Page 86 of Twisted Hearts
“No. There won’t be. This was too controlled.”
“Controlled?” My apartment looked like absolute chaos. “This is controlled?”
“Beyond the mess, yeah. They didn’t take anything from what I can see. They messed with what you’d notice most. They obviously wanted you to know they’re here and closing in on you, and they want you afraid. That’s controlled, because they’re waiting.”
Waiting?
He stood again and brushed his hands down his thighs. Mason was gorgeous in a huge, manly, bodybuilder kind of way. Shawn had told me he didn’t take himself seriously and was the one guy on the team who was always cracking jokes, making light of situations they found themselves in.
He wasn’t finding anything funny in this.
“Waiting…” I finally repeated, the word almost sticking to my tongue like glue. “Waiting for what?”
His light eyes narrowed on me, and that heavy weight in my stomach dropped to my toes. “You. For the right time to get to you. We just have to figure out when that’ll be.”
* * *
“Let’s get you to bed,”Shawn muttered, walking me into his townhome. I couldn’t stop yawning.
It was late, though not overly so, but I was crashing and doing it quickly.
“You too?” I leaned my head on his shoulder.
I didn’t even care that I sounded needy and was practically clinging to Shawn and had been doing it since he took me to my apartment. We hadn’t stayed too much longer after Shannon left and Mason dropped that warning at my feet, but it felt like it’d beendayssince I last slept.
“I’ll be here,” he said, “I just need to make some calls first, check in with Jaxon.”
I lifted my hand and stopped him. In all honesty, I didn’t want to know what they were doing, how they were doing it. All I cared about was that it stopped.
I let Shawn guide me upstairs, straight to his bedroom. A soft smile lifted the corner of my lips. At least I’d be sleeping with him whenever he decide to come to bed.
“Do you need a shower? Or a bath? Anything to help you relax?”
I needed a Xanax and a whole lot of wine, but that probably wasn’t the smartest decision. “No. I’ll be okay…just…” I turned my head up to face him. “Just don’t leave me?”
“I need to get our bags and then I’ll be back. I can make the calls here if you want, but I thought you’d need a few minutes to yourself.”
I didn’t want that. The idea of being alone made shivers race down my spine. Someone had been watching. Waiting.
How long had they known where I was? How long would they keep doing it?
“I just need you.”
“And you have me.” He kissed my forehead and shoved me toward the bathroom off his bedroom. Next to the bathroom was another door, I assumed to his closet. “Go. Take care of what you need, and I have shirts in my closet if you want to change into something. Pajama pants or boxers are in my dresser. Get comfortable, and I’ll be back, okay?”
He was offering me his things, clothes that didn’t come from my ransacked apartment. I didn’t know if that was intentional or if he just wanted me to get in bed and it was the quickest option, but I appreciated it.
I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to wear my clothes again knowing some other male’s hands had been on them.
Tears finally burst into my eyes and my shoulders shook.
“They…theytouchedmy things,” I cried, and I was immediately encased in Shawn’s strong arms that smelled so good and felt even better.
“I know. Let it out. You’re safe here.”
I wasn’t. If they had waited until I wasn’t home, they could be waiting, watching now.
Shawn held me until I stopped sobbing, and when I pulled back, I pressed my hand to the wet spot I’d left on his shirt. “I’m sorry.”
