Page 23 of The Naughty One
Romy sipped her now-cold coffee.She had been with the police most of the day and now she and Blue sat together in the interview room as the detective in charge of the homicides questioned heragain.
“I’m sorry if I’m repeating questions, Dr. Sasse, but it’s important. Now, it could be a coincidence, but we always look for patterns and we had noticed the women who died shared the same first name initial. But until you came forward we didn’t know who the message was intendedfor.”
Blue groaned in dismay and the detective looked at him. “Don’t worry, Dr. Allende. We have a state-wide BOLO out for Dacre Mortimer. If he’s here, we’ll find him. In the meantime, we’ll assign you protection, Dr.Sasse.”
“I can handle that.” Blue said, his voice gruff. “The best protection money can buy. He won’t get near you,Romy.”
God, was this really happening? Romy closed her eyes and asked herself if she was really that shocked. Dacre would never have accepted her leaving him … but to kill all these innocent victims to send her a message? “Why didn’t he just kill me?” Her voice was quiet and surprisinglycalm.
“Don’t.” Blue was barely holding onto his composure. The detective smiled atthem.
“You’ve been unbelievably brave and helpful in coming forward. Go home and get some rest. I’ll be intouch.”
Romy askedBlue to drive her to her mother’s house. “I want them all to know what’s going on—it’s not fair to them not to know that they might in danger too. Dacre is amonster.”
Her heart sank, however, when they got to her mother’s house. Gaius was there too, meeting with hisfather.
Magda knew something was wrong, clearly, as she gazed at her middle daughter. “Romy?”
Blue took Romy’s hand. “Magda, Dad … we have something to tell you. Two things. One, we hope you’ll be happy about, because we are. Romy and I have been seeing each other for a while now, and Magda, I’m so in love with yourdaughter…”
Magda exclaimed in delight and threw her arms around them. “I thought I sensedsomething!”
Stuart grinned widely, clapping his son on the back. “Son, I’m delighted for youboth.”
“Oh, Romy … sweetheart, finally. I’m so happy you found a good man at long last.” Magda was in tears, and Romy teared up a little too before adding to the overall level ofemotion.
“Mom …There’s somethingelse.”
Gaius, smirking in the background, leaned forward, his eyes glittering with spite. “Don’t be shy, sis, tellus.”
Romy flushed at the jibe, but she felt Blue squeeze her hand. “Shut the fuck up, Gaius; this isn’t the time for your malice. Magda, Dad, I’m afraid that it isn’t all good news. We think Dacre Mortimer is inSeattle.”
“God, no.” Magda went pale and clutched at her daughter’s hand. “Sit down with us, sweethearts, and tell us what’s goingon.”
As Romy told them about the murders, about the signature that had led her to suspect Dacre was behind them. “I knew, or I should have known, he would come after me. He has nothing to lose by murdering me. His family has already cut him off; revenge is all he hasleft.”
Blue cleared his throat and Romy looked at him. His beautiful eyes were deeply troubled and she could feel the tension in his body. “Dad … I’ve already set the ball rolling for added protection. I know it’s inconvenient, especially with the wedding coming up, but I won’t risk any of us getting hurt.” He paused, then glanced at his half-brother. “Gaius, you too. And I think perhaps you’d better clue your mother in,too.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you.” Gaius’s voice was a monotone and Romy couldn’t tell whether he was being sincere or not. She studied him … the malice had gone from his eyes and he didn’t smile. He looked at her. “As long as you’re okay, Romy, that’s allIcareabout.”
Fucker.That tone was back in his voice, the intimate one, the one that saidI know you better than you know.His smirk was back too.Romy looked away from him. Blue pressed his lips against hertemple.
“Piccolo, I know this is fast, but I’d feel a hell of a lot better if you moved in withme.”
“I would too, Romy,” her mother added quickly, and Romynodded.
“Fine. Yes, of course. God, I’m sorry about this,everyone.”
Magda looked angry now. “Listen here, my girl, you have nothing to be sorry about. It’s that … asshole. He should have gone to jail when he hurt you last year. Bastard. I could kill him with my bare hands. I will if he ever comes in spitting distance ofme.”
Later,when Blue and Romy got back to his apartment, Blue made her drink some hot tea, Romy shivering uncontrollably. “I thought it was all over,” she said in a low voice, “I was sostupid.”
“No.” Blue wrapped his arms around her, kissing her gently. “There are crazy people all around. It has nothing to do with any choices you’ve made in life. I won’t let anything happen toyou.”
Romy leaned into him. “It’s weird. I’m scared, but at the same time, I can’t recall ever being as happy as I am with you right now. I love you,Blue.”
“And I love you, baby. Maybe we should go away for awhile.”
