Page 37 of Hidden Shadows
He shook his head, letting out a slew of curses before storming from the room. He was still muttering under his breath when they reached the elevator, and she was pretty sure she heard the words,will be the death of me, thrown in there.
“We don’t even know that this package is from him,” she said quietly, trying to diffuse the situation as the elevator moved.
“They said it was left at the front desk.”
“Yeah, so it could have been left by a mail carrier. Andi and her entire family know we’re here and it’s four days until Christmas.” But…the entire family had already given her their Christmas presents before she’d left, so she wasn’t overly optimistic. Not that she’d be telling him that.
The doors opened and Nixon walked out. His steps were so long and fast, she took two strides for every one of his. She was basically running to keep up. As he walked, he pulled latex gloves onto his hands.
At reception, he said, “You have a package for Miss Dunkley.”
“I’mMiss Dunkley,” Finley said, pushing beside him.
The man nodded. “Yes, I think Joline left it down here.” He turned and lifted a small package. The fine hairs stood on end at the sight of the red wrapping paper adorned with small Christmas trees. There was also a big white bow. No postage, just a note that readFor Finley.
“Who left this?” Nixon asked, his voice tightly controlled.
“I’m not sure, sir. Joline took the package, but she’s currently helping another guest. I can ask for the information when she returns.”
When Nixon didn’t answer, just continued to grind his teeth like he was going to murder someone before spinning around, Finley smiled at the man. “That would be great. Thank you.”
She followed Nixon to the couch in front of the fire. It wasn’t until he was pulling at the ribbon that the nerves kicked in.
Like he heard her pulse pick up speed, he paused and studied her. “Last chance, Fin. I can do this on my own.”
Even though her skin felt clammy and her belly sick, she shook her head. “No. I want to see what it is.”
She had to. This was about her.
His jaw clenched, but he didn’t say anything, just nodded.
Slowly, he opened the small cardboard box.
She gasped at what she saw.
Polaroid photos of the horse and sleigh ride the previous night.
Nixon lifted the photos out. They were crumpled, like someone had scrunched them up in anger.
One by one, he filtered through them. Pictures of her and Nixon looking into each other’s eyes. Kissing.
Nausea rolled in her belly, but she forced it down. She’d fought to be here. She had to be strong enough to handle this.
There were six Polaroids in total. And below them, a note.
You let him touch you, but you’re supposed to be mine. You shouldn’t have done that. KJ.
Her skin chilled. The writing was a messy scrawl, like he’d been angry when he’d written it. He’d dug the pen so deeply into the paper, it had gone through in a couple places.
Nixon threw the note back into the box. For the first time, her gaze shifted up to see how furious he was. To witness the angry line of his mouth and eyes.
He looked ready to kill.
He lifted the box and stormed back to the desk. She rushed to follow. “We need to watch hotel security footage to see who left this.”
The front desk attendant’s brows rose. “Sir, that’s not really done—”
“Now.”
