Page 218 of Second Sets Omnibus
“Whoever the fuck this is has a knack for computers. Your cameras have been compromised. Inside and fucking out. Fucking manipulated, too. This fucker took out footage and replaced it with a damn loop,” Carter grumbles, staring at the screen with his lips peeled back.
“So, whoever it is?—”
“Made themselves fucking invisible.” My face falls at his words. “But don’t fucking worry, Little West. I’m not the owner and operator of CC Tech for nothing.”
“Plus, a Veritas consultant,” Olivia adds, snapping her fingers.
My muscles tense at his words. Concealed. Undetectable. Fucking invisible like always, hiding in the damn shadows. Fucking coward! How someone could walk onto my damn property with a security guard and cameras and not get caught is a goddamn mystery. It’s like they knew exactly what they were doing and planned it all out.
I’ve ignored their presence for years, refusing to look over my shoulders. Like hell, would I allow them to see the fear in my eyes. Or the shudder of my nerves when the wind blew just right, and I felt eyes searing through my flesh.
I’m not a raging idiot. I knew they were hiding in the distance with a camera attached to their hands, probably jacking their tiny penis to my image. Denial is a hell of a drug to suffocate yourself in. It convinced me many times that I was okay and that they wouldn’t harm us. Until the pictures arrived more frequently. And now this.
“What are we going to do?” Rad asks, squeezing my hand again, comforting me in unexpected ways.
We. Not you. Or her. He’s including himself, maybe all of them, into this equation. Something stupid flutters in my chest. Maybe it’s the hope of reconciliation. Or perhaps it’s the same foolish organ that got me into this situation in the first place.
“Run and fucking hide,” Carter suggests without peering at us. A permanent scowl etched onto his face, but I’m used to it by now. He only smiles for violence and my sister-in-law, Kaycee.
Olivia side-eyes him. “Thanks for being subtle like we discussed.” He waves a hand, ignoring her presence altogether.
“What do you mean?” Don’t say it. Don’t fucking say the most rational thing that’s about to fall out of your mouth. Please don’t. I’m not prepared for this.
“River,” she says sincerely, dropping into a chair across from me. “You’re more than my friend, babe. I love you and Lyric. I want to protect you both more than I have in the past. It’s never been this bad.”
“I know.” Razor blades slide down my throat at her implication. My mind whirls in so many different directions. I swear I’m giving myself whiplash.
“Then don’t hate me when I suggest our safe house in Maine. It’s the farthest place away from here. Away from that asshole who won’t leave you alone.”
Fuck me running, sideways, and up the damn stairs. Maine? Shit. My heart crashes into the waves of my volatile stomach. It’s either fly across the country or die at the hands of my crazy stalker. And I like my damn life.
“In the meantime, I’ll scour this footage and unscramble what this dickhead did. I’ll find this bastard if it’s the last thing I do, Little West.”
“Maine?” I ask, shaking my head. “I can’t go to Maine. Liv, I have a life here… I can’t run just because of some weirdo. I’m braver than that.”
Fingers squeeze mine in support as my mind jumps off a damn cliff into the what ifs. My calendar flies by in my swirling mind reminding me of my obligations coming in the next few months. The boys need me. They have gigs to rock and mental hurdles to overcome.
“I’m sorry, Riv. I can’t give you a choice in this. At midnight we’re extracting you. Whether you like it or not, babe. This is for your safety and hers. This is non-negotiable.” She rubs a finger along her forehead, nervously watching my blank reaction. “You trusted me with your safety three years ago when Carter introduced us. And I’m saying all of this for your damn safety.”
“It’ll be for the best, Pretty Girl,” Rad whispers with an aching sadness squeezing his voice, running a finger along my chin, and bringing my gaze to his. “I don’t know much about the situation. But we need you safe.”
“You’ll be safe. That’s the only thing that matters,” Callum says, sidling up to my other side. “You two are too important to lose.” He swallows hard, keeping his eyes locked on mine.
“Why Maine?” I mutter.
“It’s on the other side of this place. So far away that your little stalker will have no way of getting to you,” Olivia says, raising a sharp brow. “We’ve been trying to nail this fucker for years. Now, we’ll finally have the opportunity.”
“What are you going to do?” An evil glint appears in Olivia’s eyes, cluing me into her nefarious plans in my absence.
“Whatever we need to do to bring this fucker down.”
“What she means is, we’ll camp out on your property. Get a little look alike to parade around and act like you while you’re away. We’ll get this asshole,” Carter says, shaking his head. “I’m going to have to take this shit back to the lab and let them work on it.” Snapping the laptop shut, he throws it to the side with a worried expression.
“What about?—”
“Shh,” Olivia interrupts, shoving a finger over my lips. “Think of this as a much-needed vacation. How long has it been since you could not focus on work and live your life to the fullest? Nope, don’t answer that. You’ll tell me you don’t have time, that you’re building your damn empire.”
“I love you, but I hate you sometimes,” I mumble through her finger secured over my lips.
