Page 17 of How to Hack a Hellhound
I just sighed, walking over and grabbing Toby by the arm. “Ok, I’m gonna shower, and then I’ll call you for a ride to my apartment, ok?” I asked as I led him to the door and opened it, helping him out the door. Once he was outside, I started to shut the door.
“Just make sure the shower curtain is closed when you get naked!” he cried out, and then the door was shut.
What. The. Fuck.
I watched out the curtain as Toby walked off, then I leaned against the door, thinking. Someone was watching me. It wasn’t Dexter, and it obviously wasn’t Toby, because he was horrified by it. This house was on the property that was owned by Dexter and his… whatever they were. I’d seen Jude when he picked up Aiden, and he looked nothing like Dexter, so if they were brothers, it wasn’t by blood.
Either way, I bet it was one of them who had cameras set up in here. Which was… not fine, exactly, but it was their house, so I guessed they could do what they wanted. Although did his last comment mean they had cameras in the bathroom? Because that was kinda high on the creepy factor.
But then there was Toby’s comment about my computer. Did that mean that someone was watching me? That someone hadbeenwatching me? I walked over and opened my computer up and stared at it. I didn’t know enough about computers to know what it would take to spy on someone through their camera.Did that mean they had access to everything on my computer? Because suddenly certain websites closing out was starting to make me wonder if my computer was actually glitchy, or if someone was responsible.
I opened up a doc and started typing. This was probably really stupid, but…
Are you watching me?
I waited, staring at the blinking cursor. I knew it was crazy, but I felt like there was a presence behind the screen, like someonewasthere, and they were debating on whether to respond or not. My heart almost stopped when letters started to appear on the page.
I have been informed that watching you would be an invasion of your privacy.
So formal, but still obviously watching at least my computer. And able to override it somehow, as well.You didn’t answer the question, I typed.
You and Aiden should move into the pool house. You are more protected here.
Ok. Still didn’t answer the question.
Suddenly the whole thing seemed kind of hilarious, and I couldn’t help a chuckle.Aww, are you asking me to move in with you, my creepy stalker?I almost regretted the words after I typed them, but fuck it. If this guywasstalking me, he probably knew I had an attitude.
I have been informed that people do not ask people they have not officially met to move in with them.
I laughed, wondering who had “informed” him of that.Is Toby there with you?I asked. I was beginning to think it had to be one of Dexter’s “brothers” and that none of them were human.
No, the cursor typed. A man of few words, obviously.
Why would you be watching me?I asked.
They know you’re alive now. James didn’t text anyone, but plenty of people saw you last night.
I sat back. It had to be the dark-haired guy from the bar. Liam, Toby had said. He’d come in, knocked James out, and taken us both back here. He made it sound like he’d started watching me after the whole bar thing, which was only last night, but Toby made it seem like this had been going on for longer.
I shut my computer and went into the bathroom. Liam—if it was Liam—was being cagey with his answers, and I had a feeling I’d get far more out of Toby. I’d shower and then call him up for a ride.
I took Toby’s advice and undressed behind the shower curtain, although it did suck having to try and stay out of the reach of the spray while the water heated up. Thankfully, it didn’t take very long. And damn, the water washot. I stood under the spray for quite awhile, and it didn’t even get cooler after five minutes. Their hot water heater was obviously better than the apartment’s.
I thought about what the guy had said. He wanted me to stay here because people knew I was alive now. I hadn’t thought last night through, or even realized that Marcus’s people might have assumed I was dead. Last night had not been the best decision on my part.
Correction: he wantedusto stay here. He’d clearly said that. I fought down a totally weird surge of jealousy. Did he watch Aiden, too?
I kind of didn’t think so. Aiden didn’t use a computer, and Liam had been at the club I was at, not following Aiden around.
Why did that give me a feeling of satisfaction? Did I actuallylikethat I was being watched?
It did feel kind of… reassuring. Yeah, I knew that was totally fucked up, but I could have been taken again. This guy had stopped that. He’d been watching me, and sure, Toby was rightthat it was a total invasion of privacy, but this guy had protected me. He hadn’t hurt me. He’d taken me someplace safe, brought Aiden to me, and let me sleep off the drugs.
It was sort of sweet.
I started shampooing my hair with a chuckle. Yep, I was officially fucked up beyond belief. Finding your stalker sweet wasnotnormal. Then again, nothing had been normal for me for quite awhile. Plus, he probably wasn’t human, which was oddly reassuring. He also obviously knew his way around computers, so maybe he was some kind of hacker.
As I rinsed my hair, I realized I also felt… safe. I hadn’t felt that way since Marcus, despite the locks and security system and everything else. Nothing would happen to me or Aiden, and if something did, he was watching. He would take care of it.
