Page 77 of Behind the Scenes
The apartment was mostly dark, except for the fragrant rose-scented candles scattered throughout. Our dinner plates were empty and all that was left was the half-finished bottle of wine between us.
Harley insisted that even a normal dinner needed to be romantic, so she always set it all up. She bought flowers, somehow always knowing the color of my shoes so she could match them.
Was there surveillance on me? Probably. Did I mind it? Not really. Especially when I found myself wishing I had cameras on her whenever she was set to film on location somewhere and I couldn’t tag along.
She even had a private chef come in and make us a delectable steak dinner this time. I rolled my eyes at her for it but didn’t fight her.
My chest still warmed at her gesture. My skin still heated. As much as my mouth and mind tried to deny it, her actions made me swoon over and over again.
Maybe she’s right. Maybe we were meant to be.
As fucked-up and twisted as it was, she introduced me to a new side of myself. Or maybe simply reached in and pulled out the darkness that already existed in me.
“Did you normally feel out of control when you felt the need to kill people?” I asked and took a sip of my own wine. The bitternessspread across my tongue, pairing well with the remnants of our dinner.
“I thought you were my lawyer, not my therapist,” she teased with a smirk. “But yes, sometimes. Especially when my schedule prohibited it. Without you, the risk would be much higher. I could have been caught at any moment if I wasn’t careful. You don’t know how close I was to killing Julian before you acted as a diffuser. You’re the only one who can keep the monster at bay.”
I leaned forward with a smirk.
“I think I like the monster.”
The turning of my apartment lock had both Harley and me turning to look at the door.
Panic rose in me. Who the fuck could be trying to get in? And why now?
We were on one of the top floors. No one should have been able to get up here, and if they were, it was definitely intentional.
Whoever it was was having a hard time opening the door and I was dazed enough not to notice Harley standing up.
My eyes shifted to her as I got up as well. She didn’t meet my gaze, merely picked up the abandoned steak knife and stalked to the door.
I had never once thought of what I would do in case anyone tried to break in. I paid a lot for this place, and the security that came with it. Breaks-ins were the last of my worries. Especially with Harley here.
With her, I had nothing to be afraid of. She would protect me.
But therein lay the problem.
Harley wouldn’tjustprotect me. She would kill whoever was behind that door.
“Wait, Harley?—”
My words died on my tongue when a familiar face peeked through the door.Lenard.
What the actual fuck?
I hadn’t seen or heard from him since I kicked him out after that stupid proposal. He hadn’t even crossed my mind, if I wasbeing honest. Between my work, Harley, and us, my time was all taken.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I hissed and maneuvered in front of Harley, pushing her back. She allowed me to do it, but stayed close behind. The brush of her body against my back sent a boost of confidence through me.
I couldn’t tell what emotion was stronger. The rage I felt that Lenard would still show up to my house after I wanted nothing to do with him, the fear that Harley would shove that knife in his throat, or how much I wanted her to.
“I just want to talk,” he said, his eyes taking in the state of the apartment and the person behind me. “But it would seem you are otherwise…engaged.”
I let out a scoff.
“Don’t lie and say you haven’t seen the news. You and I both know that’s probably why you’re here.”
He held up his hands, giving me a very fake sheepish smile.
