Dangerous Lies(21)
That was when the real monster inside evolved.
It had been five years since my accident, now I had my own way of dealing with the horrors I’d seen. Writing helped to mask the memories, but they still burned inside of me. I’d never be able to completely forget.
My heart pounded while I stalked through the house, hyper-aware and prepared for what might pop out in front of me. Holding my gun ready, I stealthily moved into the kitchen and living room, the most opened areas of the house.
Searching intently, careful to watch for shadows playing tricks on me, I followed my instinct, crouching as I moved to the front entry. A patter sounded, and I flung my body in the direction of the noise, heart thumping sporadically with the chase. Did her dumbass ex-husband really find us? I had underestimated him if he did.
Then again, I wasn’t very popular. I’d destroyed a few drug cartels’ businesses with my new line of work, and keeping an eye out for their henchmen was a constant battle.
The sound continued, and sweat beaded behind my neck. The rush of the unknown and possible danger thrilled me, keeping my fears away, only the cold stone killer’s persona, making its appearance in the dark of the night.
Turning quickly from the living room and into the kitchen, I aimed my gun forward. If someone was here, they were hiding behind the kitchen island, and they’d be fucked once I got to them. I shuffled forward, ready to pull the trigger.
I released a heavy breath and lowered my gun when I reached the back of the island. A mouse was nibbling on a crumb from our dinner on the floor, not bothering to run when it saw me. Worthless cat, I thought as I watched the mouse sniff around the edge of the island, picking up another small piece of food that I somehow missed.
I ran my free hand along my forehead and through my damp hair. I needed to get a grip on the small noises that invaded my house. It happened every night, my combat instinct would kick in, as if it were looking for a reason to hunt and kill.
“Come here, little guy, you don’t belong inside,” I said in a hush, chasing the mouse toward the deck, opening the slider and shooing him outside.
I double checked all the locks in the house, telling myself to stop being paranoid. It didn’t matter, though, I’d always think someone were watching. It was how I was trained, embedded in my brain that the enemy was always lurking and waiting.
Heading to the sliding door of my bedroom to the wrap around deck, I decided to help calm my nerves. Her ex wasn’t a threat to me, but there was something I could do.
“Hey asshole, you thinking about me in bed again?” Ben, the voice teased on the other line. It was mid-afternoon his time. I knew because it was the same time zone as Cora’s.
“I’m always thinking about you,” I joked back. “Really, I need a favor.”
He chuckled. “Saving your life wasn’t enough?”
I smiled fondly. Ben worked side by side with me in the Middle East when I’d earned the majority of my scars and fucked up mentality. He got me, even if he was on the other side of the world. “I’ll add to my debt. I need you to check up on someone for me.”
“I assume it’s the same guy as last time?” I glanced through my door and out into the hallway toward the living room. The last thing I needed was for Cora to catch me on the phone asking about her ex-husband.
“Yeah. He’s making threats. I’m not worried, I just want to make sure the asshole is still hiding in his tower.”
Ben’s interest was piqued. “He normally is. What kind of threats are we talking about?” We worked the same way and for the same people. Trying to turn our darkness into good, only he handled the nightmares better than I had.
“Just a text message. Seems he’s ‘coming to get her.’ I’m not worried.”
“What? She flew to you? Your crush turning into something else?” He prodded. Ben loved giving me a hard time when I first asked him for information on Martin Kartman. He told me I would go for a girl I couldn’t have, even though I never admitting to having more than friendly feelings towards Cora. “Time will tell.”
Ben laughed under his breath. “Good luck to you, bro. You’ve had a thing for this chick for some time now. Don’t worry about her ex-husband. You’d kick this twig’s ass in two seconds. I’m sure it’s all talk. I’ll stop by his office tomorrow. I’ve got business that way.”
My shoulders shrugged, releasing some tension. “Thanks, mate. I know it’s a few hours from your location.”
“No biggie. Like I said, I’ve got to check up on a client that way, anyway.”
“Thanks again, talk to you soon.”
“Good. Call you tomorrow.”
I sighed after hanging up the phone, leaning against the doorframe of my bedroom. If Cora knew how much I’d scoped out on her, she’d be terrified. Shaking my head, I went back to what I was doing, shoving my phone in my pocket.
Once I was finished checking the locks, I went back into the kitchen and turned on the dim light above the stove, downing a glass of water, glock still in hand. I gripped it with white knuckles. I’d need to get a hold of my constant fear of someone watching me.
Chapter Fifteen
I hardly slept, continuous tossing and turning, the vision of the screen on my phone glowing with Martin’s text message haunting me whenever I’d close my eyes. It helped that Jake was always there when I opened my eyes, lying beside me. I wanted to reach out and touch him, but at the same time, I didn’t want to disturb his sleep. I was already cramping his lifestyle by barging in on him so last minute. He wanted me to come see him, but a month was a long time to invite someone into your home. Someone you’ve never shared space with or met in person.