Page 34 of Chomp's Challenge

“Once we get to my house, you can tell me what you saw. Until then, I want you to focus on breathing. I’m right here. You’re safe. We won’t let anything happen to you, I promise. We’re going to get through this.”

It’s his confidence that helps me. That deep voice, his warmth, the comfort of his touch, they all combine to help me gain control. By the time we reach his place, I’m no longer trembling.

Chomp unlocks the door, and we enter the cabin. It looks the same as when I last set foot in it, only now I notice how it lacks a woman’s touch. He needs plants, and a blanket by the fireplace, and candles to burn in the kitchen and living room.

“Have a seat, baby. We’re gonna talk about this. I want to help.”

I park my bottom on his comfy sofa while he joins me. “I saw Perry.”

Chomp arches a brow. “Your ex? The one my gator ate?”

Okay, odd phrasing, but yes. “Um, yeah. He was staring at me through the diner’s window.”

Chomp scratches the back of his neck. “This doesn’t make sense. First, the increased odor that smells like him around that old house, and now you see someone who resembles him.” He shakes his head. “I think it’s a family member.”

“I don’t know. This looked like an exact copy, Chomp. Not a brother or uncle or something.”

A frown draws his brows together. “Okay, we’re missing something. Until I put this together and figure it out, I won’t be working. I need you to be safe, and if that means I hunt until I find this man, so be it.”

“I’m not asking you to do that.”

“You’re right. I’m telling you that I am, Ariel. I won’t let whoever this is traumatize you further. He wants to fuck with you, and I’m gonna stop him.”

I glance around his cabin and finally nod. “Okay.”

“So, here’s what we’re gonna do: stick to our evening plans. I’ll text Spike, and we’ll be sure to have everyone following us. If this stupid fucker tries to get close again, he’ll be surrounded.”

I can’t help but shudder. “Are you going to leave me alone so he’ll try?”

“Is that what you want? Because I don’t want to use you as bait. That’s not acceptable to me.”

“Me either,” I agree, mostly because I think I might actually faint or something if this guy gets close enough.

“Then I stay with you. Let me send a few texts. Plus, I’m gonna call Sly. He’s our IT guy and I wanna see if Perry had any family members you’re not aware of, okay?”

“Okay,” I mumble. Standing, I go to the refrigerator and grab two bottles of water, one for each of us. I see the bag Chomp carried from the diner, so I make myself useful while he’s on the phone talking to Sly as his fingers fly over what I presume is a club chat thread.

“Son of a bitch!” he bellows. I turn toward him and see his arms doing that thing where his gator is trying to take over, scales rippling along to erupt on his skin, but then he takes a few deep breaths before turning in my direction. With his gaze locked on mine, he says, “Get me whatever else you can find, Sly.” After disconnecting, he strides toward me. I can still see his gator peeking out at me, but I’m no longer afraid.

Reaching out, I lightly touch his forearm, then say, “Hey, Gator, I need to talk to Chomp right now.”

Chomp grins but I watch in utter fascination as the rippling scales go back to his normal skin, complete with the intriguing tattoos he has. “Come here, baby. I need to tell you something, but I have to hold you while I tell you, okay?”

The butterflies now swarming in my belly have nothing to do with desire or fascination. No, these are the ones that come from the pits of Hell since immediately, I feel nauseous. Considering the food we ate was so delicious, I swallow the bile back down and follow Chomp to his couch. In spite of the circumstances and the dread surrounding me right now, I realize that the sectional he has must’ve been custom-made for him. It’s deep yet, the cushions are comfortable enough I can see myself napping in front of the fire.

Shaking my head, I turn my gaze to Chomp's face and ask, “What got you so upset?”

“Like I said, Sly is our IT guy, and the minute he input Perry’s name into his computer, information came pouring out. Were you aware that Perry has an identical twin named Jerry?”

“Um, no, I didn’t know that,” I reply, my body starting to tremble again at the news. “Why wouldn’t he have introduced me to his brother?”

Granted, if Jerry is anything like Perry was, maybe it was a good thing.

“Because he was in prison, baby. He apparently used to live with Perry but was arrested about eight or so years ago. He just got out and went home, only to find no sign of his brother,” Chomp replies.

“But why come after me?” I ask. “That makes no sense at all.”

“Perry told him about you. Sly was able to hack into something, don’t ask me what exactly because I don’t understand that shit at all, and listened to some of their phone calls. Ariel, it’s a damn good thing I found you when I did, because the plans they had for you weren’t pleasant at all.”

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