My stomach twisted with every step toward my apartment. We’d kissed more in the car and it had damn well nearly distracted me from the fact that someone might want me dead, but too soon reality set in. Dodge pretended to be relaxed and nonchalant, but the tension in his arms and shoulders told another story. He also spent most of his time searching the surrounding streets for something I wouldn’t recognize. Which just made it even clearer how ill-prepared I was for my current predicament.
I breathed easier when we made it to the apartment, though Dodge prevented me from immediately unlocking the door. He searched for signs of something around the door jamb and the handle, then under the sweep. I didn’t think anyone was hiding in the cracked plastic around the door, but maybe it helped him feel better.
As soon as we were inside, he had me stand in the kitchen while he searched the rest of the apartment, and I held my breath as I braced for trouble. Nothing else moved inside or in the hall. I only exhaled when Dodge returned to the kitchen with the all-clear. He smiled, a more genuine expression, and moved closer so he could squeeze my side. “Okay. Want to pick out some clothes and get your work stuff? Just enough to shove in a duffel bag. We can order more stuff for you if it’s not enough.”
I blinked as I looked up at him. “How long do you think this is going to go on?”
“Hard to say.” The corner of his mouth quirked up and I knew he wasn’t telling the whole truth. They had a plan to deal with it, but I’d have bet Dodge didn’t want me to know about it. Which was quite a relief. I didn’t think Iwantedto know what they planned. Dodge’s hand slid down to squeeze my butt. “But hopefully not too long.”
“Ready to get rid of me already?” I said, trying to be playful.
He grumbled and grabbed my waist, dragging me full-length against him, and he ducked his head to nibble on my neck. “Not even close.”
I sighed and leaned against him, closing my eyes. I didn’t mind relying on him. Dodge felt like a rock, like the only permanent thing in the world.
I could have stayed there for hours, but he shooed me toward the bedroom. “Don’t tempt me into following you back there, otherwise we’ll be in bed all day. I’d rather get you home.”
Home. Such a strange concept. Even though the apartment was technically my home, it didn’t feel like it.Dodgefelt like home. It was so difficult to remember I hadn’t always known him. It must have been infatuation or a honeymoon period or something, because it sure as hell didn’t feelreal. I shook my head as I scrounged in the back of the closet for a duffel bag.
There were so many crazy things happening that nothing felt real anymore. He should have been another scary thing in a long line of scary things, and yet... He was the only thing that kept me moving forward. I felt crazy. It wasn’t like me to just jump into bed with a guy or fall in love in a matter of days. I’d never been like that, not even in college when I lost my mind and went a little too wild. My ‘going wild’ was still pretty tame compared to the other girls in my classes, but it had been wild enough for me.
I took a deep breath. Maybe when we were holed up in Deirdre’s house and avoiding going outside, I could learn more from Dodge about the shifters and their community and how all of that worked. As scary as it was, I wanted to know more. Dodge’s friends and odd family already felt closer than almost anyone I’d ever known. Even with their teasing.
The duffel bag weighed on my shoulder as I walked into the living room and searched for my laptop and portfolio. At least it would give me some uninterrupted time to study and work on some designs. Although, from the way Dodge watched me, maybe I wouldn’t have any spare time at all.
I tried not to laugh at his transparent lust as I fussed with the duffel bag, about to make a joke when a booming knock on the door made both of us jump. I stared at Dodge, my heart launching into overdrive and trying to climb up my throat to escape out my mouth. Dodge held a finger up to his lips to tell me to stay quiet, but it wasn’t necessary – I didn’t think I could speak for the life of me. And the urge to run into the bathroom to panic-pee nearly sent me over the edge.
Dodge stood to the side of the door, frowning. “Who is it?”
“Police, open up.”
His eyes narrowed and he shook his head. “What’s this about?”
“O’Brien sent me. There’s information you need to hear, quick.” The deep voice made my nerves twitch.
My heart raced as I stared at Dodge, and I struggled to find the next step. Did we answer the door? Hide in the closet? I gripped my phone and tried to dial, though my fingers shook and I had no idea who to call anyway. The whole situation just made me realize how terrible I was in a crisis. I seriously needed lessons in how to deal with stress and awful situations.
Dodge didn’t look convinced. He stepped closer and I noticed a dull metallic gleam in his right hand for the first time. When had he gotten a gun? I sucked in a breath, backing away as he reached for the door handle. Something wasn’t right. We’d just talked with O’Brien. She would have called if there was news.
Of course, the fact that Dodge held his gun at the ready spoke volumes about how much he trusted the newcomer. Although O’Brien had said she was asking for help from some financial crimes expert.
Dodge eased to the side, in front of the door, and glanced over to wave me back. And then the door exploded in.
Chapter 30
Percy
Istared in horror as a tall man in a heavy coat stepped closer and shot Dodge. Shot him. In the chest. One, two, three times, so rapidly that Dodge was still raising his pistol to fire back.
Dodge fell backward to the ground, his eyes wide, and I tried to scream. I wanted to scream. I stared at him, paralyzed. No sound escaped.
Then the stranger turned to me but held the gun pointed to Dodge’s head. “I’ll shoot him in the fucking face if you scream. Understand? You’re going to come nice and quiet.”
I couldn’t think. I tried to go to Dodge, tried to reach him as blood soaked his shirt and kept draining away, as his mouth worked and he made croaking sounds. His hand reached for me, the other still fumbling the gun to shoot the guy. The guy grabbed me and held me in front of him like a shield. Dodge groaned and tried to speak, tried to tell me something, but then the goon backed toward the door and dragged me with him.
I whispered, “Dodge,” and tried to reach for him.
I needed him. I needed him and he was there on the ground bleeding and I couldn’t help him. I couldn’t save him. That awful man killed him. I shook my head. “No. No, you can’t do this. You can’t...”
