have it in me tonight. Tomorrow will come soon enough. There is no way around it, but who wants their biggest shame spread across the place for everyone to see and judge? Oh, they won’t want to judge me, but they will. How can they not? My choices led me here. My choices led a killer here. Dress it up or down, it changes nothing. A man is dead because of me, yet again. How many lives does he have to take before I finally give in and surrender? Because that’s the only way to stop this madness.

I take a deep steadying breath and sit on the edge of the bed. It’s his voice in my head I’m hearing. Going back won’t stop him from hurting the people I love—he’d take them out to punish me and show me what would happen if I ever left him again. I should have listened the first time, but that was before I realized the scope and power this man truly has.

I lie down, tug the blanket around me, and face the window. It’s started to rain. I’ve always been a rain girl. There is something about staring up at the sky as it washes away your sins. Lucy jumps up onto the bed and rests her head on my hip. I stroke her fur as my eyes get heavy. I fight it a little longer, preferring the rain to the darkness that comes with sleep, but exhaustion wins out in the end.

By the time Powers makes it to bed, I’m out cold. I don’t feel him climb in behind me after making Lucy move to the foot of the bed, and I don’t feel him wrap his arm around me and pull me back into him. What I do know is I don’t dream of monsters chasing me for the first time in a long time, and perhaps that has something to do with the man watching me sleep.

When I wake up, my body feels like it’s on fire. I come to with a gasp, my back arching off the bed as pure, unfiltered pleasure rushes through my veins like a drug. It takes my brain a few seconds to pull itself from my slumber-like state and realize I’m not dreaming. I look down at Powers, who lifts his head, his eyes locking on mine as his lips pull up into a devastating grin. His chin is wet from my arousal, and his eyes are feverish with lust.

I’ll admit, I did not have this on my bingo card this morning. For some reason, I figured he’d treat me like I was breakable because of the bruises. That, of course, is the last thing I want, and I should have realized he knew me well enough to figure that out.

“I was hungry. I got tired of waiting for you to wake up.” He flicks his tongue over the tiny bundle of nerves, making my legs shake. He slides his rough hands over them, spreading me wider.

“I’m surprised,” I admit, my voice sounding choked.

“You want me to stop?”