Page 142 of Deliverance

“A stalker?” Cole asks.

I draw a deep, steadying breath because the story I’m about to spill isn’t mine to tell and it makes me feel like shit. “He’s the husband,” I say and go on with the rest of the information, trying to keep the details as vague as possible.

When I’m done talking, Cole stares at me for what seems like the longest moment. “Bro, that’s some seriously fucked-up shit. I mean, I work violent crimes, so I’ve seen some people who are really messed up in the head, but many don’t hold a candle to this dirtbag.”

Avery’s face is hard as granite.

The animal in me roars. I feel all twisted up and angry just talking about it.

Cole shakes his head. “Honestly, I don’t know how I can help here. And she never filed a police report when they were still living together?”

“Not that I know of.”

“From what you told me about last night, it sounds like he can be charged with aggravated assault.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means he can be arrested. But she needs to file that report.”

“Will he get jail time?”

“Aggravated assault is a felony. So to answer your question, yes. Theoretically, he can get anywhere from six months to twenty years. However”—Cole pauses as if to prepare me for a blow—“a good lawyer can probably get him off and he’ll get probation. I mean…this is a really sticky situation. It can go either way.”

I take another steadying breath, my anger becoming a living entity. Red taints my vision. “So how do I get rid of him?”

“Don’t even think about doing any of that vigilante shit. She needs to file a police report.”

I rest my forearms against the table, the wood groaning beneath my weight as I lean forward. “Motherfucker is smart. Somehow, he managed to slip past security into two different events unnoticed.”

“It sounds like dick bag has been studying your girl for a while if he knew where she’d be,” Avery speaks up for the first time after hearing everything I have to say. To my surprise, he doesn’t give me shit over the fact that I never told him about Drew.

The mere idea that she’s all the way in L.A. and that asshole might be following her makes me furious. Makes me forget all reason. Makes me want to drive there at breakneck speed and wrap my arms around her body to shield her from everyone and everything.

“I really don’t know how to help you, man.” Cole’s expression softens and understanding flickers in his eyes. “I’ve got a buddy who’s a PI. We served together. He’s efficient and discreet. I’ll give you his info. Reach out to him to see what he says, but don’t go near that guy. He sounds mental. A real piece of work. You don’t need to get mixed up with these types of people.”

“Thanks.” I nod. “I appreciate it.”

“It’s no problem.”

Two things happen the following morning.

I call the PI and schedule an appointment.

And I get a text message from Drew that Sienna Webster is open to meet up with Leo Propaganda.

23 Drew

Sex doeshorrible things to a person.

It seems that once you give it a try, you can’t stop wanting it.

And Zander Shaw definitely knows how to make a woman crave more, because ever since our first time together, he’s all I’ve been thinking about. His lips, his hands, his powerful body.

Santiago’s messages with links to articles that feature me as Zander’s new girlfriend only add more fuel to the fire.

In his last text, he also went to the trouble of including a photo, and I stare at it longer than any photo deserves to be stared at. It’s a shot of Zander and me from theDouble Platinumpremier event. One of the first official shots of us as a couple that’s now circulating online and probably annoying Zander’s fangirls who hoped he’d be single forever.

I pour myself another cup of coffee and crack a smile at the idea.

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