Page 75 of The Monster and the Last Blood Match

“Good.”

“Hey,” she said, stepping a little closer. “Did you ever find out anything more about that place we went?”

She couldn’t believe it had only been a couple of days ago that she had found an underground blood bank. She still didn’t know what it meant, but she wasn’t sure how to go about investigating them. Part of her wanted to post the images on her site in the hopes that someone else would look into the issue, but Beckham had been freaked out enough about her images. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to go public with them.

“No. I think we should probably leave it alone. There’s no way we could get back in there undetected. It was a fluke.”

She nodded, but she still felt like theyshouldbe able to do something. “You’re probably right. But maybe we could give it a try,” she said with a wink.

He laughed. “You really do like danger. You didn’t think it was bad enough the first time that we almost got caught?”

“But this time we know what we’re looking for.”

“I don’t know,” he said uncertainly. “Maybe.”

She smiled brightly. “That sounds like a yes.”

“That’s a maybe.”

“All right. I’ll find a time to get away and contact you about it.”

“I haven’t agreed yet, Reyna,” he said as she backed away.

“Oh, but you will.”

He sighed. “You’re right. Anything for you.”

Reyna ignored the look he was giving her. She liked Everett, but not like that. Her already fucked-up love triangle wasn’t going to suddenly become a love square. She wanted to get rid of one of the sides, not add another one.

“I’ll see you around.” She waved and then trotted around the corner.

There was a park across the street from their building. She had only been there once, because it wasn’t exactly the kind of place she liked to shoot. Since they lived in the wealthy part of town, the park was clear, uncluttered, and all around a safe place.

At the moment, she didn’t feel like any of those things at all.

But it didn’t matter. She couldn’t sit in Beckham’s apartment all day. The feel of his lips all over her body was still too fresh in her mind. If she stayed behind, she was pretty sure she would have stormed into his side of the penthouse to demand to know what the hell his problem was. She wouldn’t care that she wasn’t even allowed back there or that attacking Beckham would likely accomplish nothing.

“Ugh,” she grumbled. She couldn’t keep thinking about him. That was why she had left in the first place.

Grabbing her camera out of her purse, she snapped images. Flowers in bloom, a couple on a park bench, the lake where small boats with wooden paddles were docked. She let out a deep breath and tried to enjoy her work. It wasn’t as emotional as the other things she captured, but it calmed her nerves nonetheless.

Reyna rounded the corner and caught a smudge of black in her peripheral vision. She stopped in her tracks. Her eyes searched the area but saw no one. She was in a well-lit part of the park, but it was mostly empty this early in the morning. She turned toward the fields where nannies brought children to run around and play games. When she was almost there, she noticed footsteps falling faintly behind her.

She was being followed.

Her heart rate sped up, and she increased her pace to a slow jog. She was glad that she was in her Converse today. She wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere in the ridiculous heels that lined her closet. Her feet carried her to the edge of the park, and she took one look behind her. That was when she caught a glimpse of the person following her.

She slowed to a walk and then turned to face the now-empty trail. Reyna crossed her arms, planting herself firmly in place.

“I know you’re following me,” she called out. “Can’t I have a moment of peace, Beckham?”

He stepped out from the tree line and approached her. Anger welled up inside of her. She did not need an escort through this park. And it didn’t matter that he was truly gorgeous in dark-wash jeans and a black long-sleeve button-up that he left unbuttoned at the neck. It was the most dressed-down she had ever seen him. It fit him as well as the suits he always wore. This whole thing would have been much easier if he wasn’t attractive. She gritted her teeth in frustration.

“You left without security,” Beckham said.

“Yes. Don’t you think there was a reason for that? Can’t take a hint?” she snapped.

“I’m sure you had a reason for your actions, but I don’t think they preclude you from staying safe.”

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