Page 60 of Risk Assessment
“Get out, Dylan!” She practically bellowed his name at the top of her lungs. She’d had it. She needed to finish this wedding coverage and get the hell out of here. She was so tired of people telling her what to do and how to live. She didn’t want anyone to have control over her life. Not Calvin Clark, and not Dylan Black either.
She was finished living that way.
She heard the door open and close. She stood frozen for a moment. All the joy she’d experienced earlier was dead. Maybe Dylan had been right last night, and them having sex was a mistake. It had seemed so right. He’d been so careful to not take advantage, and he’d been so attentive to her needs. Like way,wayattentive.
Feeling as hollow as a chocolate Easter bunny, she reasoned that she just needed him to understand that she had to see this through. She’d worked so damn hard to get here. This could easily turn into her big break or a big disaster. But then he was only doing the job she’d asked him to do. Guilt washed over her like the water in the shower. She’d brought him here, and now she was yelling at him to leave. She was a hot mess. Maybe Clark had already won. She leaned back against the wall and let the spray wash away her tears.
A few minutes later, she rinsed out the conditioner in her hair. She got out of the shower and dried herself. Then she blew dry her hair.
She was much calmer and more focused by the time she got out of the bathroom. She put on her dress and went back into the bathroom to do her makeup. The mirror was clear of steam and she studied her reflection.
Dark circles marred the skin under her eyes, and her complexion looked sallow. Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes. She was at the breaking point
“One more day,” she mumbled to herself. She just had to make it through today, and then she could decide what to do about her stalker, her job, her life.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Dylan paced in the kitchen. He’d lost it back there with Raleigh. Blown it completely. Gabe had told him that they were digging into Clark, and it didn’t look good, but he had nothing solid yet.
His heart rate had skyrocketed like he’d just chased a perp down a dark alley. He couldn’t let Raleigh go to the wedding by herself. It didn’t matter if a million people were there. If Clark wanted to hurt her, he’d manage it somehow. If only he could hurtClark first.
He slammed his hands down on the counter. He’d come to care for Raleigh and was scared for her. What if…?
No, he wasn’t going down that road. Nothing bad was going to happen to her. He couldn’t stand it if she got hurt.
As much as he heated to admit it, Raleigh was right about one thing. If he went to the wedding, all hell would break loose. He couldn’t blame Jenn for that. She had a right to have a great wedding day without her ex-fiancé in the audience. Lydia’s head would spin around for sure. Short of tying Raleigh up, there was no way he was going to be able to keep her away from the wedding. Maybe he could at least be in the parking lot. He coulddrive Raleigh there and wait just outside the door. It wasn’t the perfect solution, but it was something.
He started pacing again and then stopped. Better yet, if he couldn’t stop Raleigh from going to the wedding, maybe he could stop Clark. It was a big decision, one there was really no coming back from. If he did this, there would be no more ESU or SWAT. He would be forever persona non-grata.
He crashed down on the stool. Two months ago, he never would have contemplated doing something crazy like this. Hell, two days ago it would have seemed crazy but now…now it just seemed like the next logical step.
Was he really that ready to give up being a cop? He thought about everything that happened. All the decisions he’d made, and he knew deep down he would make the same choices all over again.
Would he miss SWAT? Hell, yes. Would be okay somewhere else? He was more and more sure he would. If he did this though, he couldn’t even be sure Gabe would hire him. It was going way out there on a limb.Shit. He was letting his emotions get the better of him. He couldn’t kidnap Clark. But maybe he could question him. It was worth a shot.
He went into the bedroom and changed into a light grey suit. He pulled on his shoes and ran a comb through his hair. He’d at least take Raleigh as far as the door to the church. If he had to lurk in the shadows, he’d lurk in the damn shadows. He’d find a way to keep her safe.
But what if he could stop trouble before it started? He took his gun out from the box and checked it. Good to go. He tucked it in the small of his back underneath his jacket. Then he walked to the hallway and looked in the direction of Raleigh’s door. He’d been mean to Raleigh earlier, throwing her fear in her face and making it look like she was weak. In truth, she was one of the most courageous people he knew. He’d definitely screwedup any hope of an actual future with Raleigh, but he still wasn’t going to let anything happen to her.
“Raleigh, I have to go out for a few minutes. The hotel security guys are still outside. Don’t leave for the wedding without me. I’ll be back shortly.” He waited a beat but heard nothing in response. So be it. He glanced at his watch. It was still a too early for the wedding guests to be heading to the church. He walked over to the lobby and used the house phone to call Clark’s room.
“Calvin Clark’s room,” Josh’s voice greeted Dylan.
“Hi, Josh. Is Clark there? I need to speak with him for a minute.”
“He’s getting ready for the wedding. Is there anything I can help you with?”
“No thanks, Josh. Do you know when he’ll be available?”
Josh sighed into the phone. “Let me check his calendar but probably early next week.”
Dylan’s hand tightened around the phone. “I meant today, Josh. I need to speak to him today. It’s very important. I might have some information that could affect the election.” It wasn’t atotallie. People finding out Clark was a stalker would definitely influence who people voted for.
“Just a second,” Josh said.
He heard mumbling and assumed that Josh had put his hand over the receiver while he told Clark what Dylan said.
Josh came back on the line. “He can meet you in twenty minutes in the lobby bar. Will that work?”
