Page 140 of Wicked Dares
I stand, knowing from the stern look on his face he has bad news.
Piper can tell, too.
I move toward him, stopping a pace away.
Dorian holds up an envelope and hands it to me, then he carefully glances over my shoulder at Piper before returning his focus to me.
“It’s got to be him,” Dorian says, jaw clenched. “He was released from prison six weeks ago, but he’s been in New York for a month.”
Everything inside me stills, but a stone drops in my stomach when I hear Piper’s strained gasp behind me.
“He was supposed to be in for twenty-five years.” I try to remain calm. “How do you get released after serving three?”
“On paper it reads like he was released early for good behavior.” His gaze hardens. “But my people found evidence suggesting he traded skills and struck a deal on the inside with the right people who could get him out early.”
Shit. This isn’t fucking happening.
The fucker’s been out for six weeks and in New York for almost a month. That lines up perfectly with what Piper said about feeling watched.
“That’s all I have at the moment,” Dorian says, his gaze shifting back to Piper. “We still don’t have an address for him. Looks like he’s staying off-grid or crashing with someone.”
“Thank you,” I say honestly. “For doing this.”
“Of course. I’ll keep my eyes on this. You take care of your girl.”
Dorian rests a hand on my shoulder. We piss each other off a lot, but we always have each other’s backs. Him more than me.
He nods and leaves us.
I turn back to Piper and watch her shrink in on herself.
All I can do is go back to her and hold her.
No matter what happens, I have to stop this asshole from getting to her. I have to find a way.
Chapter Thirty
PIPER
Afog of darkness clouds my mind for the next two days.
The time passes by, and I barely leave my seat at the window.
I’m here again now.
It’s midday. Levi is downstairs on a business call. He’s been working from home and staying around me practically twenty-four/seven.
He even summoned his lawyers, who managed to get an emergency restraining order. It’s supposed to make me feel safer, but I don’t think that will stop Reece. If anything, it’ll probably encourage him even more.
Levi’s done so much for me already, and I hate feeling like I’m draining his time.
Lord knows I’ve tried to feel better, even to pretend I’m fine so he’d at least go back to work. But I just don’t have the energy to do more than sit here in terror.
When I woke up earlier, I came straight to the window and have been here since.
It’s the sea. Watching the waves rolling against the shoreline somehow gives me some sort of anchor.
When I’m not here, I feel like I’m stuck in a labyrinth, circling different paths only to end up at the same place, stuck in my fear.
