Page 34 of Out of Control

I welcomed the return of my anger, knowing it was a better motivator than feeling sorry for myself. If she was straight-up lying to me, then who knew what her real motives were? What kind of fucked up game was she playing?

This is what came of trying to skirt the rules, of letting Mark’s words get under my skin and tempt me. The last time I blatantly broke the rules I got Dani a fake ID so we could all go out partying for her seventeenth birthday, and we lost her. It never would have happened if I’d just taken her out to an age-appropriate place.

Rules existed for a reason. I couldn’t break them and risk something even worse happening. I needed to stop thinking about Athena as anything except a suspect.

fourteen

Athena

Ifinished up my shower, still fuming at Blake and his slut-shaming.

I had just stepped out of the tub when my phone lit up with a new notification on the countertop. I rolled my eyes when I saw that it was just a new Tinder message, but paused when I saw who it was from. How the hell was Leo Lombardi messaging me?

I opened up the app, relieved when I confirmed I was still logged into the fake profile. He didn’t somehow figure out my real identity. But the relief faded when I read the message itself.

It’s been almost 24 hrs since I saw you and 4 days since you saw me. Does your new boyfriend know what a crazy bitch you are?

My heart stopped. We all assumed it was Leo who shot at me, but now he all but confirmed it. In about ninety minutes itwould be twenty-four hours since someone tried to kill me. But he’d had a lot of time since then if he knew where I was to finish the job. I was safe. If he knew how to find me he wouldn’t just stick to taunts, would he?

I recalled the threat written to my mother just before she was killed:Back off.Maybe the Morellis liked to play with their prey.

But the Morellis already knew my information. They had a way to track me down. Leo Lombardi didn’t even know what my real name was. I had no reason to believe this was a credible threat. He probably just happened to see me on the street and figured he’d take a chance.

My phone vibrated with a new message, again from Leo.

Too bad I missed. There’s always next time.

Not if he couldn’t find me.

Maybe I’ll get the Suit, too. Maybe I’ll take my time. Maybe his people won’t even recognize the body when I’m done.

Did he know that Lucas was in law enforcement? You don’t get to be a high-ranking enforcer if you’re an idiot. Maybe he would be able to find me through Lucas if he knew who Lucas was.

Maybe our date got cut too short. Maybe I’ll take my time with you, too.

Can you say predator?I logged out of the app without replying, then thought again and uninstalled the whole damnthing. I wanted nothing to do with those messages. I just wanted to dry off and keep my mind on something else.

I’d just barely flipped off the light switch in the bathroom when I heard pounding on my back door. Blake, the stupid fucking voyeur, was probably watching for the light to turn off around the edge of the curtains. I debated ignoring him and just going about my morning, but I didn’t want him to think he had reason to let himself inside and see my private investigation.

I looked down at myself, still wrapped up in a towel, dyed hair protected from moisture with a shower cap this time, and wondered how many seconds I had before he decided to try to bust down the door.

Sighing, I started down the stairs, taking off the ridiculous cap and shaking my hair out around my shoulders. It had been two days, and already my hair was starting to get some waves back. By tomorrow the curls would be even more present, so I made a mental note to allow myself enough time in the morning to take out the hair straightener again. I was down the steps and entering the kitchen when he began shouting with his insistent banging.

“Open the damn door, Athena, or I’ll break it down!”

“Christ, Blake, give me a fucking minute!” I called back, approaching the door cautiously. I paused before unlocking it, making sure my towel was secure. I took two fingers and shifted the curtain on the door a couple inches, calling through the glass. “What the hell do you want?”

“I want you to let me inside so we can talk about everything you’ve been lying to me about.”

No way that was going to happen.

“I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you again: I do not give you permission to enter my home. You want inside then come back with a warrant.” Okay, maybe that was a bit aggressive, but what did he expect, accusing me of lying to him again? Did he suddenly decide I was a criminal and want to arrest me? Again?

“I can enter if I want to if I have reasonable belief that a crime is being committed.”

I rolled my eyes. “What crime would that be?”

“Obstruction of a federal investigation.”

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