Page 32 of Jase
“J?”
“Stay where you are. I have the police headed to your apartment now. Fuck. God dammit.”
“What?”
“He read something on your desk. He’s leaving, and fast. Kody, you’re not safe. Something’s not right.”
I lowered my voice, walking closer to the door. “The address and my appointment were written down there. I thought you said David was dead. Who else could it be?”
“Davidisdead. He obviously didn’t work alone. That’s my mistake. I’m sorry, Kody. I don’t see how I have any other choice.”
“About what?”
“Don’t move. Don’t talk to anyone. When you see a black car pull up and the window roll down, run out and get in.”
The line went dead before I could so much as say a word. I stared at my phone like a ghost, afraid to put it away. What if the man found me? What if he had skills like J? Hadn’t he made it into my apartment? Hadn’t he found out where I lived? I didn’t like this. I couldn’t go home, but I sure as hell shouldn’t get into some black car either. Would it even be J? He said he’d send me a driver earlier. A driver. Not himself, but another stranger.
“Ma’am, can I help you with something?”
I jumped at the voice, shaking my head as I pretended to look at a shirt.
One minute.
Two.
I kept my eyes trained at the large glass windows as I tried to decide whether to wait or run. People who broke the rules always paid for it. They caused more trouble than it was worth. What if trying to be good, I did the same thing? What if the man who broke in found me first? What if he put a bullet through my brain before I could react? I didn’t know what he looked like. It could be anyone: young, old, dark hair, light.
I was nearly hyperventilating as I rushed towards the door. The police. That’s where I should go. Would I make it there in time?
The sounds of the city disappeared as my pulse pounded in my ears. There were so many people out, walking into different stores. Black pants and a black leather jacket caught my attention, but not as much as the gloves he wore. They were all I saw, and with them, my body nearly locked up from the engulfing fear. I only made it two steps outside the door before a honk had my head whipping over.Black car.The expensive coupe sped up, the window rolling down as it came to a stop. I glanced back over, seeing the blonde-haired man look right at me.
“Kody! Get in!”
No more thoughts after the voice. No hesitation. I didn’t even look back to see if the man was affected by my sudden sprint. I pulled open the door, sliding in, and…freezing. Brown eyes locked right on mine. Brown eyes I’d seen before. He tore my phone from my grasp, throwing it out the window. The car took off, but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t break my gaze to the handsome profile of his face. I knew this man. Not just as the delivery person who’d come to my house, but from somewhere else. From…the hospital?
“You’re J? You’re…”
“Jase. Jase Colter.”
He said his name as if I were supposed to know it. As if that information told me everything. My head shook, and I still couldn’t stop staring.
“Where are you taking me? To the police station?”
“No. They can’t keep you safe like I can. I’m taking you home. Until I figure out what’s going on,you’re staying with me.”
Chapter 13
Jase
I knew that look. That trapped, on the verge of an episode, panicked expression. Kody had had it quite a few times during her breakdowns. It wasn’t any different now. She may have somewhat known me, but she didn’t trust me. Not like she should for the possessiveness I used in my tone. I wasn’t offering her a place to stay. The fact was, I wasn’t giving her a choice, and she knew that.
“If we call the police—”
“I already did. I can bet they’re at your apartment now. Thing is, you’re not safe there. Not even with them present. If they want to talk to you, they can come to my house.”
She shook her head, the defiance obvious.
“Are you listening to yourself? They can’t know we know each other. What about David? They’ll put it together. You have to drop me off. If not there, somewhere close. I can go in and pretend I don’t know who the call came from. I’ll play stupid and let them take their report.”
