I’m outside. Open your front door .
My heart galloped out my eye socket…or at least it felt like it could have done that since both pulsed like crazy. I dropped onto the floor where I stood, uncaring that the kitchen tile was damn cold. This wasn’t how I wanted to spend the last few hours of my Sunday.
The text message from an unknown, local number had me debating between opening said door and racing for the plain clothes cop who had better be in the parking lot, or calling 911 so they could get a message to him. Then again, how good could he be if he’d let someone get to my door in the first place?
Kidding .
I stared at the next text message in disbelief. Whoever they were was officially dead to me.
I don’t want to scare the rookie cop .
Growling, I bashed in an answer. Not funny. Who is this?
I’ll give you a hint. I’ve had three beers .
Giving my phone the middle finger, I hit the dial button.
He answered on the second ring. “Shelby?” The unassuming drawl had more punch over the phone, even when laced with uncertainty and surprise. What had he expected?
“That was beyond asshole,” I said, hissing. “I’m terrified, Nick. For real. And you’re making jokes about being at my front door.”
A car passed outside, headlights flickering over the ceiling through the sole window over my sink. I considered getting to my feet and hiding in the bedroom, but decided I was safer surrounded by cabinets. Now if I could just stay that way until daylight, everything would be okay, right?
“Terrified of me?”
Nick had been quiet for long enough that I’d almost forgotten I’d called him. If I hadn’t met the guy twice and seen him turn into…something, I might have thought his nearly cracking voice was cute.
For some reason I couldn’t guess, I didn’t want to admit I was terrified of him. I settled for a slight evasion. “And of whoever that guy was who shot those cops.”
“I’m working on that.”
“I thought…” I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.
“I did,” he answered my unvoiced question. “But he didn’t look like the sort who worked alone. There could be others. If you weren’t terrified of me, I’d offer more help.”
Another car drove past, deep bass thumping through my apartment. The noise faded outside but resumed elsewhere with too much treble. No, not elsewhere. Over the phone.
Nick was close. Perhaps he’d been at my door after all. That explained his mention of the rookie cop.
I covered my mouth in time to muffle a ragged breath.
“You heard that.”
A little gasp popped out of me at Nick’s statement.
“You heard the car go by. You know I’m outside.” He sighed and made scuffing sounds. “Look, I’m not usually this much of a stalker. But you did witness several crimes.”
“Are you going to kill me?” I whispered.
The sound of pebbles kicking and scraping against pavement through the phone seemed to say Nick was walking. I hoped to God not toward me.
“I hadn’t planned on it,” he said.
My shoulders tightened. “But…?”
“If my Alpha knew what I’d let you see, he’d do the deed for me.”
His Alpha? Did that mean there were others like him?
“And if the crime boss I lost track of two hours ago gets to you before I get to him, my Alpha won’t have to deal with it.”
Now the mafia was involved?
“I can’t handle this.” I banged my head on the cabinet door behind me.
“You don’t have to. All you have to do is open the door. I’ll take care of the rest.”
I whimpered, hearing a threat in those words.
Nick cursed. His scuffing stopped. “I didn’t mean it like that, Shelby. I mean that if you let me inside, I’ll make sure the mob can’t get you.”
Because he would have already gotten me?
Curling my hand beneath the cabinet door, I squeezed, trying to release a little bit of tension. “I have police protection. And that protection would be pretty pointless if I let people in through the back door.”
“Then come out and introduce me to the cop. If anything happens, he’ll know who to blame.”
“That won’t do me much good after the fact.”
Nick sighed. “I’m trying to protect us both.”
“Yet you had three beers?” I scoffed, and pretended I hadn’t heard him say both.
“The guy I was tracking went someplace I couldn’t go and disappeared when I was trying to find a way in. I don’t know where he is now. All I know is he got in a car. He could be on his way here now.”
“And the beer?”
“They were the only way I could work up the courage to text you.”
“With a threat!”
“I’m a colossal asshole,” he said as if it were a matter of fact. “I won’t drink anymore. Just let me inside, Shelby.”
The idea that some guy he’d tracked—some crime boss—could be headed for me made me want to give in. But I couldn’t forget what this man had done. “I saw what you did to that car. You could come in if you really wanted.”
“I want you to let me in.”
“You’re very dangerous.”
“Yes, but not to you, Shelby.”
Could I believe that answer? Especially when he’d admitted his Alpha would want to deal with me?
Nick had been straight with me thus far, even going so far as to insult my admittedly skimpy Halloween costume, and then was forthright with our friends about what he’d said. I also couldn’t forget that he had protected me. Might even still be protecting me.
Releasing the cabinet door, I settled my back against it. “Why do you think this guy might be on his way to my place?”
“The media released your full name,” he said with a growl. “If the guy who shot those cops is affiliated with the mob, it’s only a matter of time before they tidy up loose ends.”
Gunshots echoed in my memory. I shivered, knowing he was right. “What about your…Alpha? Won’t he want to tidy up loose ends?”
“If you and I…can come to an agreement, he won’t ever have to know.”
My spine straightened, making the wood behind me rattle. “What kind of an agreement?”
“Let me in, Shelby, and we can discuss it.”
“I don’t trust you. I don’t want to let you in.” And I certainly didn’t want to come to any agreement. Not when his drawl thickened to assuming.
“I know you don’t.” Nick sighed, and scuffs scraped through the phone. There was a thud, and then he grunted. “It’s fine. I’ll just sit here and watch until sunrise.”
I almost squeaked, realizing he could see my apartment from wherever he was. Would he really sit out there all night?
Whatever he decided to do, I didn’t trust him and I did have police protection. I’d be fine.
“Um,” I said, “I’ve got to go.”
His sigh was the last thing I heard before I disconnected.
My butt went numb within twenty minutes. I stayed against the kitchen cabinet for another fifteen before heading to my bedroom. My mattress, though easier on my rear than the kitchen floor, didn’t feel as safe. Not when every headlight that flashed through the curtains could be a mobster.
A mobster that might hurt Nick. Or that Nick might hurt. And with a rookie cop catching the whole thing on one of their car cams. Then Nick would have to destroy the car and probably the cop, too. All because he was trying to protect me.
Another vehicle drove by, bass pounding even at eleven at night. I reached for my phone. My fingers remained stretched over my dresser. I bit my lip.
It was November now. And cold.
Okay, not cold. Texas’s Indian summer had yet to fade. But that didn’t mean Nick would be comfortable out there.
He’d probably left as soon as I’d hung up.
I hopped off the bed and tapped to the window that faced the identical building across the strip of grass they called a lawn. I made a tiny hole between the curtains to peek out, scanning the bushes at its base for a figure. Tiptoeing to the sliding glass door, I twitched the blinds aside and observed the identical building that abutted mine. Nothing. If Nick was out there, he’d done a helluva job hiding. Or he’d sat somewhere with a view of my apartment’s front door.
I wrung my hands and paced back to the window, and then craned my neck to see around the building. If I checked from the living room, I’d have a better view.
Snatching up my phone instead, I shot off a text message.
R U still here ?
I paced between the bedroom walls already regretting the hasty message.
My phone beeped. I jumped even though I’d been expecting an answer. The lock screen showed me the single word reply: Yes
Finger shaking, I typed another message. Is it safe?
Safe for what ?
That reply was quicker. I made myself tap more letters. 2 come out & talk 2 rookie cop
Different cop. Not rookie . Why? He said back.
I took a steadying breath. So I can introduce U
The little text bubbles stared up at me, no new ones since before I’d typed. Did that mean it wasn’t safe? Or that he no longer wanted to come inside?
I just finished the beer
I swore at the message that popped up. But now that I’d gone out on the limb, I didn’t feel like inching back. Can U still protect me?
Yes
Is it safe 2 talk 2 cop?
I need to go get my car or he’ll question why I appeared out of no where. And I need mints because my breath smells like beer
I didn’t want Nick driving under the influence. I typed a message back. I can come get U
I’m good. BRT
This time my trembling fingers were due to fear I’d get him arrested for a DUI. I paced to the bed, fixing the covers so it didn’t look like two elephants had done the horizontal mamba on my comforter.
A high-pitched sound blared through the apartment.
Yelping, I fell against the mattress.
Not a siren . That was a buzzer. The visitor buzzer.
I raced for the front and hit the flashing button that would let someone in through the parking gate. Headlights hit the window a half minute later. I grabbed my keys and opened the door as the yellow Honda I assumed belonged to Nick coasted into a spot across the parking lot.
The police officer was out of the car before I’d closed the door behind me. His salt and pepper crew cut and scowl hinted he definitely wasn’t a rookie. He strode toward me while darting glances at the parked car. “Ma’am, is everything all right?”
“I have a guest coming,” I said. “I didn’t know what the procedure was. Do I introduce him to you?”
The door on the parked Honda popped open and out came one long leg. The rest of Nick lifted into view. Clad in a white t-shirt and a pair of black jeans, he stood out like a sail on the blank horizon. How had he hidden anywhere and watched my place?
“That your guest?” The officer nodded his head at Nick.
Nick lifted his palms and crossed the parking lot, gaze on me rather than the man with a gun.
“Yes.” My heart did the merengue to the crazed Latin band clamoring in my head. I had to be insane to invite this man into my apartment.
Nick transferred his attention to the cop, slowing as he reached the sidewalk.
I opened my mouth to introduce him, and then froze as my insides skip hopped. What had I been thinking? The cops were looking for Nick! And here he was, at my door in the middle of the night. I blurted the first words that came to mind. “This is Nathan.”
Nick gave me a startled look, and then smoothed it away by the time the officer faced him. He held out a hand, flashing that one-too-many-beers smirk.
Biting my lip, I worried the officer would get in the car and bring up a list of every Nathan in the greater metropolitan area and discover this one wasn’t among them. Maybe he’d even take a gander at the police sketch I’d done of Nick or run his plates.
God, I was so, so stupid.
“Well,” I shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, “thanks!” And then darted for the door, shuffling through my keys on the way.
Nick drew up behind me and draped an arm over my shoulder as I unlocked my place. “I’ve missed you, baby.”
His volume loud enough that the cop heard, Nick had to have meant the words for the guy’s benefit. Maybe to throw him off the scent? In any case, my heart shouldn’t have jumped and resumed the merengue.
Nick leaned in, running his lips along my ear. His pear aroma made a heady appearance beneath the hint of mint and beer. I fought not to gasp as I wiggled the keys.
My door clicked open.
Nick shouldered in front of me before I could make any invitations. I gave the officer a finger wave before closing myself inside with an admitted killer.
But the killer had disappeared. His feet thudded on the carpet in my bedroom. Doors whined open, hangers skated across the bar in the closet, and my shower curtain rings did a credible job of protesting.
Nick returned, eyes scanning every darkened corner before landing on me. “There’s no one here.”
I lifted an eyebrow rather than point out that we were here.
“I…assumed…” He glanced at the kitchen, forehead furrowing. “You texted me out of the blue. I thought something had happened.”
My face went hot. “I couldn’t sleep,” I said as if that would answer everything.
“Uh huh.” He scraped a hand through his hair, mussing it far too nicely. Pivoting away, Nick gave me one long look over his shoulder. He turned and disappeared into my bedroom once again.
I gulped. And then I followed.