Page 76 of Targeted By Desire

Color on my nightstand caught my groggy gaze as I lifted myself up and stretched. After rubbing the crust and blur out of my eyes, I noticed a water bottle, a plate covered with aluminum foil and a bottle of ibuprofen sitting there. Perched against the water bottle was a note that read: Be back soon.

Smiling, I undid the foil on the plate. There wasn’t much in my fridge, so I was curious what he managed to whip up.

A small pile of pancakes, a few slabs of bacon, and a mound of mixed fruit lay beneath the silver covering. Some steam still hovered over the food, a sign he hadn’t left too long ago.

Warmth burned in the pit of my stomach as I stared down at the tiny but thoughtful breakfast. For someone who supposedly wanted to kill me, he sure was going through an awful lot to keep me alive.

“Door open,” the automated voice on my security system called from downstairs.

My brows came together at the sound. Did Mateo come back already?

“Simone!” Gabriel’s voice echoed through the house. “Si - where the fuck did your couch go? Simone!”

Sighing, I rolled my eyes and hopped out of bed. I grabbed the sweatshirt hanging on my vanity dresser and pulled it over my body. “Get out!” I yelled.

At the sound of my voice, his footsteps barreled up the steps.

I closed and locked my room door before he could reach it.

“Come on, Simone,” he pleaded from the other side. “I know you’re mad, but I need you to listen to me for five seconds.”

“Why?”

“Your murderer somehow escaped federal custody.”

“You know what, good for him. The fuck does that have to do with me?”

“He left two bodies on the side of the highway. You don’t think he’s coming for you next?”

I reluctantly opened the door, revealing my best friend’s face, pale with worry. “Wait, what? Two agents are dead?”

He nodded. “Knife through the throat on one and a bullet to the head on the other. Found their car abandoned a few miles down from the bodies in the parking lot of some dive bar - and it took us some time to do that. The asshole disarmed the GPS.”

My brows rose with every word. “He…he killed them?”

“Hell, yeah he killed them. He’s a fucking hitman! What else did you expect?”

“I…I mean last night, he didn’t seem…”

“Last night was a ruse, Simone. Like the date he sabotaged and the game he played with you in Vegas. He’s trying to take you out when you least expect it. The element of surprise is part of this sick game he thinks you two are playing. Don’t tell me you can’t see that.”

Unfortunately, I did. Last night, Mateo had the perfect opportunity to kill me and he didn’t take it. I may not understand why just yet, but I could see Gabriel’s theory being part of it.

“Look, you need to pack a bag,” Gabriel continued. “You’re not safe here.”

“Well, where am I supposed to go?”

“Logan is making arrangements for a hotel room for tonight, but tomorrow we’ll probably move you to a more secure location.”

“Why does this sound like you’re putting me in witness protection? I can take care of myself!”

“No offense, Simone, but after last night, none of us are too sure about that.”

My chest stung as if he’d punched me. I crossed my arms to ease the blow. “Fine,” I muttered. I was too tired and sore to argue with him right now.

Besides, I doubted moving me would do any good. No matter how far I went, Mateo was going to find me.

And the fucked up part of me hoped he’d do it soon.