Page 127 of Reckless

“Did Jude know about this before?”

“Not until about three hours ago,” he admits.

“Is she dangerous?” I ask, more quietly this time.

“We don’t know. Until now, she has done nothing other than make comments online, sent a few letters and photographs.”

"Comments… You mean threats?" They couldn't classify her as a stalker if she was just making random comments. Threats are a different matter.

Riggs nods.

Oh God, I feel sick. This woman has been following us round for weeks. And they didn’t know. My mind races to the RV door being open yesterday, to the random person in the bathroom earlier.

Rage consumes me. It’s not an emotion I was expecting, but I’m so fucking angry. Who the hell does this woman think she is? Why does she think she has the right to do these things, to Jude, or me?

Riggs is staring at me, surprise registering on his face as he takes in my expression.

“I am not letting her ruin this for me, or the fans who have come to see me.”

“Krista, she almost made contact we need-”

“I need to go to my panel. She doesn’t scare me, she doesn’t get to intimidate me.”

“I admire your guts, but we don’t know what she is planning.”

“Then let’s go to the panel and find out, shall we?”

He splutters over what to say. Before he can stop me, I march around him and head back to the room I’m supposed to be in. Riggs curses behind me but hurries to catch up. My eyes are everywhere trying to spot her, but there is no sign of her now. Maybe seeing Riggs spooked her, and she left.

“Will the police deal with her?” I ask Riggs. I already know the answer. She hasn’t done anything. The police have no cause to arrest her.

He says as much. “Do me a favor, Krista. Don't go anywhere without me. Jude will break my neck if I let anything happen to you. He already punched Luther in the face.”

"Seriously?"

Riggs says that with a certain amount of awe, like no one has ever gotten the best of Luther. I can well believe it.

“Let me take you back to your room after this thing.”

“And let down all these people who came to see me. Not a chance.”

He chooses not to argue. We head into the meeting room, and I’m greeted by one of the organizers and taken to a seat up front from where I will be introduced. The woman eyes Riggs, but I just smile. There is no point in arguing. He’s not leaving my side.

Begrudgingly, I admit I’m glad he’s here, because as I sit there, then head up to the stage and join everyone else, my eyes are all over the place looking for her. It’s only then I realize I didn’t call Jude back.

As the panel goes on, I relax. The doors have been closed so no one else can be admitted. Riggs is standing by the far wall watching everyone. I’ve noticed a few women staring over at him. He’s a good-looking guy, and he’s all tense and alert. His muscles are practically bulging out.

The panel is a raging success, even though I missed some of it as I was focusing on my surroundings. I answered all the questions put to me by the facilitator, and the audience and my guard goes down as we finish.

Riggs takes me back to the hall and my table. There are a few people milling around. The ticketing system Emily put in place is working. There is no sign of her yet, so I figure she’s gone to the bathroom or is grabbing lunch. Riggs takes up a spot behind me, standing by the bookcases.

I explain him away as a prop, which gets a giggle out of the women within earshot and an eye roll from Riggs. My phone rings when I’m back into the swing of things. It’s Jude.

I apologize and tell the woman waiting I’ll just be two seconds as I step away to take the call.

“Krista, thank fuck, why aren’t you answering your phone?” Jude sounds frantic.

“Calm down. Riggs is here. He hasn’t left my side for the last two hours.”

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