Page 7 of Death Raiser

He didn’t leave the rose.

“Uh, yeah. Someone left a rose without a note.” I didn’t dare say where or when. That would probably result in Kang calling the Emergency Response Team. I had no need for ERT to swarm my building—at least not until I knew for certain whether this was something serious or not. The rose hadn’t been left inside my apartment, after all. Someone might’ve dropped it, and I was playing amateur flower detective for no reason.

“I sent a bouquet to your work a while ago, and another bouquet more recently, but I have a feeling that’s not what you’re referring to.” He pressed his lips together and remained silent while he turned onto another street. “I didn’t leave you a rose, Lark.”

His use of my first name again sent warmth flooding through my body.

“But now I’m worried about who did,” Kang said.

“You don’t need to worry.” I was definitely worrying enough for the two of us.

“Are you dating someone? What happened to that Hudson guy?”

I froze at the name. Hudson Harrison and I had dated briefly until he tricked me and used me to hitch a ride to the veil. We were definitely not dating. Harrison probably wasn’t even his real surname. “I’m not seeing anyone, Kang.”

He shook his head. His grip on the wheel tightened.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“I’m debating whether to pull over.”

“And do what?”

He pressed his lips together. “I’m not sure.”

“Lock me up? Shove me into a padded room? Chain me in your basement?”

He thought about it for an entire city block. “Those all sound reasonable.”

“Kang…”

“It would only be until I found this rose-giving shithead. I’d let you go after I knew you were safe.”

“I can take care of myself, Kang.”

“If you’re in a situation where you have to take care of yourself, that’s a problem.”

“It’s not a problem,” I insisted. Yet.

He glanced at me, gaze narrow. Barely controlled rage simmered beneath the surface and the dark part of me wanted to reach out and stroke it, just to see what would happen. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yes,” I said. “If that changes, I’ll let you know.”

“Promise?”

“Of course.”

“Should I even be dropping you off at home alone? You have mysterious flowers showing up and you almost fainted at the crime scene today.”

“First, there was only one rose, as in singular, and second, I really feel fine,” I said. “I could’ve driven myself home.”

He nodded, keeping his eyes on the road. His lips pressed together, and I could almost see the proverbial steam coming out of his ears. “I’d rather we not find out whether that was true while you’re driving on the highway at night.”

I sighed and dropped my head back on the headrest. “Thank you.”

Kang nodded again and silence filled the car, not quite uncomfortable, but not quite comfortable, either. I had so much to say but didn’t know where to start.

“How are you doing?” I finally asked.

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