Page 139 of Fame and Obsession

“But?” Something big was coming, and it scared the shit out of me.

“But the words Mia typed that day were just typed on that screen, verbatim.”

My eyes widen. Whipping around to face the screen, I read the last words that were typed out loud. “Everything must fit perfectly step by step. This is my step. My beginning, her end.” Julian’s hold on me tightens. “Her?” I ask, turning back to face him.

“That night she typed ‘your end.’ Phoebe, she’s talking about you right now.”

Then it hits me. “Oh, God! You’re saying that—”

“AngelMia is AngElmie. Mia is my stalker. She has been all along. Your friend, Faith, was right. They stick with a screen name and can’t give it up. Look at the similarities. Say them both out loud. Ayngelmeeeya and Angelmee. Then the signature to the letters, Your Angel, Me. It’s all the same words.”

“I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry, I’m not good at this,” I offer, running a hand through his messy hair. I can’t fuck it up, it already lives in a state of chaos.

Shrugging, he blinks a few times, willing the emotion out of his eyes. “I guess I never really knew her. I only knew a screen name. Hell, maybe she didn’t even have a brother, who knows. I can’t believe I was so stupid and didn’t put it together before now. Maybe—”

“Stop,” I tell him, placing my hand over his mouth. “Detective Hough said it himself, they’re not stupid people. They’ll keep doing the same things over and over until they get what they want. Nothing would’ve stopped her.”

He nods. “At least we’ve given her enough rope, and she’s hung herself.” Giving my outer thigh a light slap, he grabs his phone off the bed. “Let’s text Hough and head over to the studio for an hour or so. After that, I’m taking you to a late dinner. We both need to get out.”

“Oh? Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s right. The NYPD will pick this girl up tonight, and she’ll be out of our lives for good. I’m taking you out so we can finally fucking breathe.”

I let out a dramatic gasp and clutch my chest. “What is this? Can Julian Bale be—wait, no way. He can’t possibly be optimistic and happy, can he?”

He flattens his lips. “A little theatrical, don’t you think?”

I bat my eyes. “Dramatic interpretation was my pageant talent.”

“And you still won?”

This time, I gasp for real as he lets out a chuckle. For the first time in weeks, there’s a spark of hope in a blanket of shadows.

Picking me up, Julian kisses me long and hard. When he finally pulls back, we’re both breathless. “I could say the same thing to you, you know.”

“How so?”

“You weren’t always a ray of sunshine, princess. When we first met, you couldn’t have been more surly if you had a unicorn shoved up your ass.”

I twist my lips to hide a laugh. “Julian, there are so many things wrong with that statement, I don’t know where to start.”

“Start with this.” He runs his fingers through my hair, claiming my lips again as if it would be the last time.

Impossible.

The attraction I feel for him only grows stronger. I can’t imagine a day where I won’t get that fluttery feeling in my stomach.

If this isn’t love, I’m not sure I can handle the real thing.

Finally setting me on my feet, he punches out a quick text on his phone and hits send. “Let’s go.”

Hesitating, I glance back at the computer. “Julian, I look like shit. If we’re going out, I need makeup. I need to fix my hair… These are all girl things beyond your ability to understand, but highly important.”

“It’s not safe for you to be alone,” he counters, his good mood fading.

“Says who?” I gesture toward the laptop. “I just sent the file to Detective Hough. The squad cars are probably at her house right now. It’s over, Julian. I want to be normal again. Please?”

Sighing, he relents with a stiff nod while turning toward my bedroom door. “Be ready at nine, princess—and be dressed—”

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