Those memories were what finally overrode my raging libido.
“Not gonna happen,” I snapped. “If you have something you want to tell me for the paper, great. I’ll keep you as an anonymous source. But you aren’t getting jack-shit from me,pendejo.”
The hot-guy loverboy persona cracked a bit then. I could see it in Nate’s eyes—he probably wasn’t used to women resisting his charms. He quickly covered his frustration with another smile, but it looked less genuine.
“Fine, then.” Nate straightened, and the flirtation left his voice. “I thought we could be friends and help each other out.I guess that was wrong. Maybe this can simply be a business arrangement. Nothing else.”
I huffed in annoyance. “Listen, my guy, as I’ve already said, you aren’t getting anything out of me. I’m on my first day of the story. Even if Iwantedto tell you anything, I haven’t had time to dig. Surely whatever source you have would know that.”
Nate lifted his hands, holding the palms out in surrender. “You got me. Well-played.”
“What do you mean?”
“My source did tell me you were a reporter for the paper, but the real reason I’m here is because I heard you were attacked as well. You have a solid resemblance to the other victims, and you managed to fight the guy off. I thought you might be able to give me more information. I’m trying to figure out if this guy who attacked you might be the killer as well.”
Having my earlier thoughts spoken out loud made the prospect seem even more ridiculous. There was no way it was the same person. Some crackhead had been hoping to steal a couple of purses and fucked with the wrong girl. That was that.
Shaking my head, I said, “No way. Ididget attacked, but the guy who did it was alone. Rumor on the street is that all the victims were mauled by an animal. A dog, most likely. Something that’s been trained to kill. This guy had no dog. No chance it was the same person.”
Nate narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure about that?”
I opened my mouth to retort but paused. A memory came back to me, one that had been cast aside during the struggle with the guy, pushed further down by dealing with the cops and EMTs and everything else that had happened directly after the attack. The very first thing Lesley and I noticed was a low, throaty growl. An animal?
Suddenly, the hallway felt much colder than it had a few seconds ago. Could I bepositivethere hadn’t been a dogsomewhere in the shadows, awaiting a command?HadI fought off the serial killer that night?
In an instant, everything looked and felt more terrifying. Out here in the hall, with this stranger, I was vulnerable. That was unacceptable. I hated that feeling, despised it. I needed to get into the apartment. Get safe behind that door, throw the locks, and pull the curtains.
“Could you move, please? I’ve had a long day, and I’d like to relax in my apartment.Alone,” I added pointedly.
“It’s not that late,” Nate said with another sexy grin. “There’s plenty of time to talk.” He leaned against the door frame. Notonthe door, but in my way.
Taking the initiative I should have the moment I saw him, I put my hand on his chest and gently urged him back.
Holy shit, the man was made of muscle.
“My little brother will be home soon, so for me, it is late. Sorry, buddy.”
Undeterred, Nate gave me that sexy head tilt guys did in movies. “I usually don’t say things like this, but has anyone ever told you you’re gorgeous when you get mad?”
“Good God!” I whirled around, my hair flipping up. “Can’t you take a hint?”
The grin vanished. His eyes went wide, and even his nostrils flared. Nate looked intense and worried. His eyes weren’t on mine, though. They were locked on my neck.
“What the fuck is that?” he demanded, all business now.
“None of your business,” I said, nodding behind him to the stairwell. “Can you please leave, Nate?”
“Did that guy bite you? Why wasn’t that in the police report?”
Adjusting my hair to cover the healing wound, I glared at him. “It’s just a scratch. No big deal. I had dozens of them after the fight.”
Nate, emboldened by God knew what, brushed my hair aside to get a better look at it. The invasion of my personal space and the crazy speed with which he moved startled me. Jerking, I turned away, taking a step back.
“Watch out!” he yelled.
My foot found nothing but air, and I tilted backwards from the momentum. I pictured my body shattering on the stairs, bones protruding from my skin, head tilted at an awkward angle as my neck snapped.
But with that lightning speed of his, Nate caught my wrist and hauled me against his chest. His other arm wrapped around my back protectively.
