Page 31 of The Sinner's Touch

Red hair. Like hers.

“He took a young woman last night,” Bailey told her quietly.

“With red hair?” The answer was obvious, so she didn’t know why she asked.

His lips tightened. “Yes.”

“He took her because of me.” The realization sank in, and she flinched. That girl was suffering right now because of her.

“We don’t know that.” Kade finally sat. “She could have been planned already. There’s no pattern to who he takes.”

“She has red hair, Kade.” Her voice came out hushed, quiet.

“I know,moye serdtse, but this is not your fault. I can hear those wheels turning in that head of yours.”

Angel ignored Nikoli’s surprised gasp. Of course he would know what those words meant. “I saw him. I put his face out there for everyone to see. He’s sending me fucking letters, Kade. This ismyfault.”

“No, it’s not. It’s his fault. His sickness is to blame. You didn’t do anything wrong, Angel. You can’t blame yourself for his fixation.”

“He’s right.” Bailey stopped writing in his little notebook. “If it hadn’t been her, it would have been someone else. Don’t blame yourself for the actions of a depraved man.”

They could both tell her that until they turned blue in the face, but this was on her. He took some poor, innocent girl because she had the same color hair.

“Angel, do you still feel safe in the apartment?” Bailey pulled her from her dark thoughts. “He obviously knows where you are. We can move you again.”

“I’ll put you up in any hotel you want.” Nikoli reached over and took her hand. “Anything you need, Angel Girl, you just tell me, and I’ll do it.”

“How secure is the apartment?” Kade all but snarled, and again, Angel was shocked at the jealousy coming from him. He didn’t like his brother touching her. Nikoli picked up on it too, and withdrew his hand, bemused and slightly fascinated.

“The building has one of the best security systems in the city. It’s why I bought it. Not to mention my own security in place inside the apartment. You need a special key to get up to the penthouse in the elevator and to access the stairs leading up. There’s a security code you need to open the stairwell door along with the key. It’s Fort Knox, man.”

“Then I should be perfectly fine.” She really didn’t want Nikoli spending anything on her. She didn’t want to put him out any more than he already was.

“I think I’m going to take you up on your offer of extra security.” Angel’s attention snapped back to Kade when he said that. “Especially when I’m not there. I want someone in the corridor outside the door on the penthouse level, as well as someone inside the lobby and watching all entrances to the building.”

“Sure thing. I’ll call Viktor and see if he has anyone to spare. If he doesn’t, I’ll still have people ready to go by tonight.”

“Your brother Viktor?” Why would they be calling their brother?

“Yes.” Nikoli nodded. “Viktor is a Marine veteran who now runs his own security company, Kincaid Security Corp. Hardcore security. He hires ex-military. How do you know Viktor’s our brother?”

“Bailey, can you go find the person who took the initial report, as well as who went and examined the scene?”

Bailey looked between the three of them and nodded. He got up and closed the door behind him.

“Now, are you two going to tell me what the fuck is going on here?”

Kade closed his eyes and ran a hand through his already mussed hair before facing his brother. “She’s my wife.”

Nikoli gaped. “What the fuck? Are you messing with me?”

“He’s not.” Angel crossed her arms. “Although I didn’t know we were still married until he showed up at the bar last night.”

“I don’t understand. How can you not know you’re still married?”

Kade looked extremely uncomfortable, and Angel found herself almost feeling sorry for the guy. Explaining to your family a wife you forgot about couldn’t be the easiest thing in the world.

“You remember when I went undercover down in Miami?”

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