Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet Book 1)

by H. D. Carlton

  He finally releases my hair from his grip, and I scramble away from him.

  Zipping up his jeans, he looks down at me. I can only see a sliver of his face from the moonlight, but what I do see makes me feel murderous.

  He’s not looking down at me smugly like I had expected. His face is arranged into a blank mask as if what just happened didn’t affect him at all. And that—that is so much worse.

  “You want to know the best part?” he asks quietly. “I was going to tuck you into bed and leave you alone tonight. But you seem to forget that just because I am wholly yours, little mouse, I am not a nice man.”

  Chapter 22

  The Shadow

  M y little mouse decided to get a change of scenery today. Maybe she wanted to get away from the house that I seem to keep popping up in.

  As if sitting outside of a bar and grill is going to keep her safe from me.

  I’m just walking down 5th street, passing a lawyer’s office, when Mark comes barreling out of the door. We both stop short, inches from colliding with each other.

  “Oh, Zack! Didn’t see you there. Were you just coming in…” he asks, trailing off and looking behind him at the door to the lawyer’s office.

  “No, I was on my way back to my car,” I lie smoothly, resuming my walk. My car is in the opposite direction, but I will sit in a random ass car if it means keeping Mark away from Bailey’s.

  “Let me walk with you,” Mark smiles, inviting himself on what would’ve been a pleasant and peaceful stroll to spy on my girl.

  Now I have to deal with this fucktwit.

  Mark walks alongside me, prattling on about this and that—nothing that I deem important. He must not have many friends. He’s a fucking chatterbox and enjoys the sound of his own voice. I bet money he’s one of those guys who stand in front of a mirror and give themselves daily pep talks about how he’s still got it goin’ on.

  Bailey's is straight ahead. Right as we come up to the intersection right before the bar and grill, I veer left, deciding to cross the road so we’re on the opposite side of the restaurant. But when I go to press the button to signal for the lights to change, Mark stops me.

  “Hey, Bailey’s is a good place to get drinks. It’s been a little while since I’ve been here.”

  I keep from gritting my teeth, though all I really want to do right now is grind them to dust. The main reason I don’t is because I would no longer be able to bite Addie’s clit.

  And I really enjoy doing that.

  “It’s pretty crowded in there. You sure you don’t want to go somewhere else? I know a perfect place a few blocks from here.”

  Mark waves a hand, already walking across the road towards Bailey’s.

  Fuck.

  I follow after him, opening my mouth and readying to find another reason to opt-out of the restaurant, but he’s turning back to me.

  “I actually really enjoy the drinks and food here. I come here every so often, and I usually get in no problem. The hostess loves me,” he says, ending his statement with a wink.

  Yeah, and how many times did you ask her, “Do you know who I am” before she found an empty table?

  My guess is at least four times.

  Sighing internally, I force a grin as Mark approaches Bailey’s restaurant, walking in and right up to the hostess.

  And just like when an ex walks in unexpectedly, the hostess’ smile drops an inch before forcing the most strained smile known to mankind.

  “Hi, Mark. Table for two this time?”

  “It would appear so,” Mark responds with a smartass chuckle. I keep my face blank and pleasant, even as she sighs and leads us to a table out on the patio.

  Right where Addie is.

  Thankfully, she doesn’t notice us when we arrive, even though we’re seated only five tables down. Our table is perpendicular to her, providing the perfect view of her heart-shaped face, abused bottom lip, and the long lashes fanning her cheeks.

  She’s writing on her laptop, wholly focused on her task and not the world around her. Her bottom lip rolls between her straight teeth. I have the fiercest urge to walk over and take that bottom lip between my own.

  Despite my obsession with my little mouse, I keep my eyes off of her. In fact, I make a point to never look in her direction in front of Mark. I got a single look walking in while Mark was ahead of me, and that’s the only privilege I gave myself.

  If he sees me looking at her, she’ll be targeted. And the last thing I want is Addie on any of these shitheads’ radars.

  As Mark drones on about some bill he doesn't want to pass, a couple and their kid walk past us, the little girl talking animatedly. She looks to be about five years old—cute girl with a ponytail, big doe eyes, and dimples.

  I see the sly look on Mark’s face before he even registers what he’s doing, and it takes physical restraint not to reach across the table, point his butter knife upright and slam his head down on it.

  Instead, I make a split-second decision. The family is walking past Mark, beyond his view. When his head swivels back to me, I lean to the side and pretend to check out the little girl. I look just to the right of her at a plate of food—I’d rather slit my own throat than look at a child in a sexual manner—but it looks authentic to Mark.

  I let the predatory look linger on those chicken tenders for a few seconds before I’m straightening and feigning innocence. But I feel Mark’s gaze burning into me.

  As much as it sickens me, I need him to think I have an interest in the depraved things he does.

  An hour passes while I continue to pretend to show interest in underage girls, looking right above their heads, at their food or whatever else that's close enough to feed the illusion. Nothing too obvious, and I don’t do it every time as not to be suspicious. Just subtle glances here and there.

  During the hour, Mark continues to grow more inebriated. At the gentlemen’s club, I noticed that he sucks down whiskey like it’s life support.

  I’m sensing alcoholism alongside his sadism.

  And of course, that’s when the fucker decides to really look around and catch notice of a still-working Addie, tucked in her little corner and typing away like her life depends on it. I’ve kept an eye on her from my peripheral, and whatever she’s writing, she’s invested.

  “Now, that’s a beauty,” Mark says, staring straight at Addie. Her mouth is wrapped around her straw as she finishes off a margarita. I watch her from the corner of my eye, but I don’t slide my gaze over right away. I have two seconds to make a decision. Act like I don’t know her or claim her.

  Before I can open my mouth, Mark slides out his phone and snaps a picture of her, his thumbs moving quickly as he goes to send it to someone.

  Fucking ballsy to do that shit in front of me. I’m not sure if it was leering at children together or the alcohol, but it was far bolder than I would’ve expected.

  My hand lands over his phone, halting his progress.

  He looks up at me, his eyes wide and cheeks flushed.

  “Whatever you’re about to do, stop it. That’s my girl.”

  Somehow, Mark’s eyes get even wider.

  “That girl over there? She’s yours?”

  I nod my head once.

  “She likes to be left alone when she works, and I respect her space.”

  Mark’s white, bushy brows plunge down.

  “Why didn’t you say anything? Introduce us at least?”

  “I was planning to after she finished with her work.”

  Mark’s eyes thin, confusion swirling in his blue eyes. He’s an older man, with sagging skin, liver spots, and knee problems from how he groans every time he stands up. But he’s also an astute man for his age, and his mind is still sharp.

  “You were going to pass the restaurant without saying hi to her?” he interrogates, referring to my lie about walking to my car. “And go to a different restaurant?”

  I stare him dead in the eye, making sure he can see just how unconcerned I am with his ques
tioning.

  “My girl lives in a peaceful little bubble when she writes her books. She doesn’t like to be bothered when working, and I respect her space. Especially because it allows me the freedom to do whatever I please without her worrying about what I’m doing.”

  Add a sprinkle of adulterous implications in there, and Mark immediately relates. He laughs, his yellowed teeth on full display.

  “I knew I liked you,” he chuckles, his crow’s feet deepening.

  I squeeze his phone, the device still trapped between both of our hands.

  “Delete the picture, Mark.”

  Mark’s eyes bug. “Oh, of course! I’m terribly sorry, Zack. I didn’t mean to offend. I had no idea,” he says hurriedly, trying to laugh off the fact that he was looking to kidnap my mouse. He hastily deletes the picture from his gallery.

  I'll be hacking into his phone later to confirm it has been permanently deleted. Asshole thinks I’m dense and don’t know what a Cloud is, or that you can access your trash and reload the picture.

  I’ll also be ensuring that he didn’t actually send the picture to anyone.

  “S’all good,” I say calmly, sitting back in my chair and appearing casual.

  I’m anything but.

  The need to slice him open from ear to ear is vibrating through my tense muscles. Beneath the table, I flex my hand, fighting the urge not to drive it down Mark’s throat.

  I want to kill him.

  Scratch that.

  I’m going to kill him.

  Slowly.

  “Let me go introduce myself then. She’s been hard at work for an hour. I’m sure she won’t mind.”

  Before I can tell the old fart to sit his ass down, he’s up and heading towards Addie.

  Fuck. Me.

  I hurry after him. Sensing the incoming danger—whether it’s from Mark or me, I’m not sure—she looks up and her gaze clashes with mine.

  Instantly, her eyes widen into caramel marbles, and her face pales about five shades lighter. I’m ready to squirt some spray tan lotion on her if it means she doesn’t make it so damn obvious that she’s not happy to see me.

  With Mark ahead of me, I quickly give her a severe warning look. Her brows plunge, but she doesn’t have time to react before Mark sticks his hand in her face.

  “Young lady! What a pleasure to meet you. I’m sorry, Zack here didn’t tell me your name. But I’m Mark Seinburg. I just had the pleasure of meeting your boyfriend here not too long ago, and he’s quite the catch, but I must say, you’re much more impressive.”

  Addie opens her mouth, but nothing escapes, her equilibrium thrown off from the sudden intrusion, alongside Mark calling me Zack and claiming her as my girlfriend.

  “Addie,” I say. Both eyes snap to me. “Her name is Addie. Sorry, baby, I didn’t mean to intrude. I told you about Mark here already, he’s the guy I met at work.” I side-eye Mark, letting him think I told Addie we met under different circumstances than we did. He smiles wider at that.

  Gentlemen’s clubs aren’t necessarily a secret, but they’re definitely not a place you go to visit when you have a beautiful wife or girlfriend waiting for you at home. At least if you’re not a narcissistic prick.

  “Oh, uh, hi Mark. Pleasure to meet you,” she finally says, clasping Mark’s hand in her own.

  I feel so many things right now.

  Namely, the urge to fucking kiss her for going along with something she doesn’t understand.

  She’s definitely getting rewarded later.

  But I also feel the possessive beast rise. Not only to claim Addie as my own, but to protect her from the real monster. The moment Mark registers Addie’s beautiful smoky voice, his eyes droop. And if I see his khakis start to tent, I will kill him here and now.

  She glances at their entwined hands with a hint of trepidation, but she smooths her face out quickly. Mark doesn’t notice her subtly wiping her hand on her jeans when he lets it go, but I do.

  “The pleasure is mine. You have a beautiful name. What is it short for?”

  She clears her throat, throwing me another what the fuck glance. “Adeline.”

  Mark’s face is animated as he marvels over her response. “A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”

  A red blush stains her cheeks prettily. She pretends to act bashful, but I can feel the nervous energy emanating from her in waves. My little mouse doesn’t do well in social situations, especially when she’s thrown in one unprepared.

  “Alright, Mark. Let’s leave my girl to get back to work.”

  Her eyes narrow into slits briefly when I say my girl. I subtly quirk a brow, daring her to defy me. She knows I’m not saying it for Mark’s benefit. She’s going to hear me call her my girl for a long fucking time.

  Next, we’ll graduate to my wife and then the mother of my children.

  One day she’ll get it in her head that she’s mine.

  “Nonsense!” he bellows, attracting a few curious eyes. “You don’t mind, do you, Addie?”

  For the first time, my face slips, and I let loose a snarl. Mark doesn’t notice, but Addie does. If anything, my anger relaxes her by an inch. The knowledge that I’m not liking this situation must bring her some sort of comfort, compared to her thinking I’m purposely involving her in something dangerous.

  Addie shakes her head, closing her laptop gently and sliding it into the case at her feet.

  “Please, go ahead,” she says, a single note in her tone wobbly. I sit next to her and wrap an arm around her tense shoulders, hoping that my presence will bring her some semblance of safety and comfort.

  “Please, tell me how you two love birds met,” Mark says, settling in his new seat. He waves to the waiter for another drink, and internally, I groan.

  “At a book signing,” I respond. “Super amazing author was there signing books. I saw her and instantly fell in love. I sought her out afterwards, asked her on a date and the rest was history.”

  She smiles, though it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah, he’s a persistent one,” she says with an awkward laugh.

  “Fascinating!” Mark says, his eyes pinballing between us. His phone vibrates and when he slips it out of his pocket, his face drops.

  Clearing his throat, he looks up at us with a sheepish grin. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to head to the restroom and take this call. Addie, please order yourself another margarita. It’s on me.”

  Mark gets up and walks away without a backward glance, his stagger uneven from the copious amounts of alcohol he consumed and his gaze pinned to his phone.

  Addie starts packing her belongings frantically within a millisecond, hands shaking as she throws the rest of her stuff in her bag.

  “If you think you’re leaving, you’re sadly mistaken.”

  She freezes, glancing back at me before she resumes. Keeping my movements calm and fluid as not to raise any alarm from bystanders, I slide my hand to her neck.

  She pauses again when she feels my touch, and then whimpers when I squeeze tight.

  “Look at me. Now.”

  Her eyes pinch shut for a moment before they open, and those pretty caramel eyes glide to mine. They’re full of fear, and I’m almost surprised.

  In the dark, she comes alive with fire. As if it’s the night that feeds her flames and not oxygen. And in daylight, she’s timid and scared. She becomes her moniker—a meek little mouse.

  “If you’ve never taken me seriously before, then do it now, Adeline.” Her eyes widen at the severity of my tone. “You’re going to sit there like a good little girl and play along until I can convince Mark to leave. Then and only then, you can pack up your shit and go home. Do you understand?”

  There it is.

  The fire sparks and ignites.

  “Fine. At least tell me what the fuck is happening, Zade. Or Zack. Which is your real name? You know what, I don’t care. I don’t know what game you’re playing, but after this, you need to leave me out of it.”

  I lean forward and give her a wa
rning look. She snaps her mouth shut, but the flames never dull.

  “I. Tried,” I bite out. “I will try to leave with Mark as soon as I can, but until then, do as I fucking say. We're super in love and you're my doting little girlfriend. That's all you need to know right now.”

  Her eyes widen gradually until she’s staring at me like I’ve lost my mind. What she doesn’t realize is I did lose my fucking mind the second I laid eyes on her, and I haven’t gotten it back yet.

  “What is this, Zade?” she asks quietly. “Is Mark dangerous? Why are you lying to him?”

  I sigh. “Yes,” I concede. “He is dangerous, and he set his sights on you.”

  Before she can question me further, Mark returns, a jolly smile on his flushed face.

  “No drink?” he questions, sauntering up to the table with his arms outstretched.

  “My fault. I got a little carried away with my hello kiss,” I lie, grinning a cheesy smile. The thought of me making out with my girl in public clearly gets him hot and bothered by the flash of heat in his eyes, but he covers it well enough with a hearty laugh.

  Addie clears her throat, elbowing me hard in the side and offering an embarrassed smile.

  “What is it you were working on, Adeline dear?” Mark asks, settling back into the chair and gulping down a large swallow of his bourbon.

  “Uh, a few things. I was researching a cold case from the ‘40s,” she answers.

  Mark cocks a brow. “Really? Why’s that?”

  The red in her cheeks brightens. “Uh, well it’s my great-grandmother’s actually. Genevieve Parsons.”

  “Oh, I know that case!” Mark exclaims. "My father was a detective during that time, though he wasn't allowed to work the case.”

  By the way her brows raise, her interest has been piqued. "He wasn't allowed to? How come?"

  "Conflict of interest. He and John Parsons were best friends for twenty years, and Gigi was a good friend of his. His sergeant said it'd be too personal, so he had to stand by and watch them butcher the case." He shrugs. "Dad always thought John was the one who did it."

  Addie leans forward, hanging on Mark’s every word. “Your father was Frank?”