Page 70 of Claiming Becca

He pauses and takes a deep breath. “I can do that for Becca, too, if you’d like me to.”

His offer catches me off guard, but I slowly shake my head. “She’s with me almost always. I think she’ll be okay,” I reply, but I’m seriously considering it. “I think Friday night was a coincidence.”

I hope it was, anyway. We get lost in our thoughts for a few minutes before Victor speaks up.

His eyes are on Julian. “We’re going to have to do something about Donovan. And it will probably have to be in a way you won’t be happy with.”

Julian sucks in a breath and nods once. I can tell he’s going to need some more convincing. I never thought I’d be on the same side as Victor Valentine.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

BECCA

A CARdrives by on the street, and I try to talk myself into backing out of the parking spot and follow it, but I hesitate.

“You can do this,” I murmur. “Just drive one block and then turn around.” Gripping the gear shift, I put it in reverse and back out of the parking spot. When I get to the street, it takes me a split second, but I turn toward what used to be the bad part of town.

I get one block down, the apartment building I was attacked against comes into view. I stop and pull over against the curb. It looks so different. It’s not as run down as it used to be. The trailer park that was across the street is no longer there.

There’s a duplex apartment there instead. The outside looks inviting, with flower beds, everything looking clean. Connor told me it looked different, but I didn’t imagine how different. My phone rings. I glance down to see it’s Connor.

Before answering, I ensure there isn’t any traffic and do a U-Turn heading back toward town.

“Hey, Big Man!” I greet him.

“Hey! Do you know why seagulls fly over the ocean?” he asks. I’m already giggling.

“I don’t know. Why?” I respond.

“Because if they flew over the bay, we’d call them bagels.” He starts laughing.

I join in. “I love how weird you are,” I tell him.

“Are you on your way home?” he asks.

My heart pumps in my chest. “Yeah. I’ll be there soon.” I come to a stop at a light. Glancing across the lane, I see a black Mercedes Benz. “Oh, my god,” I whisper.

“What? Are you alright?” Connor asks, sounding on full alert.

“I think I see Donovan’s car,” I whisper, like Donovan can hear me.

“Where are you?” he says something to someone, then the door to his truck closes. At least, I think that’s what it is.

“I’m near the Mexican restaurant,” I tell him. “I’m at a light, and he’s across the street at the other light.” The light changes green, so I slowly let off the brake. When we pass at the intersection, I glance over to see if I can see him, but the windows are tinted so dark I can’t.

“Becca?” He calls out to me. I swallow and watch in my rearview mirror. He’s headed in the direction I just left. What if I had run into him while I had been there? “Becca?” Connor’s voice comes through.

I shake myself. “I’m here. I’m pretty sure that was him. The windows were tinted dark.”

“Come home. I’ll be there when you get there.”

“Okay,” I whisper. I need to call Liv and check on her. “I’ll be there soon. I love you.”

“I love you,” he replies. I pull Liv’s name up after we hang up to call her.

“Hello?” she answers after the third ring.

“Hey, Liv.” I force my voice to sound normal.

---