Page 63 of Locked In Ice

“Right.I do recall that.”She did.“But I thought she might want to keep an eye on the next victim.”

His brows climbed.“You know the next victim?”

“I have a suspicion.”Maybe she was wrong.Only I don’t feel wrong.“If the first guy we got locked away wound up dead within hours, what do you think will happen to lucky perp number two?”

His jaw hardened.

“The killer picked Thomas because I brought him in.”This she believed with certainty.“The cops thought it wasyoucommitting the crime.”

“You think he was trying to set me up.”

Her gaze darted back to the quiet house.Then to Lane.“I think he was watching you.”

“What?”

“You.Us.The crime was committed when you went walking into the night, Lane.That is no coincidence.He knew your routine.”Something that actually worried her quite a bit.In order to know your routine, he would have needed to study you.“He attacked Thomas when he thought you were alone.Or at least, that’s what I suspect.”Had the killer been watching Lane’s hotel?Her fingers tapped along the steering wheel.“You and I took down Royce Nicholson.Royce didn’t make the news, not like Thomas did, so maybe our perp didn’t know about him right away.Or maybe he was just waiting, but my gut tells me that Royce could be next.”

“If he’s watching me—you—then how the hell do you know that one of us won’t be next?How do you know that this guy won’t come after us?”He leaned toward her.

She swallowed to ease the dryness in her mouth.“I don’t know that.So, absolutely, that’s a reason why you and I need to stay on our guard.”Was there any other way to be?She felt as if she always lived her life on guard.“You watch my back, and I’ll watch yours.Deal?”

His gaze narrowed.“Someone comes after you, he’ll be dead.”

She’d asked for adeal.Not the promise that someone would bedead.But she’d take what she could get.Ophelia huffed out a breath.One more thing needed to be said.“Sorry I didn’t warn you about my dad.”

His lips thinned.

“He, uh, cat sits for me when I’m out of town.Has a key to my house.I’d texted him to say that I’d be back, but I forgot how early he likes to take his walks.”Her fingers tapped again.“My dad is very protective.”

“You don’t say.”

“Everything that happened when I was sixteen?He blamed himself for it all.”

“Why would he do that?”

“Because he let me go out.Because if I’d stayed at home both Joseph and I would have been safe.Because my dad picked the curfew.If it had been earlier or later, Joseph and I would be…” Her words trailed away.“Any reason you can think of, my dad used it and took the guilt.Let me be clear, it wasn’t his fault.”She’d never blamed her father.Never.“I’ve told him that, but I don’t think he believes me.And he hasn’t let it go.”Neither have I.“He takes the job of protecting me very seriously.So if he said or did anything that upset you, I’m sorry.”There.Done.“Now, about this house…”

“You don’t need to apologize because your dad loves you.”Lane shoved open his door but paused before exiting.“You should consider yourself lucky.”He climbed out.

She hurried to follow suit.Ophelia slammed her door and met him in front of her Jeep.

“Even if I’m pretty sure your father plans to rearrange my face at the earliest opportunity,” he added roughly.“You’re still lucky.”

“My father won’t rearrange your face.”

He quirked one brow.“Pretty sure he told me those were his plans when I was walking him out.”

Her mouth opened.But she didn’t know what to say.Then… “I’ll talk to him.I can smooth this over.”Mental note.Make sure Dad knows that Lane’s face is off-limits.She liked Lane’s face.

She liked…him.

“Figure your dad deserves a punch or two.”The back of Lane’s hand skimmed lightly over her cheek.“You’re worth plenty of hits.”

That was really sweet.But completely unnecessary.“He isnothitting you.Look, I’ll fix this.I told you, he’s protective.But he respects me, and if I say you’re my partner, then you’re my partner.”

“This isn’t about being your partner, sweetness.It’s about me fucking you.”

“Lane—”

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