I gasped at what I saw in the middle of the sheets. “Is that …”
“Semen,” Detective Brookes finished. “Most likely.”
“Son of a bitch,” Connor cursed behind me.
Feeling nauseous, I turned away from the bed. I needed to get out of that room. Fleeing, I rushed past Connor, back into the hallway, my breathing increasing. I moved down the hallway, past the damage of my living room and out onto the balcony, needing some fresh air.
Connor wasn’t far behind me. I could feel the fear start to cloud the working parts of my brain, taking over all of my senses. That was when his arms surrounded me from behind.
“Wh-Who would do this?” I turned and asked him.
His large hand cupped my face. “Someone who’s going to regret the day they were born,” he growled.
“Ms. McDonald?”
Connor moved to my side, his arm moving around my waist, to allow me to see Detective Brookes standing at my patio door.
“I’m going to need to ask you some questions. I’ve got forensics on the way. Although much of the scene has been compromised already, we might be able to find some prints and DNA from the bedsheets.” He frowned as he wrote something in the small notepad in his hand. “I wouldn’t recommend staying here tonight.”
“She’s won’t be,” Connor quickly responded. “She’ll be staying with me.”
My eyes widened and I stared up at him.
“Okay, sounds good. Let me check on a couple things. A few more guys should be here soon to dust for fingerprints. I’ll have some more questions and I’ll need to get your contact information, Ms. McDonald, and then you can be on your way,” Detective Brookes stated before writing something else in his notebook and departing.
I turned again to Connor. “Staying with you?”
“That’s what I said,” he responded without hesitation. “If Brookes allows it, you can pack a few things from here to bring. Otherwise, we’ll make a trip to the store to pick up whatever you need.”
He was so assured and his voice so calming and full of sternness that I didn’t even think to go against what he was saying. The truth was I didn’t want to.
About thirty minutes later, after answering more of Detective Brookes’ questions—like what time I’d left that morning, if I had any idea who could’ve done this, etc—I was able to go to my bedroom and pick out a few items to pack up and take with me. Walking back into my bedroom again felt eerie. I stared at the bed that, even though I hadn’t been here at the time whoever was in my home had been, caused me to feel violated just knowing what they’d done there.
“That thing is getting burned to the ground.”
“I’ll light the matches,” Connor firmly stated behind me, stroking my arms up and down as chills ran through my body. I leaned into his strength for comfort.
Sighing, I moved to my closet, pulling out a suitcase to pack my clothes in. Most of the clothing in my closet hadn’t been touched, and I felt okay taking them with me. I’d been assured by Detective Brookes that his team had taken photographs and done whatever they needed to do to get the necessary DNA samples and fingerprints. Next, I moved to my off-white, old-fashioned style dresser that I’d loved when I first purchased. Pulling the top drawer open, I removed a few of my leggings, T-shirts, and comfortable pajama sets for lounging and sleeping in.
“Oh my God!” I gasped when I opened the second drawer, where I kept my intimate apparel.
“What?” Connor questioned, immediately standing behind me, peering down.
“He stole my underwear.” I looked up at Connor, completely mortified.
“Brookes!” Connor yelled.
“No! Don’t tell him,” I begged, feeling more embarrassed than I ever had.
“What do you mean don’t tell him?”
“Yeah?”
“The fucker stole her underwear. Probably jerked off in there, too. Did your guys even check out her dressers?” Connor’s voice was filled with anger I’d never heard anyone express on my behalf before. His anger must’ve transferred to Brookes as well because his dark eyes seemed to glow with indignation.
“Larry!” he yelled.
A few minutes later, one of the uniformed officers arrived at my bedroom door.
As Brookes explained the issue, I silently begged for the ground to open up and swallow me whole. Here I was standing in a room with four other men, listening to them talk about how some perp had broken into my home, destroyed much of my belongings, ejaculated in my bed, and then stolen my underwear.
This night just needed to end.
“I’m taking her home.” I heard Connor’s voice above everyone else’s, and soon I felt his hands on my body, guiding me to the door. My feet moved without specified directions from my brain to do so. We were following Connor’s direction as if he was the primary heat source I was seeking.
And he was.
I had no idea what lay ahead of me, but for now, I was just fine with following wherever Connor led.
Chapter Nine
Connor
She’d been so quiet ever since we walked into her apartment and saw the mess that was made. Save for answering the questions from Brookes and the other officers, she’d been quiet and her face was a mask of confusion and fear. Nothing tugged at me more than seeing those emotions swirling around in those dark brown eyes.
As I slid the large elevator door open, revealing my loft-style home, I moved to the side to allow Resha to enter first. She hesitated, peering up at me before turning and stepping off the elevator. My chest tightened at the look of fear that still danced in her eyes, despite her trying to hide it. It’d taken everything in me to allow her to even drive herself in her own car, to follow me on my bike to my place. I was only comfortable with her driving her own car after Brookes and another officer had thoroughly checked it out to make sure the perp hadn’t left anything on her vehicle or it hadn’t otherwise been tampered with.
“I’ll take that,” I stated, pulling the large bag she was clutching to her side from her, along with the suitcase I’d carried from her car. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll put these upstairs and then order us some food.”
She nodded over her shoulder before moving across the hardwood floor toward the living room to the black leather couch. I watched for another heartbeat and then fully closed the elevator, taking her bags upstairs to the open space I’d designated as my bedroom. Being that it was loft there were no doors, everything was open, save for the first floor bedroom that I rarely used, but since I lived alone, I liked it that way. However, as I stared down at Resha who sat on the couch, looking through her phone, I briefly wondered if she liked this style. If she would be comfortable here.
“Okay,” I began as I made my way down the stairs, “there’s a good Chinese takeout not too far from here. There are two Italian places but they’re just okay. A Thai place and a vegan spot. Any preference?” I questioned as I rounded the couch and took a seat next to her.
She shook her head. “I’m not that hungry.”
I frowned. “It’s been hours since we ate lunch. You need to eat. What’s your preference?”
She sighed and peered over at me, giving me a side-eye look.
I smirked because I enjoyed the feisty side of her. Hell, I was quickly becoming a fan of every side of her.
“Fine. Chinese. You have a menu?”
I grinned and sat up, my arm reaching for the hidden drawer of the black, low-sitting coffee table at the center of my living room. Opening it, I ruffled through a couple of motorcycle and fighting magazines before pulling out the menu to the Chinese spot, and handed it to her.
She looked over the menu and told me what she wanted.
“Cool. I’m gonna order. You should call Destiny.”
Her forehead knitted. “Why?”
I blinked and gaped at her as if she were crazy. “She’s your best friend and sister pretty much, right? You don’t think she’d want to know what happened today?”
Shaking her head, Resha waved a dismissive hand. “It’s late.”
I pressed the button on my phone to display the time. “It’s barely a quarter after eight.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s late for her these days. The kids’ bedtime is eight o’clock and I don’t want to call her in case the ringing of the phone will wake the children. I’ll just talk to her in the morning.”
I stared at Resha. “You seriously think she’d be upset if one of the kids woke up because you called to tell her your home had been broken into?”
Rising, she shook her head and ran her hands over her arms as if trying to keep herself warm. “It’s no big deal. I’ll call her in the morning. Don’t you have a call to make? I’m starting to get hungry.”
I and gritting my teeth so much so I could feel the flexing of the muscles in my jaw. She was scared shitless. I could see it, but she tried to downplay it, to hide it as if that would make it go away. And for some reason she didn’t want to contact the person I knew she was closest to. I didn’t say anything.
I gave her a curt nod and dialed the number to order our food.
“They’ll be here in about twenty minutes,” I told her after disconnecting the call. “Do you want to take a shower or change or anything?”
“A hot shower sounds great right now.”
I directed her to the bathroom before handing her a towel, washcloth, and an extra bar of soap. Moving down the stairs, as Resha shut the door to begin her shower, I headed straight to my phone.
Picking it up, I sent a text to Joshua.
I need to meet with you and Brutus. Important.
I paced the floor, waiting for his response. It came about three minutes later.
What’s up?
Tell you tomorrow. What time can you meet?
10:30. My office or at the Underground?
Office.
I tossed my phone back on the couch once that was over. Turning the television on, I flipped to the sports channel to get the latest updates on football games I’d missed that day … at least that was what I told myself. I really just needed a distraction while Resha was in the shower. I had the biggest urge to barge into the bathroom and wrap my arms around her and let her know that there was nothing and no one that I’d let get to her but I held back. There was so much I was still piecing together in my own mind.
Earlier that day, her reaction to the building where we took pictures had me wondering. The same fear I’d picked up in her eyes later at her condo, I’d seen as she stared at what she thought had been a completely abandoned building. And that had been way before she was even aware of what’d taken place at her home. Also, I watched her as she answered Brookes’ questions. He’d asked her if there was anyone she could think of who would’ve done this. Her immediate answer was no, but I’d seen awareness pop up in her eyes as if there was something she’d put together but didn’t want to say out loud. Resha held a lot of secrets. And that wasn’t even including the fact that she was so hesitant in telling Destiny, her cousin, adopted sister, best friend, and part-time business partner.
Before my thoughts could delve too deeply into what was truly going on inside of Resha’s head, the buzzer from downstairs sounded. Moving to the door, I pressed the button, allowing me to see an image of the Chinese takeout delivery guy. I buzzed him up and paid for our food.
By the time Resha was out of the shower and dressed in a matching pumpkin pajama set, I had the food plated and set out on the coffee table.
“I’ve got Diet Coke, regular Coke, apple juice, and sparkling water.”
“Diet Coke,” she responded.
I grabbed a glass and a can of diet soda along with a bottle of water for myself.
“Feeling better?” I questioned as I placed her drink in front of her plate, opening the can and pouring it into the glass for her.
“Much,” she sighed and smiled at me.
I pressed my palm against my chest because that tightening feeling started happening again. Unconsciously, I moved closer to her, using my hand to rub her back. She leaned into me, sighing.
“Thanks for letting me stay here. I’ll have to do another photoshoot for you as payback.”
I growled. “You don’t owe me shit for this. We’re going to get whoever this fucker is that broke into your home.”
She looked up at me, pausing the bite of the chicken and broccoli she ordered. “How do you know?”
“Because I do. And I don’t ever say shit I don’t mean.”
A small, pondering smile crossed those full lips, and I leaned down to kiss them.
“Have you always been like this?” she questioned once her eyes opened.
“Like what?” I took a forkful of the vegetable fried rice I ordered.
“A straight shooter. So assured and … I don’t know … caring?”
I stopped chewing to look over at her, staring for a moment. I analyzed the words she just used to describe me. Shrugging, I responded, “I’m just me.”
“Add modest to the list, too,” she laughed.
We finished eating, and after placing the dishes in the dishwasher, I moved to the couch, pulling her in my arms, which she came willingly. She nestled her head against my chest, sighing contentedly as I wrapped my arms fully around her.
“You want to talk about why you’re so hesitant to call Destiny?” I finally asked into the silence.
Her arm tightened around mine and she dipped her head, burying it farther inside of my chest.
“I’ll take that as a no. How about whatever it was that you were holding back from Brookes?”
Her head rose and she gave me a questioning look. “How do you know I was holding something back?”
“I could read it on your face, a stór. Do you know who broke into your home?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know who it was, but …”
“You have an idea.”
“Not quite. I just … I’ve been getting strange emails for a few months now.”
I lifted her chin higher to meet my glare. “What kinds of emails? From who?”
“Creepy emails. I get a lot of emails, DMs, and comments on my blog from readers and followers. Mostly its women interested in fashion or who listen to the podcast. Fans. But this one person has been sending strange emails, saying that they liked the outfit I wore that day. I remember the first one was like six months ago, maybe, and it felt odd because I hadn’t even posted anything online that day of what I wore.”
“That was the first but not the last email.”
“Not at all. I didn’t get them that frequently, so I didn’t think much of it, honestly. Between traveling, attending work events, the podcast, helping at the shelter from time to time, I just pushed it to the back of my mind. The messages would come only a few times a month or so. Then they increased to a couple of times per week over the last few of months. He always signed the messages off with ‘S’. And then there was the feeling that I was being watched …”
“What?” I barked.
“I would feel it sometimes when I went out to my car in the garage of my building. I wouldn’t see anyone around, at least not anyone out of the ordinary, but the hairs on the back of my neck would stand.”
“S …” Connor ruminated, thinking. “Do you know anyone whose name starts with the letter S?”
She shook her head. “I mean, I meet a lot of people for work events and whatnot. I’m sure I’ve met a ton of Stevens, Samuels, or last name Smiths, or whatever, but no one is ringing a bell. No one stands out as overly interested, or as making me uncomfortable.”
“And what about your neighbor?”
Her brows knitted. “Jarvis?”
My jaw clenched at the sound of his name. “Him. You said earlier that he gives you creepy vibes and that he’s far more interested in you than you are in him, right?”
She looked off, trying to wrap her mind around the suspicion that her next door neighbor could be responsible for all of this.
“But his
name doesn’t start with an S.”
“Could be a nickname or just something he used to throw you off. He knows where you live, he has access to the parking garage where your car is parked regularly. He saw us out this morning. That could’ve sparked his anger and jealousy to push him to break into your home while we were out.”
“You really think so?”
“It’s a thought.” A thought that I’d be looking into as soon as my eyes opened tomorrow. I didn’t like that motherfucker from the moment I spotted him that morning. Considering this new information Resha just told me, he was the first person who came to mind.
“How do we even know whoever sent those emails, and had the flowers delivered are the same person?”
“Flowers? What flowers?”
Her eyes widened. “Oh yeah, about a week or so ago, there was a vase of white and pink lilies delivered to my door. I thought it was a brand I’d worked with at first but then I opened the letter. It was signed ‘S’ just like the emails and the note on my car.”
“Do you still have it?”
Resha shook her head. “I threw it out because I couldn’t stand seeing it. Just looking at that vase and those flowers made my skin crawl.” She shuddered and tucked her face deeper into my chest.
I reached around, tightening my hold around her body. And before I thought better of it, I shifted until she was lying underneath me on the couch. Lowering my head, I pressed a kiss to her lips, which she eagerly received. I pulled back from the kiss and hovered over her, gazing into her eyes. I moved my hand underneath the cotton material of her pajama bottoms, feeling the softness of her skin, moving up to cup her breast.
A tiny moan pushed passed her lips.
“I can make you forget everything that’s happened tonight. Or, I can make you forget your own name. Or, even better, I can have you screaming my name at the top of your lungs. Which one do you want me to do, a stór?” My voice was deep, laced with determination.
Resha sat up on her elbows, rising until her face was only a few centimeters from mine, and licked my lips before responding, “All of the above.”
No Coincidence Page 13