Page 27 of Knight

Something brushes against the side of my face, and I jerk back, heart in my throat. Taking a second to get my breathing under control, I reach up. It’s a cord. I pull it carefully, and there’s a swishing sound.

Vertical blinds. Awindow.

Moonlight filters through as they part, offering the first real illumination I’ve had. The glass feels thick under my fingers, probably reinforced. Outside, there’s a balcony, and beyond that I just about make out three other buildings. There are lights on in some of the windows.

This whole place is a fortress pretending to be an apartment. Just like he’s a predator pretending to be a hacker.

No. My mind dismisses that thought. He’s notpretending. He’s both. The pretender might be the one who sent me cat memes at 3 A.M. The one who understood about Michael. The one who?—

The sound of a door opening freezes me in place.

Footsteps approach. He’s letting me hear him, and somehow, that’s worse than when he was moving silently.

“Planning your escape route?” His voice comes from the darkness behind me. “I’d suggest against it. This building has better security than most military bases.”

I don’t turn around. “Speaking from experience?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” A lamp clicks on, filling the room with soft light that still manages to hurt my eyes. “Step away from the window.”

“Why? Afraid someone will see me?”

“What will they see? A woman in the window of my apartment? I don’t think that’s going to cause anyone any concern.”

“I could go out there and scream for help.”

“You could, but the only thing out there is my security system. And it’s not kind to uninvited guests.”

I finally turn to face him, squinting as my vision adjusts. He looks perfectly at ease, like finding me at his window is a minor inconvenience rather than a threat.

“There’s no such thing as a perfect security system.”

“Would you like to test that theory?” His eyebrow lifts. “The last person who tried didn’t enjoy the results.”

“Is that supposed to scare me?” I’m terrified, but I don’t want him to know that.

“Just managing expectations.” He gestures to the couch. “Sit down before you fall down. You’re still very pale.”

“I’m fine standing right here. I want to go home.”

“That’s not happening.”

“You can’t keep me here.”

“Actually, I can.” He settles into an armchair, all lethal grace and controlled movement. “And I will.”

“I could just walk out that door.” I nod my head toward the door on the opposite side of the room.

“You could try.” His voice carries a promise of exactly how that would end. “But then I’d have to stop you again. I still have handcuffs and a gun. It wouldn’t be pleasant.”

“You’re such a gentleman.”

“Says the woman who broke into my home.”

“I had codes! He gave me codes to get in.”

“Hedoesn’t exist.”

“So you keep saying.” I lean against the wall, trying to look casual rather than using it for support. “Butsomeonegave them to me.”

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