Before You by Ashlyn Mathews

Author:Ashlyn Mathews [Mathews, Ashlyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Commencement Bay Publishing
Published: 2019-05-27T22:00:00+00:00

17

Ryan Allie

After I’m certain Xander’s asleep, I sneak out of my bedroom and find a spot on the kitchen floor. Anywhere away from the windows is a safe spot.

Noah answers on the first ring.

“What took you so long?”

“Please don’t give me shit, Noah. It’s been a crazy day.”

“I’m sorry. Work go okay?”

Noah knows better than to mess with me when I start cussing.

“Business as usual except for the occasional walk-in, canvass of the place, use the bathroom, and walk-out from Frances and Jim. Jim pulled me aside at the diner and apologized. Said he should’ve never given the guy his personal cell number. Should never have opened the attachment with the picture of the guy’s insurance card.”

His fake insurance card. What he used to embed a tracking app on Jim’s cell. Tracked us from L.A. to Vegas to Atlanta.

“I told him it happens to the best of us.”

“Yeah, but his slip-up could get you killed. It’s a fucking big fuck-up, Allie!”

I hold the phone away from my ear until I hear Noah grumble an apology.

“Noah?”

“Hmm?”

I lean my head back. “Don’t you think it’s too big of a coincidence that the words written on the wall is exactly what he said to me in Atlanta?”

“Yeah, it’s odd.”

Odd?

I stare at the glaring white refrigerator. “The detective called when I was at work. He says time of death was sometime on Saturday. Connor was supposed to mow the lawn. What if he went looking for me, found Connor, became jealous, and killed Connor?”

“Wrong place, wrong time?”

“Yes.”

Is he watching at this exact moment? I move away from the bottom cabinets, pitch forward, and study what’s on the other side of the windows in my living room. Streetlights shining in the darkness.

I’ll go to Super Lots tomorrow and pick up some blinds.

“How’s Peyton?” I sit back and wipe my hand over the sweat beading along my baby hairs.

I should also buy a bigger knife at Super Lots. An aluminum bat, too.

“A pain in the ass. I can’t shake her.”

“Can’t or don’t want to?” I make kissing noises. I’m so tired of bad stuff happening. Need a break. A break is teasing Noah.

He ignores me. “Get some sleep. We’ll regroup and talk tomorrow. A warning. There hasn’t been a murder near campus in a long time. Be prepared to duck and run from the media.”

“Why fight this fight alone, Noah? Let’s tell the detectives.”

“No way in hell will Dad and I acknowledge your stalker exists.”

“That’s the problem. Our family isn’t capable of doing something the law is meant to do—keep him locked up. Either jailed or in a psych ward. Please, Noah, convince Nick to take this to the cops.”

“And you? Are you ready to expose who you truly are, Remy? Or will you lay low and continue to live your life as an average college student? Your choice.”

“Fine. But if he even considers hurting my friends, Remy wins. Are we clear?”

“Crystal. Now go to bed, sis.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“I have every right. I love you.”

I pull my knees to my chest.

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