Page 152 of Heart of Frost and Scars

Now she knows.

She knows I’m thinking of her when I pleasure myself.

She knows I’m not the one terrorizing her.

But I’m a threat to her nonetheless.

“I’m not mad.” I disarm all the cameras in the app and hand back her phone. Then I pluck the small recording device from its hiding place.

This explains the changes I noticed in her tonight, why she’s been looking at me so differently.

But it doesn’t solve the stalker problem.

“I’ll increase security.” My fists crack the bones in my fingers. “No one will get to you on the island. You’re safe with me.”

“Thank you. For everything. For helping Leo and Kody, for showing up tonight. It means more than you know.” She squares her shoulders. “I’m sorry for invading your privacy. I’ll remove the cameras immediately.”

“Leave them.”

“What? Why?”

“Even though you can prove to Leo and Kody that I’m not your stalker, they still won’t trust me.”

“I already told them about the call and the video proof that it’s not you.”

“Even so, they’ll continue to follow you everywhere and never take their eyes off you. Maybe the cameras will help them relax and give you space while you’re home.”

“I don’t know if that’s possible.” She laughs. “Giving them access to your privacy isn’t healthy for them. They need to learn to trust you.”

“This will help them do that.”

“At least remove the one in your bedroom.”

“I have nothing to hide, Frankie. But I do fuck my hand in the shower.” I give her the tiny camera. “If you want to watch that, you’ll have to join me.”

“Monty…” She makes a growly kitten sound.

“In the spirit of honesty, it’s my turn to show you something.” I motion for her to follow. At her frown, I soften my voice. “It’s safe. I promise. I won’t proposition you.”

In the walk-in closet, I remove the night-vision goggles from a shoebox at the rear of a shelf and hand them to her.

“What’s this?” Her face pales.

“I’ll show you.”

I lead her to the guest bedroom, through the closet, and into the unlit attic space.

“Power the goggles on.” I show her the button, my insides coiling. “Good. Now put them on.”

“I don’t know about this.” She squints at me in the dark.

“I know you don’t trust me, but—”

“I’m trying.”

She won’t trust me after this, but I want full transparency. No more secrets.

Slowly, she puts on the goggles. After some adjusting, I guide her to the half-moon window. When she peers through it, directly into the bedroom she shares with Leo and Kody, she gasps.

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