Page 48 of Zeke

I know that for a fact. Neither of them would send a note like this. This is from someone else, and not that Wizard guy Julia said is already on his way back to Miami. This is for me—not the Kings.

I run to my door, double-checking the locks and breathing a sigh of relief when they’re already bolted. Then I turn around to look at my empty apartment, hoping it is empty.

I dart toward the table and grab my phone, dialing the first number I can think of. There’s only one person whose voice I want to hear, only one person who could possibly comfort me right now, who could make me feel safe.

It rings barely one and a half times before he picks up.

“Kira, hey,” he says, his voice sounding hopeful, but this isn’t a social call.

“Zeke…” I manage to squeak out, my voice trembling.

“Kira?” he asks, alarm sounding in his voice the second time he says my name. “What’s wrong?”

“I…” I can hardly speak, and my voice comes out barely above a whisper, convinced someone might be in my apartment, listening to my every word. “I didn’t know who else to call. Someone… someone is targeting me. Stalking me, I think. They left me flowers, and… and… Zeke, I’m really scared.”

“Okay,” he says in a calm but commanding tone. When the sound of his voice makes me feel better almost immediately, I know I’ve made the right choice. It was always going to be Zeke. “Listen to me. Are you safe in your apartment?” he asks.

“I don’t know,” I say as my throat feels tight. Tears are coming, but I don’t want to cry yet. Not until I’m not possibly in immediate danger.

“Okay,” he says again. “Here’s what I want you to do. Are you with me?” I hear him running as he speaks, and I know he’s on his way to me already.

“Yes,” I reply, my hands shaking.

“I want you to go to your bathroom. Make sure it’s empty, and then I want you to lock yourself in and wait for me. I’ll let you know when I’m there. Don’t open the door for anyone but me.”

“Okay,” I say, running to the bathroom to do as he says. Once the door is locked, I say, “It’s done. I’m in the bathroom.”

I know it’s safer than being exposed, but part of me feels like I’m now trapped. If someone is really here, they could come get me at any point now that I’m cornered. But Zeke thinks this is the safest place for me to be, so here I’ll stay.

“Good girl,” he says. In any other context, those words would have sent a thrill through me that has nothing to do with the terror I currently feel, but right now, I can’t think about that. “Stay there. I’m on my way.”

He hangs up, and I’m left alone in silence. I try to scroll on my phone, but every little sound, real or imagined, causes my head to snap up, making me listen hard to see if it’s someone here to hurt me.

Nothing happens. I simply sit by myself in the quiet, waiting for Zeke to come.

For Zeke to save me.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

Zeke

When Kira calls me, I’m already in bed, imagining her here as I pleasure myself.

I’m deep in a fantasy about stealing her away from the bakery and taking her up to her apartment, where I rip all her clothes off. In my mind, she’s just gotten to her knees as I sit on the edge of her bed. When my phone rings, I almost can’t believe she’s calling me.

“Kira, hey,” I say as calmly as I can, my hand stroking my hard length. I’m convinced the sound of her voice will be even better than porn for helping me get there.

But then she speaks.

“Zeke…”

I know without question, without a second thought, something is wrong.

I go soft almost immediately, and I’m on my feet, ready to run there on foot if I need to. I know that’s a bad idea, just as much as I know going without backup is a bad plan.

I’m already out my bedroom door when I pull my pants back up and button them. I rush through the house, knowing I’ll likely bump into someone I can recruit to come with me. I am VP after all, which means even if they were hesitant, which I knew none of them would be because we only deal with good people, they’d listen to me.

The first person I run into is Justice. I grab him by the arm as he’s heading up the stairs, passing me on my way down.

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