Page 116 of Stalker

“Because I know you,” she stated with vehemence.

I laughed while my mind was still attempting to place blame on who’d managed to slip her my nickname. “You don’t know everything.”

“I know you and your brothers were carted around to various foster homes over several years. I know all three of you suffered. I also know your initial case worker was threatened and she’s been recently to keep quiet about what happened to you and your brothers.”

If she’d meant to catch me off guard a second time, she’d succeeded. I tried to hide my anger, but I could tell by the different flash in her eyes she knew she’d succeeded in riling me. “The past needs to stay in the past, Cassandra.”

“Only that’s no longer possible. Is it?”

She was right about that. “You’re safe here, Cassandra. That’s all that matters.”

“Safe.”

“There’s no record of my ownership of this house.” That was true, the single reason I’d decided to take her away from the city.

“I don’t know what to believe any longer, but I’m not going to remain your prisoner, Wilder. I have a job to do and the last I checked, so do you. You can’t keep me here.”

“I can and I will. Right now, the only thing that matters is eliminating the danger in your life. You will not attempt to escape, Lady Butterfly. If you do, I’ll be forced to punish you.”

She laughed as if the entire scenario was one huge joke. “You’re certain your father is a free man, roaming the streets in search of new victims?” Her question was whispered, but I captured every syllable.

“That’s not something I’d make a mistake about, Lady Butterfly. He feeds off fear while gaining trust. He’s playing a game himself.”

“Like his sons.”

“I assure you his game is much worse.”

She lifted her head, staring at the collection of bottles for a solid ten seconds before taking a sip of the drink. I felt her intense shiver from where I stood.

“Then he needs to be caught.”

I laughed, hating the bitter taste in my mouth. “Yes, he does, but it won’t be easy. You need to think like him.” What else was there to say? Simply learning my father was back in the free world didn’t mean I had an answer for solving the problem.

“How are we going to do it?” She turned toward me, now wearing the most determined look on her face I’d ever seen.

“We? You’re not going to have anything to do with his apprehension. It’s too dangerous.”

“Not any more dangerous than spending time with you.” She all but bolted toward me, now standing within inches. I studied the rapid pulse on the side of her neck, ignoring the filthy thoughts that had surfaced moments before.

As I’d come to learn more about the woman I craved to defile, I’d also finally embraced the realization she was the most tenacious person I’d ever met. Perhaps I could even call her a predator, only entirely different than the beast living inside of me.

That didn’t mean her determined behavior wouldn’t drive her into harm’s way.

I didn’t need to touch her soft skin to be burned by the explosive nature of our relationship. What brushing my fingers against hers did was remind me how hungry I became every time I was around her. The thunderbolt of lust coursing through me attacked every muscle. The twitch wasn’t normal nor was the breathlessness I experienced when in her presence.

My control might be slipping, but that didn’t mean the necessity of the situation didn’t weigh heavily on my mind.

She was in danger.

I could feel it in my bones and if some shrink would ask, much like I’d done from the time I could remember being forced into this world.

“Did you read any of the fine print on my father’s case file, my sweet butterfly?” I knew the answer already. Why would she? “Do you know how he chose his victims, luring them into his private cabin? Do you know how he tortured them, using them in sick, repulsive experiments, acting as if he was doing the medical world some good?”

“Monahan. He’s been hunting the women for your father. Hasn’t he?” Her face suddenly turned white.

I had to laugh. “Very perceptive of you and I believe you’re correct. But my guess is Daddy dearest has recruited several individuals to help him with his dirty deeds. You have been researching my entire family. Kudos to your tenaciousness.”

“No. I didn’t think it was necessary to read anything about your father’s case. A colleague was tasked to prosecute Mr. Monahan and asked for my assistance. Your father was supposed to be languishing in prison for his horrible slaughters.”

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