“Yes.”
I looked around, wondering what set him off. I looked across the street, glancing behind me. I jogged to the other side and leaned against the building. The way the blinds tilted, you could see shadows. On one window the blinds were a little more open. With binoculars, you could see inside. There was no doubt in my mind he had seen me kissing Raven and lost it.
I glanced down at the rock garden in front of the building. One rock was missing. I knew exactly where it was.
Fuck.
Now, he was angry.
Angry, crazed, obsessed people were not good.
I had to find him. Fast.
Officer Canbury snapped his notebook shut. He met my eyes, his own frustrated. “Not much to go on. No witnesses, nothing tying him to being here. No idea who he is.”
“It was him,” I stated firmly.
“I can’t bring someone in for questioning when they don’t seem to exist.”
“I know.” Exasperated, I ran a hand through my hair.
“I know this is upsetting. And I agree it sucks, but all we can do is give a report for insurance and canvass the neighborhood.” He met my eyes again. “Not that it will help much.”
“I have a sketch I can send you. It’s at the office.”
“That might help.”
I wanted to punch a wall. Scream at the injustice. Women, anyone, shouldn’t have to put up with this sort of behavior. But Andy had covered his tracks. The police could do nothing.
But I could.
I glanced at Raven. She had gone from ashen to ghostly, her gaze never staying in one spot, her knee bouncing. She gripped the arms of the chair she sat in so tightly, I was surprised she had any blood circulation left in her fingers.
The officer and I exchanged cards. After examining the scene outside, agreeing with my hypothesis, he had come upstairs, talked to Raven and me. After he left, promising to keep in touch, the super brought a piece of wood upstairs, and I helped him cover the window.
“I’ll get it fixed as soon as possible.”
“She’s staying with me for a while,” I informed him.
He glanced at Raven and nodded. “Good idea.”
He left, and I turned to Raven. “Did you pack?”
“Um, yes.”
I looked over at the kitchen. She had cleaned it up as well.
“I’ll get your bag.”
Her voice stopped me before I went down the hall. “Why is he doing this? He agreed to friendship. He’s the one who crossed the line and changed the rules.”
I kneeled in front of her. “He never wanted friendship, Raven. He uses sites to find lonely women and take advantage of them. He locked on to you and became obsessed.”
“But I’m no one. Nothing special. And I never encouraged it. I asked him to leave me alone.”
“You did nothing wrong. It’s him. Not you. He’s at fault.” I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I’m going to be blunt here, Raven. You’re in danger. He’s fixated on you. He saw us kissing tonight, and now he’s angry. So until we find him, you need to stay with me.”
“Or you need to walk away and forget you met me,” she shot back. “When he doesn’t see you anymore, he’ll calm down. You can move on with your—”
I laid a finger on her mouth, silencing her.
“Not happening. You know that. You know I feel something for you. And you for me. I am not walking away. I’m going to protect you.” I smiled, moving my finger to her cheek and stroking the skin. “And you’re not no one. You’re special.”
“And who will protect you?”
Her words were my undoing. She was more worried about me than herself. I stood, taking her with me and wrapping my arms around her. “I can protect myself, and I have friends. I promise I’ll be fine. And as long as you’re with me, you will be too. Don’t fight me on this. Come home with me.”
I felt the fight go out of her. “Okay.”
I pressed a kiss to her head. “Okay, get your things.”
She was tense in the car, clutching her bag, her shoulders stiff. Her eyes were in constant motion, looking at the streets. I reached over and covered her hand. “Everything is fine.”
“How do you know he’s not following us?”
I chuckled lowly. “Because Egan is following a few cars back. If Andy is around, we’ll spot him.”
I pulled into the secure, underground parking lot. The door rolled shut behind us, and by the time I parked, Egan’s car came in, the sound of the heavy door descending again echoing in the garage.
I got out and opened Raven’s door, taking her bag and holding out my hand. She let me pull her from the car, and we waited until Egan joined us.
“Nothing,” he said.
“No, the asshole made his statement and took off like the coward he is.”
Egan smiled at Raven, holding out his hand and introducing himself. Raven smiled at him, and he grinned at me with a wink.
He whistled softly. “Frumos.”
Raven looked confused, and I shook my head. “He said he’s tired and is leaving.”
Egan threw back his head in laughter, clapped me on the shoulder, and headed to the elevator. “I’m around if you need me. I only have one building to blow up this week.”
Raven gaped at me. “He blows up buildings?”
“He works for a company that implodes buildings. They call him in when needed. He also works at Elite on occasion.”
“Ah. That must be cool.”
I tugged her toward the elevator. “Working with me, you mean?”
“Um, sure, but mostly, blowing up a building. I’ve seen those shows.”
“If you get him started, he’ll talk your ear off for hours. Show you videos.”
We stepped into the elevator, and she pursed her lips. “Hearing him talk in that accent wouldn’t be a hard thing.”
I scowled at her, and she giggled. I liked hearing that sound.
“Keep it up, and you’ll sleep in the bathtub,” I threatened.
She shrugged. “I’ll roam the halls until I find Egan. I’m sure he’ll let me borrow his sofa.”
I crowded her into the corner. She peered up at me, mischievous and adorable.
“He’s in love with my cousin.”
She sighed heavily. “Oh well. Bathtub it is, I guess.”
I lowered my head, pressing my mouth to hers. “I can think of somewhere else far more comfortable, my lovely Ravenna Jade,” I murmured against her soft lips.
“Oh, okay,” she replied, her breath floating over my skin. “Whatever you think is best.”
“Good answer.”
Inside my place, she looked around with wide eyes, her gaze taking it all in. I hadn’t changed a lot since Marcus lived here, although the kitchen wasn’t used as much. I had painted the walls, brought in my own furniture, and turned his workout room into an office since we’d added a big workout area on the second floor where Hidden Justice used to be located and I didn’t require my own workout space.
“It’s so open,” she said. “I like it.”
“Yeah, it’s comfortable.”
She headed for the kitchen, running her hand along the gleaming counters and eyeing up the large stove. “I suddenly want to cook something.”