Page 79 of Beautiful Prey

“Jamie, why can’t I go back to my apartment?”

He sighed. “When I couldn’t get a hold of you, I tried calling the complex and they told me a neighbor reported your door being open. But when they peeked inside…”

My body went cold. “What?”

“I rushed over there to see myself, knowing you would freak if I didn’t check on Sammy,” he said, and I could tell he was trying to work his way around what he was about to tell me. “She’s okay, don’t worry.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “So it’s trashed then?” I imagined Emery forced his way in, looking to wait for me to return.When I didn’t, he went on a rampage before driving whatever car he must have stolen and making his way to the banquet. I remember leaving the invitation on my desk so there was no chance he didn’t see it. How he found my apartment was another story. Best I could guess was he had stolen Ethan’s phone after killing him and got my number, tracing it for my address online. Or just using the phone to look me up some other way. It wouldn’t be hard. Not for him.

“No,” Jamie said. “Not trashed. But some items were missing.”

I cursed, slamming my palm against the wheel. He got my laptop. I was sure of it. But Jamie implied more than one. “What items?” I said, almost too scared to ask.

“Your laptop and the external drive are gone,” he confirmed. “But also…”

“What, Jamie? Tell me.”

“Your kitchen was nearly cleaned out except for stuff in the freezer.”

“Great, he got hungry.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Okay. Why?”

“Your closet and drawers were cleaned out too.”

It took me a second to understand. He wasn’t planning to kill me just like that. He wanted to kidnap me. Where he could make it slow, and no one could hear me scream.

“Eve, you hear me?”

“Yes,” I choked. “Yes, I heard you.”

“So you need to get here. Don’t go back, he knows how to get in. But he doesn't know about Lena’s. Assuming you never told him…”

“No, I didn’t.” I took a deep breath. “Maybe I shouldn’t come there though. I mean if he finds out where I am…”

“We won’t stay long, okay? Just borrow some of her clothes and whatever else you need. And we’ll get the police here. Liam will take you somewhere safe, I’m sure of it.”

I heard Lena’s voice, and Jamie sighed. “Lena says she’s got a revolver and she’ll blow the dude away. Not that I’d want that situation. At all.”

“Okay. Love you guys, see you soon,” I said.

“Love you too. They’ll get him, Eve, don’t worry.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Lena’s party was going strong. The house was lit up, people were mingling out on the front porch, and I could hear the music booming even from the street. Almost everyone was dressed up and, of course, drinking. I also smelled the pungent scent of weed somewhere nearby. Parked in a neighbor’s driveway was a campus cop car, lights off and the officers nowhere to be seen.

I scanned the street as I made my way over, fear still gripping me tight as if I hadn’t escaped Emery at all. As if he was still close by. I wouldn’t be safe until I was halfway across the state all the way into Canada. Everywhere else didn’t feel far enough or safe enough.

As soon as I walked into the living room where people hung out on the couches, playing video games, I saw Lena and Jamie just outside on the patio talking with two officers. Upon seeing me, Jamie opened the sliding door and made straight for me.

We hugged each other without even saying hello, my hand trembling as I gripped the faded suit he wore as a costume. He had painted himself in gray and blue makeup, his eyes shaded in black, making him look like a dead man or a zombie.

“You okay?” he asked, searching my face.

I nodded, even though I wasn’t. “I can’t stay, Jamie, if he finds me…”

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