Page 93 of The Fate of Us

I get cutat one in the morning which is fine by me. I am tired. Physically and emotionally. I wish life could go back to how it was on my birthday or our time at the beach. Those moments with Noah are etched in my brain. Both of us with our guards down, opening up to the other. I miss that connection with him.

Hell, I just miss him.

I am in love with the man despite the shit that went down with Claire. I know Liam is right. I know Noah still loves me. I can see it in his battle for me every day. Maybe I should give in. But I cannot deal with Claire. I want it to be just Noah and me. So we can find us again.

I round the corner of the building and walk through the parking lot. I stop dead in my tracks when I find my window smashed in.

Who the hell would do that? My car is a piece of shit and I never keep anything of value in it.

I investigate the broken window and find a note laying on the seat. I’ve spent enough time around Noah to know I shouldn’t touch it. I call the police and then carefully lean over the window to see if I can read the note.

I gasp and step backward when I do.

I loved him and you took him away.

What the fuck? Who the hell would do this?

My mind immediately goes to Claire. She was here tonight and she had a few choice words for me. And it would make sense that she would say those things. I am beginning to think she is crazy.

The cops show up ten minutes later and ask me a handful of questions.

“Where were you? Did you see anyone? How long has your car been here? Do you have any enemies? Did you have sexual relations with a man in a relationship?”

The questions go on for five minutes. And they are all pointless. Considering I am as baffled as them.

“Can you just take the evidence and let me go. I’m tired and I want to go home.”

The officer looks at me. “Ma’am, do you know something we don’t.”

“Give her a break,” a familiar voice says.

I look up and see Niko walking toward me. I smile at him, glad I have a friendly face here instead of this asshole who thinks I had something to do with this. The temperature is dropping and I’m cold standing around in shorts and a light hoodie.

“Hey Anna.”

“Hi Niko.”

“You cold?” he asks me as a shiver runs through me. “Yo asshat, get the woman a blanket. She’s a victim, not a suspect.”

“Thanks, Niko.”

“You find this when you left work?”

I nod. “Can you guys get it cleaned up?”

The other cop brings me a blanket. Niko shakes his head. “Sorry but we need to call in a detective.”

My heart drops to my stomach. “Why? It’s just some random attack. Someone who has something against me.”

“More than likely,” Niko says as he peers into my car. “But, shit, I can’t really tell you this. But I am sure Noah will tell you anyway. But that rapist turned serial killer has started leaving notes for his victims before he kills them.”

The blood drains from my face. “What?”

He looks over my shoulder and then back at me. “You didn’t hear it from me.”

“Miss Cooper?”

I turn to see two men in suits walk up to me. They look vaguely familiar. I’ve probably served them at Jimmy’s.

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