Page 35 of Holy Sinner

She wants to help, I know that. But Alana’s suggestion of telling the police can never happen. If I did that I’d run the risk of them looking too close at Grant and Rafe and what they’ve done…what they do. Even if I do have a stalker, there’s no way the authorities are going to be invited into it when I have so much more to lose than my life.

I’ll never give up Rafe and Grant.

I grip the blankets tighter and squeeze my eyes shut. The sound of Rafe and Grant arguing in the next room comforts me and grounds me as much as the bed beneath me.

“Are you sure? I could go with you to the station. I’ll be there every step of the way with you, I promise.”

“I’m okay, Alana. I promise. I know things are weird right now but I’ll be with Grant and Rafe and you’ll be coming to the location, too, right?”

“I mean, I think so? They’re acting like they’re sending you to Area 51 with how secretive they’re being but I did get assurance from Jane that I’d be able to come see you once you’re settled. I think she said maybe a week.”

“That’s not long at all. Where do you think they’re sending us? I hope it has a pool.”

Alana hums in delight. “Oh, what if it’s overseas? Oh god, I’d kill for a week in Spain.”

I smile because the location has to mimic the Pacific Northwest and I don’t think Spain is going to quite fit the bill, but I’ve gotten her off the trail of wanting me to go to the cops, at least for now. Alana is a wonderful friend. I know she’ll bring it right back up at the next sign of trouble but that’s a problem for future me so I let her chatter on about the different locations the movie might be heading to with a smile on my face. It’s easy to pretend nothing’s wrong when we’re debating if it’s going to be a beach location for a poolside bar where I can sip mojitos and get the chance to ogle Rafe and Grant in wet swim shorts.

Not for the first time I wish my life had begun when Alana met me or when Grant and Rafe walked into my life. If it were that way then everything would be so much simpler. There would be no wondering about stalkers or how much I’ll lose because of the darkness of my past. Whatever I do lose, it won’t be my men. I refuse it. What would the point of life even be without them?

“I’m here for you, always. You know that, right?” she asks.

“I do, yeah. Thank you. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The pressure in my chest lifts a little more and I don’t feel as heavy anymore. I lay back on the bed and laugh with my friend while she launches into a story of her last date and how terrible the pool of single men are on dating apps.

“I swear, he catfished me with twenty-five year old photos, Kit! I didn’t even recognize my date because he looked like my date’s father in person. His father! And this wasn’t the hot kind of ‘I can fuck you or your dad’ vibe! The audacity of this man was unparalleled, do you get me, Kit?”

I laugh and snuggle into the blankets more. “I get you, Alana.”

Chapter Seventeen

RAFE

“Wake the fuck up.”

My head bounces against the glass of the passenger door of the stupid jacked up truck the film studio rented for us. I open my eyes and tilt my head to glare at the fucker that just slammed my head against the door. Grant looks like prince charming in the morning sunlight streaming into the truck cab, the light catching his hair making it flash like gold. Warm light highlights his full lips and sharp jaw, and in the morning light his blue eyes practically sparkle while he leans over Kit and gently wakes her up with soft words as he brushes her hair from her face.

God, I want to kill him.

“Do that again and I’ll gut you.”

“Promises, promises,” he mutters and kisses Kit’s forehead. “You sleep okay, sweetheart?”

“Mmhph.” Kit turns and buries her face into his shoulder and I unbuckle her seatbelt while I snap mine free. It’s then that I blink and take in my surroundings. We’d been driving since five-thirty that morning. Everyone had arrived at the production lot in a hush, not the usual boisterous shouts and laughter of the crew. There was weight to the quiet morning air as Holly marched along and handed out addresses on slips of paper like we were in a spy movie about killer robots or whatever.

“Do not text this address. The directions have been printed out for you. Do not fucking Google this goddamn thing and no apps to get there. Use the directions like a fucking pirate or else.”

The ‘Or Else’ from Holly hung in the air. While there were a few whispers about how Old School this shit was, everyone did it. Mostly we stayed together, the convoy of sleek black trucks and towncars mixed in with the bigger trucks hauling trailers. In the end, it wasn’t as many vehicles as I would have thought but now I understood why. I look at Kit because she’s beautiful when she first wakes up and sleep still clings to her. The sun shines and catches the red and brown highlights of her dark hair. I smile and tuck her hair behind her ear while she yawns and stretches.

“I should have known that fucker was going to make me camp.”

“What?” Kit asks and rubs sleep out of her eyes while Grant pulls her out of the truck and sets her on her feet. “What is this place?”

“A goddamn camp.”

“It’s a wellness center,” Grant clarifies and I scowl.

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