Page 78 of Silver Fire

“Well, let’s just make sure there’ll be no confusion later,” Derek said with a smirk before shooting Sophie a heated look that had her tensing up in anticipation. Sophie held his eyes and returned his gaze meaningfully.

“You two need to stop eye-fucking each other before we all spontaneously combust,” Stephen announced. There was smothered laughter from other tables around them.

“We’re causing a scene,” Sophie softly berated her friends. She frowned when their server laid down a decadent slice of pineapple white chocolate cake beside her plate with a bar napkin bearing scrawled words on it. “I didn’t order this.”

“No, the gentleman…” the server began, breaking off as her gaze showed confusion. “He was just sitting over there.”

“Sophie?” Beth’s voice sounded far away as Sophie vaguely registered Derek rising from his chair to quickly get to her.

“He’s here,” Sophie whispered, her mouth turning dry. “Oh god.” She looked down at the writing on the napkin and a chill slithered up her spine.

To taste the sweetness of your lips

To see the passion in your eyes

As I possess you

Soon, my beauty

* * *

Derek could barely containhis fury, but he struggled to remain calm because he needed to make sure that Sophie was okay. He crouched beside her and handed her a glass of water. “Drink this,” he muttered tersely. She took a sip without hesitation. At least she wasn’t in hysterics. She seemed more skeeved out than frightened.

“Why do I attract all the stalkers?” Sophie whispered to him.

“I’m not a stalker, baby, and I’m attracted to you,” Derek said, attempting to inject some humor.

“Ah, yeah, Lockwood, you’re quite a stalker,” Beth added. To Sophie, she said, “We’ll get him, Sophie.”

Derek stood up. “Stay with her. I’m going to find out what I can.” He walked into the cafe and waylaid the waitress who handed Sophie the cake.

“I need to talk to you.”

“I’m working,” the woman said, annoyed.

“Is there a problem, here?” the manager of the cafe asked.

“Yes,” Derek said. “Your employee has information regarding a suspect in a heist.”

“What?” their server asked, dumbfounded.

“Yeah, the man is more than just a stalker. He’s a person of interest and I need you to tell me everything you know.”

“But—”

“We’re wasting time—”

The waitress nodded, suddenly frightened. The manager let them use his office where Derek immediately asked for a description of Justin. The server said he was dressed in jeans and light blue t-shirt, wore aviator shades and had brown hair. She had no idea how tall he was since he was sitting, but she surmised an approximate height of 5’9” which was about how Derek remembered as close to Justin’s height.

“Any distinguishing marks?”

“None.”

“Age?”

“About late twenties, early thirties.”

The man was slick, Derek thought grimly. He had already changed his appearance. Derek handed her his card and told her to call him if she remembered anything else. Pulling out his phone, he called Taggart.

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