Page 119 of King of Omen

The mysterious stranger disappeared, but the lingering sensation of eyes on me remained.

Chapter 23

MIA

Afew nights later, after my Thursday evening run, while jogging up the steps leading to my apartment, a wave of spidery crawls hit me, and I froze.

I whipped around.

No one lay in wait on the street.

After a handful of heart-pounding moments, I struggled to regain my composure and refocus on gaining entry into my home.

Just as I pushed open my front door and took one last glance over my shoulder, I thought a shadow moved in the trees across the road from me.

Startled, I shut my front door and secured it once more. I sprinted to my van, jumped in, and started the engine.

Spooked, I was desperate for security, for the comfort of safety and the reassurance of strong, protective arms around me.

In twenty minutes, I was pulling outside Lorenzo’s house. I whipped down the rearview mirror and scrubbed the raw fear off my face, not wanting to worry him unduly.

With my tote bag in hand, I sprinted towards Lorenzo’s gate, my steps quick and driven.

Although I’d memorised his code, the man still deserved his privacy. Taking a deep breath, I rang the keypad bell.

After no response for a minute, I was about to turn away when his resonant, gravelly tone rang out. ‘Mia?’

He’d tagged me through the security camera.

I whirled around. ‘Sorry baby, I understand it’s late, and I’m not expected tonight, but -’

‘Come in. Now.’ His unyielding command brooked no argument.

Damn, but it was what I needed to hear.

‘Thank you.’

The gate swung open, and I eased between two parting surfaces and towards the front door.

Which opened to reveal Lorenzo, illuminated by the high chandelier pendant above his head.

In shorts, a tee, and nothing else, his muscles ripped, his eyes soft, the safe harbour I yearned for.

‘Bella.’

It was all it took. I launched myself at him and sighed as his arms enveloped me, running those heated, beautiful hands all over my back, ending with clutching my ass.

At my hitched breath, he pulled back and took an extended study of my fear-streaked face and trembling lips.

‘Dimmi. Tell me what’s happened?’ he rasped.

I took another shaky inhale. ‘It’s what hasn’t happened that’s getting to me,’ I said.

His mouth tightened, his eyes flicked to the street beyond, and he led me into his home with his firm embrace around me. ‘Let’s talk inside.’

‘Who is it, brother?’

The baritone voice roared from within the house.

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