Heswallowed as he sank into a chair. “What are yegonnado?”
Plantingmy hands on thetable, andcasting my eyes over thephotographs of life and death, I took in a deep breath and said, “I need tocome up with a plan, I guess. And then, I need to go catch a bloody killer.”
***
Theupstairs hallway was long and carpeted in a monotonous pattern that feltreminiscent of something from a Stephen King novel. I stood at Rosie’s door,unsure of if I should knock or run away to seek refuge in my own room. My fisthovered frozen in mid-knock when she opened the door and yelped at the sight ofme.
“Youreally shouldn’t creep on people like that,” she said, catching her breath.
“Sorry.I just wanted to see if ye’re okay,” I replied stupidly, diverting my eyes toanywhere but her lips.
“No,Alec, I’m not. But thanks for asking,” she retorted sharply, beforesidestepping around me and into the hall.
“Whereare yegoin’?”
“Tothe bathroom. Is that okay with you?”
Hersnarky attitude was disconcerting and with narrowed eyes, I followed her.
“Whywould I have a problem with that?”
Shegroaned, pausing at the doorway as she thrust a hand into her hair. “I don’tknow. I just … I don’t know. I’m sorry. I’m just …” Groaning again, she turnedaround to face me and wrapped her arms around her middle tightly. “I don’t knowwhat the hell I'm doing here anymore. I’m exhausted, I’m terrified, I have noidea what the hell we’re going to do about any of this, this, this …shit…”
Hervoice trailed away to sink into the plush carpet beneath our feet and the dark,wood paneling surrounding us on the walls. I had feared her possible regret,and there it was. I could see it written plainly in the deepened lines betweenher brows, accompanied by the dark circles beneath her eyes.
“Arewe even safe here anymore?” she asked, finally meeting my gaze.
Thathad crossed my mind, too. But now that it was confirmed the killer knew I wasinvolved, it didn’t seem we were safe anywhere. Nobody would be safe aroundme—especially not her.
“Maybeye should leave. Go find a hotel, leave Scotland, anywhere away from me.”
“Andsplit up? Oh, yeah, that sounds like a great idea.”
Layinga hand over my forehead, I groaned before nodding. She was right and I wasn’tthinking clearly, not with everything else I had on my mind. We didn’t need tosplit up or find somewhere else to be. What we needed—both of us—was to finallysleep and clear our weary minds.
“Let’snot talk anymore tonight,” I declared. “Try to sleep. I’ll do the same, andwe’ll figureeverythin’ out tomorrow.”
Sherelented easily with a bob of her head, seeming so heavy on her neck andshoulders. Then, I left her without a kiss on the forehead despite how much mylipsbegged, andretreated to my room four doors downfrom hers. Knowing damn well I wouldn’t be sleeping for yet another night.
CHAPTER THIRTY
ROSIE
Behindthe door and secluded inside my bedroom in a strange house and even strangercountry, I felt more alone than I ever had before in my life. Not even thefirst night after my separation from Tom could compete with the unsettledweight of my heart right now, and all I wanted was to pick up the phone andcall my sister.
“God,Gracie,” I whispered to the flowers on the wallpaper and bedspread. “I hatethis.”
Myvoice was tangled in the aching emotions clotted tightly in my throat and Iheld my hand to my chest, certain that just the ache of missing my littlesister alone could kill me. And in a way, I wished that it would. Then, Iwouldn’t be here anymore, scared for my life and tangled in an anguish-fueled affairwith a surly Scotsman. I’d be with Grace, wherever she was, and this persistentpain and guilt would end.
Desperateto talk to someone who wasn’t residing in this house, I pulled my phone out ofmy sweatpants and called the second person on my list of favorite contacts.
Heanswered on the first ring.
“Hey,everything okay?” Tom asked hurriedly.
Myeyes flooded at the sound of his comfortable voice. With the back of my handpressed to my mouth, I choked down a sob and shook my head. “No,” I told him,finding no reason to lie.
“Whathappened? Anything new?”
