Page 68 of Roaring Flames

I blink and roll over, struggling to orient myself to my surroundings.

I’m lying in Grayson’s bed, in his apartment. It’s—I glance at the clock on the bedside table—just after three in the morning.

Who the fuck is banging on the door?

My first thought is Grayson. He didn’t return home last night, but he sent me a text a little after midnight telling me he had to work third shift and not to worry. Did he return home and forget his key?

I roll out of bed and pad towards the bedroom door. My gaze snags on my reflection in the mirror hanging over the dresser, and I wince.

My blonde hair sticks up in all directions, and there are dark smudges beneath both of my eyes. Tiny bruises dot my chin where that asshole grabbed me, but hopefully, I’ll be able to hide them with makeup.

A shiver rolls through me when I think about the night before.

Those three men.

That strange shadow.

Those agonized screams.

The blood dripping down the wall.

I squeeze my eyelids shut, desperately willing those images to dissipate, and when I reopen them, I feel calmer. More in control.

I need to talk to Christian about what I saw first thing in the morning.

Someone knocks again, and I huff out a breath as I throw on a pair of leggings underneath Grayson’s oversized T-shirt. It practically engulfs my petite frame like a dress.

“I’m coming!” I call, exiting the bedroom and walking towards the apartment door.

But then I freeze as an insidious thought occurs to me.

What if the monster from last night returned?

I hesitate, my feet stilling, and someone knocks again.

“Grayson!” an unfamiliar voice screeches. “Let me in!”

Curiosity gets the better of me, and I wrench the door open.

Only to immediately wish I hadn’t.

Sidney stands in the doorframe, her eyes red-rimmed from crying and her brown hair disheveled. The second she catches sight of me, her eyes narrow into thin slits.

“I fucking knew it.” She shoulders past me and stomps into the apartment. “Grayson! Come out here right this fucking instance!”

I have no idea what to say.

What to do.

Never in a million years did I expect to be the other woman. Yes, Grayson told me he broke up with her—and he assured me time and time again that their relationship meant nothing to him—but seeing the devastation and anger on Sidney’s face…

An uneasy feeling snakes through my stomach.

“Grayson!” Sidney storms towards the bed without hesitation.

As if she knows exactly where to go…

As if she’s been here before.

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