Page 49 of Wicked Shadows
One more step, and any doubt would be erased—one way or another.
She moved directly behind him, and her eyes searched the skin on the back of his neck. The way his head dropped to the side created folds of skin that obscured part of her view. A half step closer and her upper body slightly bent over to get a better look, she steeled her nerves and looked again.
“Excuse me, miss,” a frantic man bellowed from beside her.
“Elle, what are you doing?” The familiar voice spoke in her other ear at the same time, causing her to jump backward. Devon lifted her up and away from the dead man as the medical crews began to move him.
There, in the folds of his skin, appeared to be something out of place. Something that didn’t belong. Something so small, it would’ve been missed had she not specifically looked for it. A pinprick that could’ve just as easily been a bug bite.In fact, it’s more likely to be a bug bite than what caused his death,she thought.
Who returns to the scene of a murder?
Cold chills ran over her body in the tropical heat of the afternoon at her next thought.
The murderer does, that’s who.
Devon carried her up the stairs, giving the medical team room to work on the hotel guest. He pulled her into his arms, and she willingly buried her face in his chest.
“What are you doing out here alone? You were supposed to be getting pampered for our date tonight.”
“I was looking for you,” she stuttered, her teeth chattering.
“Darlin’, even at this resort, you have to be careful. You’re a celebrity. People know your face—and this is a small island. Word travels fast when famous people arrive.” He pulled her closer, tightening his arms around her. “If anything happened to you, I’d never forgive myself for not being there to protect you.”
Guilt further consumed her. How could she think so lowly of someone who obviously cared so much for her? What did that say about her character? These thoughts and feelings flew through her mind, mixing with flashes of what she thought she’d seen. Then he’d adjust his embrace and remind her how much she loved him all over again.
“Let’s get you out of here. You don’t need to see this,” he murmured against her temple and placed a reassuring kiss there.
When they reached the top of the terrace, the sinister-looking ex-convict was still standing in the same spot. His cold stare drifted between Devon and Elle with no attempt to hide his interest in them. He kept his eyes trained on Devon for a second longer than normal, then cut his eyes to Elle again. That same unnerving smile covered his face, enhancing the evil and ugliness inside him.
For the first time in a very long time, Elle felt genuinely frightened and didn’t know which way to turn. Her rock was beside her, and he was also the one she questioned. The scary-looking man didn’t belong there, but he seemed to recognize them both. The dead man had rattled her beyond belief—but the events leading up to it caused her to question everything about Devon and herself.
And their relationship.
