Page 109 of Love on the Line

Chapter 41

Wyatt’s heartrateraced right along with his car as he sped to his apartment. His brain was a total jumble. Emily had been furious with him. Over what?

She’d made a strange comment about Anne going to his place, where all the women went. Made no sense at all. He switched on the wipers as rain pelted the windshield, forcing him to slow down. Damn it, he didn’t have time for this shit.

Whoever hired Moe Dog and Charlie could have paid someone else to harass Wyatt at his apartment, and Anne could be hurt again if she showed up there. Especially alone. He cursed under his breath and pressed the gas pedal. Screw the slick road, he’d take his chances.

When he reached his complex, he parked and ran up the stairwell. He twisted his key in the deadbolt, which turned freely. A zap of adrenaline heightened his senses. The door was unlocked.

Maybe Anne had gone in and not bothered to latch it behind her. Didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to call the cops and wait for them to show up. She could be in danger. Bracing himself, he swung the door open and charged into the room.

Whoa. He grabbed the back of a chair to stop his momentum and skidded to a halt in front of Victoria, who looked up at him from her seat on the sofa.

“Hi, Wyatt.” Her lips curved into an evil smile.

Shock caved his lungs, spiking through his body like caffeine from a triple espresso.

What the hell?

“You don’t look happy to see me.” She stood and fluffed her hair.

Christ, she was wearing his shirt with some sort of lingerie beneath. Stunned, he stood stock still, struggling to form words. He’d figured out on their second date that she was bat-shit crazy, which she’d proved with all the social media bullshit, but this went beyond.

“What are you doing here and how did you get in?” He gripped the back of the chair until his knuckles turned white.

“Oh, so simple, honey.” She shrugged. “I told them at the office that I forgot my key. The super was more than happy to let me in after I showed her pictures of us together.”

Wyatt forced a breath. She was fucking insane. Having lunatic, stalking fans went hand in hand with being a celebrity, though. His own fault that he’d dated her. He should have known she wouldn’t go away. Probably got jealous over the engagement picture of him and Anne. Victoria had major issues.

Despite the insanity of the situation, his gut-wrenching fear that Anne was in danger dissolved. No one held her at gunpoint in his apartment or had kidnapped her. He just had to deal with this wack job, who had managed to find a shirt of his to wear over not much else.

He shook his head to knock out the image of her sorting through his clothes. “If you leave now and never bother me again, I won’t call the police. Do you understand?”

She pouted. “Yeah, I guess. My work here is done. I got what I wanted.”

“What does that mean?” He hated to ask, but the smug expression on her face begged the question.

“I met your fiancée tonight.” Victoria brought a hand to her mouth and giggled. “Oops. I mean, former fiancée.”

Wyatt’s heart froze along with every muscle in his frame.

No. Fuck no.

Victoria stroked her chin. “She stopped by and seemed…hmm…what’s the word I’m looking for? Surprised?” She frowned. “No, that’s not it. Distraught?” She shook her head. “Oh, I know.” Moving a step closer, she whispered, “Devastated.”

The blood drained from every vessel of Wyatt’s body. Anne had to think he’d cheated on her. Devastated didn’t begin to cover it.

Before he could respond, Victoria plucked out a ring from the pocket of his shirt. “By the way, she left this for you by the trashcan where it landed.” Victoria smirked. “Apparently, you’re all mine now. Wanna take me up on it?”

Wyatt bit back his response as his world hurled out of orbit. He had to get to Anne. Explain to her that Victoria was a certified nut case. He closed his hand over the ring and took in a deep, burning breath.

“You have five seconds to get out of here before I call the police.” He faced Victoria. “Four…three…”

She snatched her purse, a bag of clothes, and a raincoat from next to the couch. After throwing on the slicker, she trotted out the door on spiked heels. “See ya, baby. This was fun.”

Wyatt opened his fist and gazed at the ring. A symbol of his promise for a life together. One Anne thought didn’t exist anymore, or she wouldn’t have thrown the diamond away.

He had to tell her nothing happened. But would she believe him? She’d seen his ex-girlfriend half naked in his apartment when he was supposed to be out of town, and he’d called for a fill in at the event. Easily documented with news photos. He didn’t have a leg to stand on. Except he loved Anne. And none of this was real. Convincing her of that was another story, but one step at a time.

Focus.

He pressed a hand to his aching head. She’d either go home or to Emily’s. Neither of them would answer his calls.

Knowing Anne, she’d bear the pain on her own.

He got in his car and gunned his way toward her apartment.

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