Page 119 of Fallen Princess: Shadow Stalker

He nods his head and slides his arm behind my back.

“Lead the way, siren,” he says, taking out his metal box, going over to my parked truck, and laying it on the hood. I watch him roll up a smoke with precision and experience.

“So you’re driving with Callum to your place?”

“Is that okay?” I look at Haze, who’s come up to my side, and he smiles but says nothing further of the matter.

“I’ll speak with Rick. He should meet us with the authorities at Terra Sands. If the kidnapper left any traces or signs that might lead to his identity, then we need to let them do their job.”

I agree with him but am skeptical about letting the police know. I feel if anything goes wrong, my stalker might act on his promise to kill me. What if the case is mishandled or it reaches the news?

I tell them my worries and their understanding is etched all over their faces.

“Tell us, babe. What do you want us to do?” Jagger’s face is full of confusion as he swipes his hand across his face, wishing he had the proper answer for me.

“If you want me to call off Rick and tell him to drop the case with the police, I’ll do that. Maybe we can get his own men he trusts on the case.”

“Like a private investigator?”

“More like a private assassin,” Callum now joins us. He exhales, and a billow of sweet-smelling tobacco surrounds his face.

“I’m actually shocked that I like the sound of that,” I admit. “I think this being LA and with someone in the police department probably having a direct line to the tabloids, perhaps we need to call off the search dogs. These cryptic clues are intriguing enough to getthe media involved to sell a perfect story and animal activists to come out of the woodworks.”

Haze nods and gets out his phone to send orders to Rick.

“Come on then,” Callum says, tossing his cigarette to the curb. “Let’s get this drive going.”

I follow him to my truck and open the door, hopping in and turning to see the other two follow Haze down the road to where the SUV is parked.

“Great,” Callum catches my attention as he takes his phone out. “Your player connects to Bluetooth.”

I rev up the engine, and the low purr it makes echoes the anticipation building between me and Callum. With a confident grin, he plugs his phone into the truck’s Bluetooth system, unleashing a burst of energy as the first chords of this classic rock anthem reverberate through the speakers.

I pull out of the parking, and the rhythmic vibrations seem to synchronize with the hum of the tires on the asphalt as we begin our journey out of the city’s urban landscape into the tranquil expanse of the desert.

Chapter 32

We stopped once torefuel. I suggested a helicopter would have been faster, but I was met with rolling eyes by my two bandmates.

“Rick’s just boarded a helicopter,” I announce, dropping my phone into the console. “His ETA should be roughly the same time as us.”

The other two remain silent.

“When Eden changes her mind about us moving in with her, it’s something for us to consider because I don’t think either of us fancy a five-hour drive every week.”

“She shut us down, I wouldn’t push it with her,” Jagger advises.

“You don’t reckon she’s there yet with us?”

“Oh, I believe she loves us like she said she does, I just don’t think she’s contemplated living with us on a permanent basis,” Jagger admits, and I’m shocked by this sudden declaration.

“She told you she loved you?” I ask, a little taken aback.

“You two haven’t had that discussion?” Asher asks, leaning forward between the two front seats where Jagger and I sit.

I’m guessing they both did. This isn’t high school where I should feel left out because all my friends have girlfriends, and I’m straddling behind without one.

For fuck’s sake, she knows how I feel about her. I just wanted to give her space; I came on fast with her and didn’t want her to freak out.

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