Page 39 of For the Love of Layla

“If you leave me, Layla, I swear on everything I hold dear I’ll-”

“Ma’am?”

A scream leaves my throat as I lurch from the memory, my skin broken out in heated goosebumps as I stare at the baffled old man.

“God, I’m so sorry I must’ve zoned out.” I laugh it off, pretending like that memory didn’t just confirm something…horrifying.

He laughs, “You gave me quite the shock too. I’m just the janitor, but this floor is usually empty at this time of night.”

Think, Layla, think, you absolute dumbass.

“Right, I was just grabbing something for my fiancé, Mr. Curran.” I say a little too quickly, pulling my hands from behind my back smiling sweetly at the old man.

“Oh my apologies, ma’am. Do you want me to stay here with you until you grab it? I don’t mind. I’m done for the night.” I shake my head, making curly strands that have worked free from my loose fishtail braid fall into my face, “That’s alright. I appreciate it though, next time I see you I’ll try not to scream.” We both chuckle as he nods. Good to know my charm glamor still works when I’m tipsy. After we say our goodbyes, I don’t breathe again until the elevator doors slide shut, sealing his departure.

Liam is my stalker…

Lick, suck, bite. God, how could I have been so fucking stupid?

Dread pools in my stomach as my heels clank against the floor on my way to his office. It looks exactly like I remember, but of course it would. Liam has always hated change. I run my fingers along the ornate bottle of absinthe sitting on the corner of the large desk. He only ever drank when he was stressed.

I suppose stalking, murdering and assaulting people would be stressful.

I don’t give myself time to back out before I begin tooling through the papers on his desk. If I think right now, I’m going to have an absolute fucking meltdown and that… would be far from ideal.

Keep it together until you get home, Layla. Find your proof. You need more than kinky daydreams in a court of law.

My mind goes back to Mr. Danvers as I jerk open a drawer, a little surprised it wasn’t locked. Liam made a point of giving me a key to his desk when we were together. Said anything of his or about him was mine, despite me insisting I didn’t need it. He nearly killed him. The police said nothing. Would they help me now? Even with proof?

No. They wouldn’t. They haven’t… is that his doing?

“Something I can help you with, Layla?”

I yelp, slamming my finger in the drawer as I turn my heart and stomach free-falling as Liam leans casually against the doorframe. One of his coppery eyebrows hiked up, making me feel like a naughty child.

Holyfuckingshit…

Chapter ten

Red Handed

Ijerkaloosepen from the desk as he shoves off the doorframe, shutting the door behind him. The sound of the latch sliding into place might as well be a death sentence, “C’mon, Layla, what are you going to do with that? You don’t have it in you to hurt me.” He muses as he stalks towards me. All I can see is his brown eyes and a black mask staring back at me.

“Stay the fuck back, Liam.” I warn as my back hits the windowed wall behind me. Leaving nowhere else to go.

“Let me get this straight. You break into my office, go through my things and then threaten me?” He fails to hide the smirk on his face as he slips off his suit jacket, discarding it on the couch. I try to focus on the pen in my hands, gripping it like a lifeline. A tiny, pitiful lifeline.

“Cut the bullshit, I know it’s you!” I yell, hoping someone, anyone will hear me. He stops suddenly frowning, “You think what is me?”

I shutter as the words leave my mouth in a broken whisper, “You’re stalking me. You killed James.”

“What could I possibly have to gain by doing that?”

“I…I don’t know. Maybe you just want to see me hurting. Maybe you’ve hated me all along and this is just some fucking game to you.” My voice breaks as I wage war against the damming tears in my eyes. A growl forms low in his chest as he takes off towards me. I don’t have time to scream before he covers my mouth with his large hand, jerking the pen from my hands with the other.

“You were never a fuckinggame.” He spits out his ocean blue eyes licked with flame. I pant as he slowly removes his hand from my mouth, keeping me caged against the wall. “I am not harassing you, Layla. I have no reason to and you need to relax before you freak out.”

I am freaking out.

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