Page 32 of No Mercy In Red

“You can have my number,” she whispered, her voice soft and cautious, vulnerable as she pulled out her phone. “So you don’t go crazy next time. Use it.”

I swallowed hard, nodding as I took my phone out, pretending to save her number since I already had it, thankful she had forgotten my little question last night about why her phone was turned off. My heart was beating painfully fast. “Thanks.” I shot her a text so she had my number too and I anxiously watched as she saved it… underStalker guy.

I raised an eyebrow at her, the corner of my mouth tugging up slightly. “Really?”

She let out a soft giggle, the sound sending electricity through my body.

“What? Thought it seemed fitting.” She smirked back at me, her beautiful eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Jackass.” I checked the time on my phone, internally groaning at the time. “Want a ride to work?” I offered quietly, watching as her eyes softened, like she too, didn’t want this moment to end.

“That’d be great, let me just go get ready.”

The drive was short and silent, both of us lost in thought. When we arrived outside her office, she paused before stepping out, her eye meeting mine.

“Thanks for the ride,” she mumbled. “See you at Melinda’s?”

“Of course.” I smiled softly, warmth flooding my chest.

She she turned to leave, then paused, glancing back at me curiously.

“Wait, how did you know where I worked? I never told you.”

Fuck. My stomach clenched, panic gnawing at me again, but I quickly masked it with a playful smirk.

“Lucky guess,” I joked, shrugging my shoulders.

She studied me suspiciously but eventually smiled. “Fucking stalker. See you later”

I watched her disappear into the office, heart pounding relentlessly. I’d slipped up again. Max wasn’t stupid, she’d start connecting the dots soon, about just how far my stalking truly went. But the thought didn’t scare me anymore. Whatever happened next, I was all in. I’d made my choice, consequences be dammed.

I’d chosen Max. Max the serial killer. Max, who my best friend was hunting. I’d chosen her over helping my closest fucking friend – and I’d do it again a thousand times over. I just needed to make sure I kept Joe sweet, kept him away from her, away from anything to do with her.

I just didn’t fucking know how.

Chapter 26

Max

The second the door had closed between me and Connor as I walked into my office Monday morning, my entire body slumped against the wall, heart hammering.

How did I get here? How did I end up tangled in bed for a second time with the man who had so openly admitted to stalking me. Not only that, I asked him to fucking stay? I was losing my mind, and yet I felt like I’d finally come to life. I stared at my phone, groaning when I noticed the ten missed calls and countless texts from Lara. I’d completely forgotten that I had abruptly hung up on her when I found Connor waiting for me in my apartment. Knowing her, she probably thought I’d been kidnapped or murdered, and considering I’d just told her that Connor was in fact, my stalker, that wasn’t the most irrational fear.

Quickly clicking on the call button, I cringed as she answered immediately, her voice a shrill mix of panic and irritation.

“Jesus Christ, Max! Where the hell have you been?” Lara shouted, nearly blowing out my eardrum. “I thought you were kidnapped, murdered, or worse – ghosting me. The only reason I didn’t send out a fucking search party is because I checked your location and saw you were at home.”

I snorted, shaking my head. “Ghosting you would definitely be worse than murder. Sorry, Lara things got… weird last night.”

She paused. “Define weird.”

I hesitated, rubbing my temples. “Connor was waiting for me when I got home.”

She gasped dramatically, then squealed. “Mr stalker? Mr sexy stalker?”

I laughed softly, oh if only she knew. “The very one.”

Lara was quiet for exactly two seconds before the interrogation began. “So was he like, at your door, all brooding and serious?”

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