Page 40 of Cat and Mouse

But when I open it, my stomach drops.

Standing there is a man I know all too well, tall, with dark hair slicked back and those piercing blue eyes that seem to see right through me. Leonardo DeLuca. The Phantom. And he's pointing a gun right at me.

"I heard you were looking for me," he says, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "I have to say, Lizzie, I'm disappointed. You don't even check before you open the door? Haven't you heard there's a serial killer on the prowl?"

"Fuck!" I exclaim, my heart racing for all the wrong reasons. "What do you want, Leo?"

He presses the gun against my chest, cold metal digging into my skin, and I take a step back, my mind racing. "Let's go inside. Now."

"Like hell I will!" I shoot back, crossing my arms defiantly. But he walks me backward anyway and closes the door behind him. "You can't just barge in here, pointing a gun at me. That's a quick way to get yourself shot."

He chuckles, that low, dangerous sound making my skin crawl. "Oh, sweet Lizzie, you really don't want to go down this path. I'm not here to play games."

"Then what do you want?" I demand, keeping my voice steady despite the pounding in my ears.

"I want to talk," he replies, his tone shifting slightly, that smirk still lingering. "But only you. So let's make this easy."

"Not a chance," I reply, my voice firm. "You can't hold me hostage, you bastard. This isn't how this works!"

He raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You're going to make this difficult, aren't you?"

I glare at him, the anger bubbling inside. "Why are you here, Leo? I don't have time for your bullshit."

He leans closer, and I can see the glint in his eyes, a mix of mischief and something darker. "Let's just say I'm interested in what you're digging into. I'm curious about what you know."

"Why would I tell you anything?" I ask, the fear creeping back in. "You're the enemy here. You're connected to all of this."

He grins, a flash of sharp teeth. "And yet, here I am, right at your doorstep. What does that tell you about my intentions?"

I swallow hard, the weight of his words pressing down on me. "What do you really want?"

His eyes flicker, as if he's weighing his next words carefully. "We have to work on your listening skills, detective. I'm just here to talk."

Chapter 12 - Leo

Her jaw's tight. She's trying to play it cool, but I can see right through her. The sass is a front, and she's scared. She should be. I've got a gun pointed at her, after all.

"I'll put the gun away," I say, watching her swallow, the way her throat moves. Christ, why does that do something to me? "But you better not do anything stupid."

She nods stiffly. I tuck the gun into the back of my jeans, but I don't take my eyes off her.

"So, you've been calling my name," I say, voice casual, almost teasing. "That means the little piggie squealed."

She's angry. I can see it in the way her eyes flare. "His name was Miguel."

I nod. "Yeah."

"You had him killed."

Another nod. "Of course."

"Why?"

"Wasn't personal," I shrug, leaning against the back of her door like I'm settling in for a chat. "I don't like loose ends."

Her eyes narrow, but she's listening. She's always listening. "You had him killed because he knew too much?"

"Exactly."

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