Page 119 of Fragile Sanctuary

That had me sitting up, then standing, needing to move. “Where?”

“First vic was in Montana. A waitress at a roadside diner. Next two were in Idaho, only an hour’s drive apart.”

The ice was back, the kind of cold that was so frigid it hurt. “He’s escalating.”

“Something’s pissing him off,” Helena agreed. “I gotta ask, Anson…has anything in your life changed?”

I stilled as Rho came into view. She’d gottendressed in sweats and a tee, lines of concern etched into her beautiful face. Fear slammed into me. No, it was more than fear. It was terror. “I’m seeing someone.”

Helena cursed. “He’s still got eyes on you.”

Those eyes were just virtual. We’d been able to piece together that he watched our victims’ families and loved ones after killing the women. His notes to them made that much obvious. And we knew he must have hacked into my computer to get information about Greta. But he’d never left any traces that our tech team could find. He was too good.

But I was more careful now. The security on my laptop was top-notch. I locked down my digital footprint. But there were crumbs. Texts between Rho and me. A few photos of her on my phone.

Had he gotten access to those?

“Anson,” Helena clipped.

“I know,” I said. God, I sounded defeated. Because no matter what I did, this monster found ways to steal the best things in my life. But I wasn’t about to let him steal Rho.

I heard Helena moving through what I guessed was a police station. The din and occasional snippets of conversations were familiar. Finally, the noise lessened as a door closed. “My guess is that he’s making his way to you.”

“Know that, too.” The urge to bolt was strong. But I knew there was nowhere I could go that he wouldn’t find me. Nowhere he wouldn’t rip my world apart, piece by piece.

“We want to take you into protective custody. You can assist with the case if you want, or you can pretend none of this is happening.”

“No.” My answer was instant. The only thing protective custody would do was delay the inevitable.

“Don’t be an idiot, Anson. He’s never killed two people this close together before. He’s unraveling, and you know what that means.”

It meant that his patterns could change. His M.O., too. He could come for me as easily as he did his typical female victims. “I’m tired of running, Helena.”

“I know. We’re gonna get him. I feel it in my bones. But I’d still like you to be breathing when we do.”

I went quiet.

She sighed. “Promise me you’ll at least think about it.”

“Okay,” I agreed, knowing it was the best way to get her off my back right now.

“Do you want updates?”

I mulled that over for a moment. “Yeah.” I was in it now whether I wanted to be or not.

“Okay. Be safe.”

“You, too,” I answered.

She hung up without a goodbye. Maybe that’s where I’d gotten the trait. Goodbyes were too final for people like us.

I lowered the phone, gripping it tightly. Rho stared at me, so much worry in those beautiful eyes. “Who was it?”

“One of my old team members. The Hangman killed two more women.” There was no point in holding back. Rho deserved to know what she was mixed up in, what I’d put her in the path of. Because it wasn’t enough that she already had one twisted person after her. I’d added the potential of a second.

She reached for my hand, weaving her fingers through mine. “You’re not alone.”

“I should be.”

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