Saint Sloan (Saint Sloan #1)(51)

After what seemed like only a short time, the water started turning cold, and she turned the faucet off. Way too short of a shower, she sighed.

She opened the beige shower curtain and grabbed for the fluffy purple towel she’d left on the sink. Instead of the towel, she stabbed her hand on something. In pain, she yelled and pulled her hand inside the shower to check it out.

Tiny blood pockets bubbled on her hand in several places where she’d been pricked.

“No.” She gasped. As fast as she could, she opened the curtain. On top of the towel lay two roses.





CHAPTER EIGHT


SHE HEARD THE SCREAM BUT DIDN’T know it had come from her. It sounded so far away. So foreign.

“Sloan!”

Her bathroom door opened, and Aaron tripped in. He looked scared to death. That made two of them. Sloan didn’t care that she was dripping wet or that she was naked. With a shaking finger, she pointed to the roses lying on the towel she had just laid down there thirty minutes ago.

“Oh… man!” Aaron grabbed the towel, causing the roses to fall onto the floor along with a folded white piece of paper. He wrapped the towel around her and pulled her out of the tub. Holding her tightly, he moved her toward the closed commode lid and eased her down. Kneeling, he put his hands on either side of her face and made her eyes find his. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

Sloan couldn’t talk. All she could do was shake.

“Sloan,” Aaron said more firmly. “Sloan, calm down. You have to talk to me. What happened? Did he hurt you?”

She found the ability to shake her head no. She wanted to talk. She really did, but she knew if she could, she’d probably just sit and scream.

He’d been in the room with her. While she was in the shower. He’d been with her, and she hadn’t known it.

“Okay. We can do yes or no questions, baby. Okay? Can you do that for me?”

Sloan had never heard Aaron so concerned, and it worried her. She had no idea how he’d gotten there, but she knew she was glad he was. She forced a nod, praying she could hold it together long enough to give him yes or no answers.

“Did someone hurt you?”

She shook her head. She hadn’t even known he was in there.

“Good.” He collapsed a little in front of her. “Good. Thank you, God. Good.” His voice trembled too. “Did you see who put the roses in here?”

Again, she shook her head.

“You just opened the curtain and found them?”

She held up her shaking hand and showed him the tiny bloody marks.

“You grabbed the roses when you were reaching for the towel and stabbed your fingers on the thorns?”

Sloan nodded. Her breath caught, and it felt like a thousand-pound weight was sitting on her chest.

Aaron started to get up, but she pulled him back down. He couldn’t leave her. Not like this.

“I’m just going to look around to see if I can see anyone, okay? I promise. I won’t leave you. I promise.” He gently brushed his fingers across her cheek and stood before she could answer.

First, he looked out the window. “Your mom’s downstairs. I guess she didn’t hear you scream. I was on the way up here to tell you I was sorry for storming out when I heard it. Scared the daylights out of me.”

“Me too,” she said through chilly lips. She’d finally found her words.

“Good to hear you speak again.” He smiled for a brief second before bending down to get the folded up piece of paper next to the two red long-stemmed roses.

“What… what does it say?” she eeked out.

He read it to himself at first. The anticipation killed her. Why wouldn’t he just spit it out?

“Aaron.”

Biting his lip, he turned the note around for her to see.

Two days, Sloan. Two days till the Fall. You’re getting close, but do you know who I am? You will soon. Very soon. Do I need to remind you about police involvement and your mother? I think she’s getting close to calling them. I’d stop her if I were you. If you love her at all. Two days and then you fall. And you will… fall.

Don’t forget. ICU

Sloan jumped up and nearly fell over when the dizziness hit. Before she could fall, Aaron caught her and pulled her back up to standing.

“You need to sit,” he demanded.

“I need to warn my mother. She can’t call the police.”

“You put your clothes on, and I’ll talk to your mother.”

A very bad thought crossed her mind. This was Aaron. Aaron who thought she was crazy and had entertained the thought that she’d sent the flowers to herself. “I didn’t do this, Aaron. I didn’t put those flowers there then freak out. I know I didn’t. You have to believe me. Please.”

He held her tightly, gently rubbing his fingers though her wet hair. “It’s okay. I believe you.”

“You do? Who else could have gotten in here?”

“I don’t know,” he whispered in her ear. It caused chill bumps to form on her skin. “I don’t know, but I know you didn’t do it.”

“Why?” She held him tighter. “Why do you know now?”

He kissed her neck. “Because I believe in you.” Aaron let her go and held her at arm’s length. “Get some clothes on. I’ll meet you downstairs.”