Page 42 of Claiming His Bunny
Kayla considers it for a moment, then says, “Maybe you could arrange one for Monday? I’ll just take an Uber tonight. But…do you also do deep cleaning? Like, really deep? There’s…” She sighs, her voice trembling a little as she finishes, “There’s a dead cat bleeding all over the front seat.”
“Oh.” Elisabeth is at a loss for words but recovers quickly. “Yes, of course. We provide that service as well. Don’t worry, Ms. Reynolds. Your car will be like new. Our driver will have the basic form for you to sign. On Monday, please stop by our office, and we’ll discuss the services more thoroughly.”
“I will. Thank you.”
As Kayla hangs up, I immediately activate her phone’s microphone, wanting to hear who she talks to next.
I’m sorely tempted to turn the car around and rush back to her, but the memory of Cynthia’s smile won’t let me. Kayla is a grown woman who can handle herself for a day or two. Cynthia is a little girl at the mercy of a monster. I can’t turn my back on her, especially since it’s my fault she’s in this situation in the first place. If I hadn’t been slacking off, I would have taken Carl Oberman out days ago.
To avoid getting stuck in the loop of guilty thoughts again, I focus on Kayla’s situation. Her car, vandalized? If it was just the tires and the windows, I’d say it was a flock of drunken teenagers. But a dead animal inside? That’s a threat.
Suddenly, I remember the sound I heard this morning while leaving her house. The feeling of being watched. It must have been the same person as the one who wrecked her car. But why? Why would anyone hate my precious little bunny? She’s done nothing but good ever since coming here.
The thought dawns on me a minute later. Fuck, my brain is sluggish. I should have figured it out straight away. There’s only one person in Bluebell Springs who hates Kayla Reynolds. Benjamin fucking Adams.
I grip the wheel tighter. I should go back. If Adams is crazy enough to trash Kayla’s car and butcher an animal to send her a message, there’s no telling what he’ll do next. I should be there, protecting her.
But what about Cynthia? I’m so close!
“Fuck!”
There’s a rustle from Kayla’s phone as she puts it into her purse or pocket. The murmur of the conversation in the background wanes, but I can still hear her when she addresses someone. “Looks like I won’t be giving you a ride home tonight.”
“Oh, please,” a woman responds. Despite the crackly sound, I identify her as Michelle, one of the CPS social workers. I don’t know her personally, but I know she’s a good soul. “Roger will come pick us both up. You’re sleeping at our place tonight.”
Yes, I nod to myself, grateful for Michelle’s suggestion. It’s a brilliant idea. Kayla will be safe. Adams won’t dare to come anywhere near her while she’s staying with Michelle’s family.
“I don’t want to bother you,” my bunny replies.
“Bother me? Girl, you’re coming with me whether you want it or not. If you go home alone, I won’t be able to sleep tonight. This is serious. Did you see that cat?”
Kayla grunts. “Of course I did! The poor thing’s blood was everywhere. But I refuse to cower in fear. I have a pretty good idea who did this, and if he thinks this will intimidate me, he’s got another thing coming.”
A thought hits me, one I don’t like in the slightest. Does Kayla think it was me?
I’ve been in her life for two weeks now, invading every bit of her privacy, and she’s well aware of it. I’ve been in her house, her bed, touched her clothes. She considers me a slightly deranged stalker—and she’s not wrong—and she’s certain I’m going to escalate my obsessive behavior eventually. Again, not wrong.
But would she really believe that I’d go and trash her car? After spending hours and hours tidying up her house? That would be disappointing.
“You think it was—”
“Adams,” Kayla says decisively. “Who else?”
Despite the terrible situation, my mouth twitches with a tiny smile. My bunny doesn’t suspect me. She’s smart enough to figure out the truth and, hopefully, trusts me enough to know I would never do such a thing. She’s so perfect it makes my chest constrict around my frantically beating heart.
“I guess you’re right,” Michelle says. “Did you tell that to the police?”
“Of course. They said it was unlikely, but they’ll look into it.” I can’t see Kayla, but it sounds like she’s rolling her eyes. “Another polite ‘fuck off’ from the local heroes in blue. Seriously, I wonder how there is no crime in this town when the police force are incompetent assholes.”
There’s no crime in this town because I don’t allow any fucking crime here, but no one needs to know about that.
Michelle sighs. “Well, there’s not much they can do in this case. But I bet they told you to stay with someone for a couple of days?”
Kayla grumbles a yes.
“Staying with a friend for a night or two isn’t cowering in fear, it’s common sense,” Michelle says. “Please, Kayla.”
“Yes, please, Kayla,” I echo, even though neither of them can hear me. I need Kayla to be safe, at least for tonight. I’ll deal with Oberman, rescue Cindy, and drive back tomorrow to keep an eye on her, but I’m too far away to return tonight.
