Page 7 of Shadow Operative

Was it the person who’d killed Rob?

No one was on the street—no one she could see.

But someone could be hiding in the shadows.

Would they confront her? Finish her off?

Or had someone just been trying to frame her?

Nothing made sense.

The uncertainty muddled her thoughts.

Fear strangled her, tightening her throat until she could hardly breathe.

Maybe she was just being paranoid. But she didn’t think so.

She walked more quickly and kept looking over her shoulder.

She saw no one.

But she could feel those eyes on her.

Why couldn’t she remember what had happened?

Had she been drugged? Had someone hit her over the head?

She had no idea.

Lucanidae’s, the restaurant where she and Rob had eaten, had been full. Uncountable people had seen the two of them together.

Had people seen her say good night to Rob and go her separate way?

Or had they actually left together?

Familiar panic tried to swell in her again.

Finally, Nia spotted her high-rise ahead.

If she went in through the front door, the doorman would see her and be able to testify that she’d just gotten back.

Instead, she hurried around the building to the back entrance.

As she turned off the main street, she glanced around.

Coming back here was risky.

That person watching her . . . if he were to follow her here, she’d be a goner.

Her fingers trembled as she turned to the keypad on the door. She had her own code, but Addison, her neighbor, had once shared her code, remarking that it was also her birthday.

Nia whispered an apology before punching in Addison’s code. The door buzzed, and Nia nearly fell inside.

Once the door was closed, her lungs softened a bit.

Maybe she was safe—for a moment, at least.

Still, she didn’t want to risk taking the elevator. Instead, she climbed the six flights to her floor.

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