Page 20 of Vicious Hearts

"Oh really?" Ali can't keep the salacious tone out of her voice. "He's crazy about you. Did you know that?"

Crazy, maybe. Aboutme? Possibly. But it's more complicated than that.

"He's helping me with the appeal stuff, that's all."

"Whatever you say."

I brush some dust off the top of the filing cabinet and sneeze. "Promise me you'll vacuum," I say, my voice nasal as I pinch my nose, fending off another sneeze. "I know this place is a charity, but our second-hand Dyson works fine as long as someone, you know, turns the damn thing on and moves it about."

Ali grins. "You got it. Enjoy your convalescence and get some rest between whatever else you're doing."

* * *

The archway over the park entrance never scared me before, but tonight it looks like the gaping maw of a shark. The lamps are bright enough at the threshold, but the light is lower inside the park, the shadows long.

I nope out of there and set off on the more time-consuming route. It will take me along the sidewalk and through the more built-up area but add a solid ten minutes to the journey. In my eye-line, a jogger crosses the park grass, a small dog struggling to keep up on stumpy legs.

I hold my counseling appointments here quite often. I've found it's less intimidating for the kids than the classic claustrophobic office setting. We sometimes sit and have ice cream on the swing set, talking things over.

I feel a surge of anger.

I refuse to let the fucking Dollmaker frighten me away from the park I love. The bastard doesn't have that power over me.

I take my keys from my purse and arrange them between my fingers, a jagged edge sticking out between each knuckle. Feeling more confident, I pass under the arch and along the path to the south exit, closest to my apartment.

The breeze has picked up to a gale, and I regret my choice of outerwear - a leather jacket and scarf weren't too bad in the daytime, but now I'm struggling to prevent the cold from biting at my limbs. I wrap my coat around me and bundle my scarf, trying to get it to cover my ears before I remember that I need to be listening for trouble.

The path drops away down a small hill, and as I descend into the sheltered spot, the wind drops too.

Then I see it. A rustle in the bushes to my right.

It's a dog. It's a dog or a bird or a cat or a rat…okay. Get it together, Dr. Seuss.

I squeeze my fist around my keys as I pass the line of shrubs. Nothing happens.

Picking up the pace now. I can see the exit I want, just a couple of hundred yards away.

A hand on my arm, hot breath in my ear.

"Boo."

I turn quickly, punching my assailant in the thigh with the keys. There's a sickening wet sound as his skin breaks, and I let go, leaving the keys embedded in his flesh. He releases my arm, and I realize who it is.

Ben is looking at his leg, frowning. He grabs the keys and pulls them out.

"Why did you do that?" I cry. "I just got through telling you I was abducted, and you decided to follow me and pull a stunt like that?"

"I told you—you’re staying with me." He tosses me the bloody keys, and I catch them. "Youcame tomelooking for help, remember. You don't get to decide what that looks like."

He gets to his feet and stands in front of me. He places his fingertip under my chin and lifts it so I have to look at him.

* * *

Ben

My blood is up for all the wrong reasons. Stalking Roxy through the park was a fucking stupid thing to do, especially given what she told me, but I wanted to scare her. I wanted to see it on her face, in her eyes, so I could drink it in.

But as I look at her now, I can see something else. Somethingmore.

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