Nothing.
Laughing at her paranoia, she continued on. The break-in still had her on edge. She moved toward the end of the aisle. A body appeared and she jumped back and screamed. A tall man in a black suit with a skinny tie, tan skin and a perfect dark haircut held out his hands.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“It’s okay.” She held a hand to her chest. “I thought I was alone back here. Is there something I can help you with?”
“Actually…there is, Juliette.” The warmth left his voice. She stepped back, placing space between them.
“There’s no need to run. I’m only here to deliver a message. The visit wasn’t appreciated. We can get to you anytime, anywhere. You’ll never be safe. If you want to play a game of whose dick is bigger, I assure you, we’ll win.
” Stumbling back into the bookshelf, she gripped the metal to keep herself up right. Her knees trembled. Terror took hold, paralyzing her.
The man smirked. The smug expression triggered an explosive volcano. Gaining her feet, she stood tall.
“You tell Peter he can go fuck himself. This is his final warning. Back off or what happens next will be on his head.” Hiding her fear, she hoped the show she put on would convince him.
“Oh you have grown leaps and bounds out on your own. He’ll love breaking you in all over again. You cut out before he introduced you properly to the club.”
Her stomach rolled. “Get the fuck out of my library.”
“I’ll be seeing you real soon…and hopefully one of those pretty friends of yours. We’d like to add a little color to our collection, and we’re a perfect match—four of you, four of us.” He puckered his lips and gave a mock kiss. “Be seeing you real soon, sweetheart. Don’t play hard to get too long. I don’t think you’d like the casualties that’d bring. Best to lie down and take it like a good girl. You do remember how to do that, don’t you?”
Shaking with rage, she growled.
The walking cologne ad turned and disappeared. Abandoning the cart, she hurried to the front. She drifted through the rest of the night in a daze and called Shooter. Things had been strained since the incident at her house a day ago. But this was bigger than that.
“Hey, everything okay?”
“No, One of Peter’s friends paid me a visit. I don’t know what you did, but he’s pissed.”
“Tell me everything.” His clipped tone left no room for argument. “Better yet, I’m coming to get you myself. You can tell me in person.”
“My car—”
“That’s what a prospect is for. I’ll be there in ten.”
Ten? “Where were you?”
“It’s a surprise.” He hung up and she shook her head. She’d be eating her weight in crow tonight.
A motorcycle had never sounded so sweet. She ran down the steps of the building and threw herself into his arms.
“Thank you for coming.”
“I’ll always come for you, baby. Even if you’re being a giant pain in the ass.”
“I was out of line. I knew it then, but I couldn’t force myself to admit it out loud.” She swallowed, keeping her face pressed against his chest. “It was too much too soon. I felt like I couldn’t afford to lose any more ground.”
“More ground to who? I’m not your enemy.”
“I know that, but I wasn’t thinking clearly. You didn’t deserve my misdirected anger. I’m sorry.”
“You know sorry won’t always fix everything, right?”
“I do, and I’m working on it, I swear I am. But I know you’re still holding back too.”
“Fair enough. Apology accepted, baby.” She inhaled his scent, holding tight to the safety he provided her like a child with its wubby. “Now, how about that surprise before we let pencil dick ruin the rest of our night?”