Page 41 of Shadow

“Joan Trinity.”

“Joan, the police are on the way. Do not enter the apartment, Joan. Stand outside and wait for the police. They will be there shortly.”

“Okay,” I muttered, backing away, my eyes never leaving the blood on the wall saying, You’re next, bitch.

He found me.

I was sitting on the curb watching as police officers moved about, taking pictures of my apartment, when a man dressed in a suit sat next to me. “Ms. Trinity, my name is Detective Clint Harris. Do you know who broke into your apartment?”

I nodded. “It was my father. James Malachi Trinity.”

“And why would he do that?”

“Because he wants me dead.”

“Why?”

“Because I testified in court against him after he killed my mother. He was supposed to be serving a life sentence in upstate New York. He got out because of a clerical error. Before the bailiff took him away, he said he was coming for me.”

“And you think he came all the way from New York to finish what he started?”

I nodded.

“Okay,” he sighed. “Is there anywhere you can stay tonight?”

“Angel can stay with me,” the low voice caressed my nerves. Looking up, I don’t know what possessed me, but one minute I was sitting next to the detective and the next I was hugging him and when his arms wrapped around me, I never felt so safe before in my life.

“And you are?”

“Ezekiel Miller.”

“You’re the one who shot my former partner.”

“Yes, I did. You ever catch Kali’s ex-husband?”

“No,” the detective growled, then asked, “Ms. Trinity, are you okay going with Mr. Miller?”

I nodded, releasing Shadow. “Yes.”

“Okay then,” Detective Harris said. “It’s going to take a few days to process your apartment. The intruder left a lot of evidence. We should have no problem identifying him. In the meantime, if you have any questions, you can reach me at this number.”

Taking the card Detective Harris gave me, I whispered, “Thank you.”

Shaking the detective’s hand, I felt Shadow standing close behind me. The heat from his body permeated into my skin, protectively. As the detective walked away, I felt Shadow’s hand on my hip as he ushered me away from the apartment complex. “Angel, I need to get you out of here. You ever ride on a motorcycle before?”

I shook my head.

He said nothing as he grabbed his helmet before placing it on my head. “I move, you move. Don’t fight me. Just follow my motions and hold on, okay?”

I nodded as he climbed on his bike.

“Place your foot on the peg and climb on.”

Doing as he said, I held his shoulder as I climbed on behind him. Wrapping my arms around his chest, Shadow chuckled before tapping my hands. “Not so tight, Angel.”

Loosening my grip, Shadow eased my arms down over his chest until they settled around his waist.

Before I knew it, the bike started, and we were off.

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