I left my apartment and turned to close the door when I paused, frowning.
A black Baccara rose was taped to the door.
I had thought the roses were from my parents, but that couldn’t be the case now.
And if it wasn’t them, then who could it be? I knew it wasn’t Roman since he would have just brought it inside.
Also, he didn’t know it was my favorite flower… did he?
With his stalking tendencies, I wouldn’t really be surprised if that was the case, but something told me it wasn’t from him.
A pinching sensation exploded on my fingertip when the thorn poked me, but it didn’t make me bleed this time.
I had received these three times already: a bouquet on my birthday, one tapped on my door just like this a few weeks ago, and now this.
I pulled out my phone from my purse and dialed Dad. He picked up on the third rind.
“Ryleigh, what is it? I’m a little busy at work.” He sounded tired, and I hated the sudden guilt that blossomed in my chest.
I licked my lips. “Um, sorry. I won’t keep you then, but I was just wondering, did you… did you ever send black Baccara roses to my apartment?”
“Sweetie, what are you talking about?”
He didn’t send them.
My breath froze, and I could only think that he didn’t know what I was talking about.
I stuttered out a response to him that I didn’t remember the words to.
But it was enough to get him off the phone, I was sure, because when I blinked, I was holding onto my phone, the screen black from inactivity.
I swallowed down the bile that wanted to make its way up my throat as all the blood roared in my ears.
Not the first time, not the second time, and certainly not this time.
If he didn’t send them, and Roman didn't, then who?
Something poked in the recess of my mind. Something I had long forgotten.
For some reason, I started to think back to my abduction at fourteen. I wasn’t picked up off the street.
No, I vaguely remember getting into the car… voluntarily.
And on the dashboard…
My breath hitched.
There was a black Baccara rose lying on the dashboard of the car. But who drove?
It would have to have been someone I knew, otherwise, I wouldn’t have gotten into the car with them, right?
I didn’t know anymore.
I shivered, and it might just be my imagination, but suddenly I felt eyes on me…
I turned around, and Angelica stood there with a sort of vacant look on her face.
I jumped.
