Page 11 of Devious Secrets

Staring down the drive with him, I clench my hands.

“Not a problem. I’ll get it back.”

My eyes fly open at the sound of footsteps in my bedroom. Paralysis kicks in, and I’m frozen beneath the flat sheet.

I wait for another sound.

Nothing.

Slowly, I start breathing again, my muscles loosen, and I roll over to my back.

The fan on my dresser blows the sheet against my skin as I lie still, listening for any other noises.

Letting out a long breath, I convince myself it was nothing. Maybe the neighbors upstairs dropped something. A noise from the street outside. It could be anything.

Not every bump in the night means the DeAngelos’ enforcer is crawling through my window with his Glock and silencer aimed at my head. It could just as easily be a cat.

Relaxing back into my pillows, I try to force myself back to sleep. This whole thing is going to be over in a few days.

Once I hand over that drive, this whole nightmare will be over. Instead of fear and paranoia, I’ll be able to go back to eating ramen noodles and Rice-A-Roni for dinner.

Mira can come home.

It’s going to be fine.

Footsteps sound.

They’re definitely footsteps.

In the living room?

No, not in the apartment.

Please, not in the apartment.

Before I freeze up again, I slide out from beneath the sheet. I grab the knife I keep in the top drawer of my nightstand, right next to my vibrator, and pad across the room.

The door’s halfway open, so I can get a good view down the hall to the living room.

Absolute darkness.

Hyping myself up with deep breaths, I gear up for going out there.

Another footstep.

Or did a window close?

Using my bare foot, I nudge the door open enough for me to slide through. Mira’s bedroom door is still shut and across the hall, the bathroom door is closed. But did I shut it before I went to bed?

All this fear is muddling up my memory.

Slowly, I tiptoe down the hall. Each step makes my palm holding the knife sweat.

“Is someone there?” I call out, wincing at my own stupidity. If there is someone there, they’re not going to just announce themselves.

Yet I still wait a moment.

“Mira?” My voice wavers.

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