The Heir She Loved (Shadows of Sin #4)

9 Olivia

July 2nd, 2022

I felt so ridiculous.

I had been laying in his bed, still as a stone, staring at the contraption he had had me in yesterday, my body screaming in pain, tears dripping down my face, for what?

Why was I crying?

I had the best sex of my life yesterday. I thought I had been changed before, but now? Now I felt like a completely different person. I felt…alien in my own body, and yet I felt like I was surrounded by this shroud of darkness.

I felt…impossibly exhausted. Not just physically but mentally as well. I felt like all the joy in the world had gone.

And I couldn’t stop crying.

But I had to. Eventually, I had to buck up and get out of bed. I had a signing today, which required a wig and a face of makeup and clothes that I didn’t normally wear. My ‘Abigail Ross’ clothes.

All of that was at my place, all the way across town, and the signing was in three hours.

And yet, I just stared, blinking two or three times a minute, the tears seeping into my hairline.

God, what was wrong with me? I needed to get myself together.

I heard the door open, and my breath caught in my throat. I fought the urge to sniff, my heart pounding as I heard his near silent footsteps brush across the rug as he made his way around the bed to my side.

My eyes lifted, seeing him in nothing but black sweats that hung low on his hips, carrying a tray.

His eyes flicked down to mine, his motions faltering for half a second before he continued to the nightstand and placed the tray down.

I swallowed, pulling my knees towards my chest, only to hiss, the tears flooding down my cheeks again.

I pressed my lips together and he crouched down at my bedside, searching my face, but I covered it up quickly, a quiet sob cracking through me. “Sorry,”

I whispered, my voice hoarse. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

He reached out, gently pushing my hair out of my face, not forcing my hands away or pushing me to uncurl. “You’ve experienced an incredible high,”

he explained softly. “It’s now time for the low.”

That’s what was happening? A sugar crash but on an emotional level? What fucking bullshit was that? It wasn’t fair.

“I had Evelyn bring your things here,”

he went on gently. “Everything you need for the signing. We need to get food into you, water, electrolytes, and then we need to get you properly washed up. She’s seen pictures of what you look like as Abigail, and she’ll be back to do your hair and makeup soon.”

It took me several minutes to calm down enough to pull my hands away. I wiped my face, my eyes lifting to his. “How do you know about that?”

One corner of his lips flicked up in a bare smile. “I listened and I’m trying to learn.”

He stood. “Come on, you need to sit up, drink the blue stuff while I check on your leg.”

My leg.

The tattoo.

I searched his eyes before my own fell to his hand. “Why don’t you feel it?”

I asked, slowly sliding my hand into his.

“When women go through it, it’s highly emotional. Putting yourself into positions like that, allowing yourself to feel all of it so deeply. It drains you. For men, sex is mostly physical,”

he explained, easing me up in bed. “Not completely, but mostly.”

I swallowed, my tongue dry, my body crying out in pain. “That’s annoying,”

I muttered, hissing when I sat on my ass. I frowned, looking down.

His smile grew more genuine. “I couldn’t take care of you well enough if I was feeling how you are right now. I took the plug out,”

he added, pulling my eyes up. “You need rest. We’ll go back to training later.”

My shoulders fell and I turned back to the room as I shuffled back into the bed, leaning against the headboard. That was okay I guess, maybe the more often we did stuff like this, the stronger I would get, the longer he would allow me to do more things like that. Like…training. “It’s unlike you,”

I said, looking over the tray. A blue drink, water, assorted fruit, and a candy bar.

My favorites of them all.

“It’s not easy,”

he replied, pulling the blankets back, the chill of the room causing goosebumps to explode across my skin.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and gently pushed my legs apart, stretching my left leg out, exposing the wrap he had placed around the new tattoo. It was dark and huge. And absolutely beautiful.

I watched him unwrap it for only a second before reaching for the blue drink. “Can I ask why?”

He was quiet for a long time, his eyes transfixed on unwrapping my leg. He didn’t speak again until he set the wrap aside and pulled over a small bowl of warm water and soap that I hadn’t seen before. “They found me just after I came out of the woods,”

he finally said, causing my eyes to shoot to his. “I was 10 years old. I wandered off when I was 4, just long enough to learn how to speak before disappearing, never to be seen by the people of Index again.

“I lived there the next six years, deep in the woods, never saw a soul, not good ones, anyway. They told me not to get too close to the city, but eventually I did, found myself on a concrete path where I was picked up by Malachi who brought me to Seattle.”

I had stopped, the cup inches from my lips, my eyes locked on his as he gently cleaned my tattoo, his eyes darker than I had ever seen them before. Haunted, like he was seeing a nightmare he never wanted to show the world.

“Them?”

I asked, lowering the cup, my heart thudding.

“Them,”

he confirmed quietly. “Don’t ask about my family before then, I don’t care to know who they were. Don’t ask me what they did to me, I won’t ever tell you. There are reasons I do what I do, how I do it, and I don’t care for sharing those reasons with anyone. Ever.”

His eyes lifted to mine, and I saw how terribly those secrets still haunted him. How much they still hurt. Like open wounds, long since infected. “Do you understand me?”

I nodded, the pain thudding through me. He was just a kid. Just a boy.

“Empty that glass and drink your water,”

he ordered, his voice chilling. “I want that tray empty and then I want you in that shower. Lucy is patiently waiting in my living room, but she did put a hole in my couch last night, so I don’t know how much longer she’ll allow you to be in here without joining you.”

I swallowed and nodded, obeying the command without thought. I continued to drink and eat while he finished cleaning my tattoo, putting something on it, and wrapping it again. He explained to me the care of it, and then took the bowl and discarded wrap out to the kitchen, leaving me to finish my meal alone.

The next hour was filled with things that set my heart on fire, that I didn’t question or allow myself to doubt. He helped me take a shower, carefully making sure he washed every part of me while Lucy lay on the bathroom floor, watching carefully.

When we got out, he dried my skin, brushed my hair, and applied lotion everywhere before dressing me in a pair of sweats and an old tee.

I cried three more times between the bedroom and the living room, and by the time I was finally sitting on the couch, Lucy’s head on my lap, food on the way, I was contemplating cancelling the signing altogether.

My nipples, asshole, thighs, and shoulders were sore.

I had bruises around my wrists and everywhere he had slapped me with that whip.

My cunt was throbbing in pain, and I wondered if I would be able to have sex again anytime soon.

I was tired, ready for a nap, but my phone started ringing as soon as my eyes started to fall shut, the doorbell going off at the same time. I sighed and answered the phone without looking, Everett going for the door. “Hello?”

I mumbled, my voice raspy.

There was a pause. “Did you go out drinking last night?”

Katie asked accusingly.

Shit. I cleared my throat and shook my head. “No, just a long night. I’ll be ready,”

I assured her as Everett appeared in front of me, setting down a brown bag, the smell of salt and grease finding my nose, causing my stomach to growl.

I glanced up to Everett and back as I sat up, watching him pull out item after item. God, I was starving.

“This is a big one, Liv. Biggest one yet, you have to be prepared, okay? There’s going to be close to a thousand people ready to have their books signed, questions that need to be answered. I’ll be there too, but the spotlight will obviously be on Abigail Ross, everything has to be perfect.”

No pressure or anything. “I know,”

I replied, Lucy lifting her head, sniffing the air.

The door opened again, and Everett looked up, Lucy’s eyes locking on him to gauge his reaction.

When he didn’t react, I knew it was Evelyn, and my muscles relaxed a little. “Okay, you gotta be there, peppy and awake. Do some shots, drink a gallon of coffee, just be ready.”

My mouth was salivating. “I will. I have my signing pen and everything. I’ll see you there, okay?”

“Okay, just make sure you’re early.”

“Will do.”

I hung up and reached for the double bacon cheeseburger, stacked with lettuce, onions, and tomatoes. “Hell yes,”

I hummed sitting back. “Thank you.”

He offered a soft smile in appreciation as he picked up a smaller wrapped burger, plain, and unwrapped it, tossing it to Lucy.

I watched her devour it and I couldn’t help but smile. “Is that how you won her over?”

“I asserted myself,”

he told me, eyes flicking to my lips as he took a seat in the chair beside the couch. “A few burgers helped,”

he added with a shrug at my look.

My smile widened and I sunk my teeth into the burger, groaning at the taste. God, I was so hungry.

“I bet she never moaned for you like that,”

Evelyn commented, stealing an extra pack of fries and falling into the chair opposite Everett.

My cheeks warmed, remembering last night. I had done far more than that for him. I’d do anything for him. Anything at all.

I finished my meal, Lucy enjoying her meal as well, and finally moved to the table where Evelyn got started on my makeup and wig while I started massaging my right hand, preparing it for the signing event. Usually, I had a whole process of taking care of my hands the day before the signing, preparing myself for the hundreds of books I would sign, but alas, I prayed this would be enough.

Halfway through the process, Everett, who had been silent since lunch, brought over another box and set it in front of me as Evelyn worked on my hair.

I glanced up, the weight of the false lashes prevalent. It had been a while since I wore them last, and it was always something to get used to.

Without a word, he opened the box, revealing to me a thin, chain-link necklace, a pink jewel inset in silver hanging from where it was threaded through a large silver circle on the chain.

Evelyn tucked my hair into a cap and stepped back, allowing Everett to take her place, but as soon as I felt him turn that key, the lock springing free, my hand slammed against my throat, keeping the collar in place, my heart thudding.

I hadn’t realized how much I liked it until this moment. How much I had gotten used to it. A reminder of who I belonged to. Of who owned me.

I didn’t want to take it off. Not now, not ever.

Evelyn looked from me to Everett, her eyes worried.

Everett stepped to my side, gently taking my chin under his knuckle and tilting my head towards his. “You have to take it off, pup. If you want to keep your identity a secret, you can’t wear this in both worlds.”

I knew that. Rationally, I knew that, but even so, it took more effort than I wanted to admit to pull my hand away.

He ran his thumb gently over my chin before straightening. He slid the collar off my neck, setting it gently on the table, and picked up the necklace. So much thinner than the collar. Less obvious.

He pulled it around my neck, threading that jewel through the metal loop and pulling it tightly around my neck, letting the jewel and the excess chain fall nearly to my breasts.

I smoothed my fingers down the length of it, wrapping them around the pink jewel, admiring the way it shined. With this one, I could take it off if I wanted. It wasn’t locked. I had a choice.

I didn’t want that choice.

Evelyn took her place behind me again, sliding on the natural, red-colored wig and my eyes lifted to Everett’s as he picked up my pink collar and put it in the box the necklace had just been in.

The box was barely big enough to fit it. “I’ll return this to you when Olivia Rose returns to me,”

he told me, almost in warning. “But make no mistake, I own each and every one of you, that tattoo is proof of that.”

My cheeks warmed, and I felt my sore pussy throb. I nodded once, my hand tightening around that jewel.

“Okay,”

Evelyn finally said. “You’re ready to go. How big is this event?”

“Thank you,”

I told her as I stood. I headed for Everett’s room to change into my clothes, the door remaining open. “Biggest one yet,”

I told them, wincing and hissing in pain as I pulled on the casual business attire.

A pin-striped, black pants-suit with a flowing white shirt, the hem tucked in, and the top buttons undone. “Katie is stressed, but I’ve been to book signings before, it’s not that big of a deal. Sign some books, talk to some people. Go home, drink.”

I flicked my hair over my collar and walked back into the room. “I have to go over all of that paperwork. Ugh,”

I frowned, easily sliding into Abigail’s persona. “Figure out how she did it,”

I went on, mostly to myself. “Maybe she’s over-paying or over-hiring. I don’t know. Probably just clean house and start over. Might have to travel,” I realized and straightened.

Everett’s eyes locked with mine.

“Might have to go back to Denver for a while. Straighten some things out.”

I chewed on my lip as I turned back to my purse. “Maybe I’ll just hire some people to take care of it for me,”

I went on, shuffling through my things. “That’s what smart people do. Hire accountants and lawyers and all the people so they don’t have to lift a finger.”

I paused again. “But I don’t have anyone that I trust enough to do that. Even Martin failed me,”

I frowned. “He better be—”

A hand wrapped around mine, pulling me away from my purse and turning me around to meet icy blue eyes.

Everett pressed his lips against mine, warm and passionate, fierce, his tongue dancing with mine as he deepened the kiss, my mind spinning, every other thought leaving my head but the way his lips felt against mine.

He pulled back a few seconds later, my lip gloss coating his lips, his eyes burning. “Focus. We’ll take care of everything else later.”

I was breathless. “Okay,”

I whispered, my head spinning.

He watched me for a second longer before releasing my hand and turning to Evelyn. “Fix her, I need to make a call.”

He headed for his room, flexing his hand carefully.

Evelyn was doing her best to hide the smile as she nodded and took a spot right in front of me. “That was hot,”

she told me, grabbing a napkin off the table and easily dabbing around my mouth.

My cheeks flushed. “He’s…he’s never done that before,”

I told her, feeling self-conscious about the way he handled that, flexing my own hand at the feeling he had left with me. I loved his hands. I wondered if he would ever get to the point where he would feel comfortable holding mine. It was okay if he didn’t, I understood, but it would be nice.

“I know,”

she nodded, picking up my gloss, her eyes shining. “You got in his head, little miss writer. Things are changing, but that’s okay,”

she went on, carefully swiping the wand against my lips. “We were trained to adapt, so here we are, adapting, just not in a way I ever expected from him.”

She beamed. “There, perfect.”

I smeared my lips together and offered her a small smile. “Thank you,”

I said just as soon as my alarm went off.

My eyes widened. “Shit, I have to go.”

I lunged for my purse and headed for the door, only to pause and glance back, Evelyn smiling, Everett’s bedroom door shut once again. I never really had anyone worth saying goodbye to. No one other than Lucy, that is, who was currently waiting right beside the door for her goodbye scratches.

Evelyn glanced at the door and back. “I’ll tell him, you go.”

I nodded, my eyes still drawn to that door, willing him to come out, but unfortunately, it wasn’t in the cards. So, with a sigh, I opened the door and gave Lucy some goodbye scratches before heading out.

The venue Katie rented out was huge. Certainly not the size of an Auditorium, but larger than the average bookstore.

I snuck in the back, Katie waiting for me anxiously, her eyes wild when she finally caught sight of me. “Oh, thank God,”

she breathed out, grabbing her chest as if she had been on the verge of a heart attack.

I gave her a look. “I was always coming.”

I did feel guilty in situations like this when she was doing the job an agent should have been doing, but she always seemed more than happy to do it, until that was, I was 30 minutes early rather than 45 minutes early.

“It’s fine, we’re fine,”

she said, looking over her clipboard filled with papers, the contents of which were unknown. “Okay, so you’re going to talk for the first thirty minutes, answer questions, all of that,”

she waved off as we headed down a dimly lit hall. “And then you’re going to start signing. Only 1 minute max per person, okay? We’ve got hundreds out there, if not a couple thousand. You’re going to be wearing a microphone, it’ll be great,”

she assured me when my head whipped around.

Microphone? So…what? People on the street would be able to hear me? “Why didn’t you get a bigger place?”

I asked, only to wince at how rude that must’ve sounded to her.

But she didn’t seem to care. “Didn’t think the turn out would be like this,”

she said. “Only water, no more coffee until it’s done, keep your throat clear. Do not make any promises about future books, understand? None. Not even a hint. We can’t deal with the PR nightmare again.”

I sucked in my lips. It had been my second event, and I apologized. I hadn’t realized talking about the possibilities of my next book would bring so much chaos. Never doing that again, I still had nightmares about it.

“Okay, you got everything?”

she asked, looking me over. “You’re looking good,”

she smiled and then her smile dropped. “Phone on silent. Um…”

She went quiet, staring into the abyss as we continued to walk.

I watched her, concerned about her health. I was exhausted, yeah, maybe not completely mentally ready for this, but Katie? Damn, she deserved a bonus.

“No, no, I think that’s it,”

she nodded and then took a deep breath. “It’s going to be great,”

she assured me with a bright smile.

Right. “Next drink is on me,”

I told her as we finally reached the door she was leading me towards.

She laughed nervously. “Yeah, okay, go get your mic on and then it’s time to mingle before the event starts.”

Super.

Mingling was the absolute worst. The fake smile, the acting cheery, the hugs. Everyone wanted hugs, and while I fantasized about being hugged, doing this, in my mind, never counted.

“Hey, nice to meet you,”

I said for the billionth time, sliding into meaningless conversation, avoiding topics of future books, certainly not speaking of the book I was currently working on.

As much as I hated the crowd work, I fell into the rhythm of it, relaxing, slipping into the role that was Abigail Ross with ease. Not one person noticed the scars on my face, thank you Evelyn, and everyone was kind, some asking how I was doing, while others raved about the book.

The point of this, Katie had told me once, was to allow people to get their excitement out before the actual signing event. I couldn’t spend more than a minute with each person, so if they got their gushing out now, then it eliminated some time later.

“Okay, thirty seconds,”

Katie warned through my earpiece.

I said my goodbye to the girl I had been talking with and made my way to the front of the room, waving at people as they parted to let me pass.

It was still shocking how many people actually read my books. How many people wanted to meet me, get my signature. All I did was sit at a computer and pour my heart out, the fact that people loved that was just…appalling. It pulled at my heartstrings in an incredible way.

I heard the mic turn on and I immediately smiled. “Good afternoon, everyone,”

I said, nearly to the stage. “Guess I wasn’t fast enough, eh?”

Chuckles erupted around me.

I smiled and nodded at those around me as they made comments about it. “Yeah, I had a long night.”

Whistles and cheers sounded everywhere as some male helped me climb up onto the stage.

My cheeks burned. “Think what you will, I’m sure most of you are right,”

I said, rolling my shoulders, feeling myself truly slip into the confidence of my pen name.

Abigail Ross wasn’t some silver-spooned bitch from Denver, and she certainly wasn’t some emotional, overly attached, terrified girl like Olivia.

Abigail was new and loud and different. She was funny and personable. She was good.

I waved them off, laughing softly. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Remember, I am the creator, not the character. Just because they do it, doesn’t mean I do it,”

I explained, the crowd calming down. “Just because they condone it, doesn’t mean that I do, right? Don’t be searching for love in a dark alleyway, okay? And don’t be going through America’s Most Wanted for a good fuck. Serial killers are dangerous. We read because it’s safe, stay on the pages unless thoroughly vetted.

“Now, there are tables everywhere with merch depending on the books, buy want you want, signatures are free,”

I beamed. “Questions?”

Hands shot up everywhere and my smile widened. “Okay,”

I nodded, folding my hands together. “Then let’s get started.”

Signing books, shirts, and stickers was easy. Small talk was difficult, but not impossible, and everyone was calmed down now, just simple smiles and easygoing conversations lasting no more than 45 seconds usually. Easy.

Katie was standing beside me, along with her husband, gently waving on those who were trying to linger, and with all of these questions about my characters and books, I couldn’t help but allow my mind to drift towards the character come to life in my story.

“Lie to me.”

“I hate you.”

That’s what I had told him last night. He hadn’t mentioned it yet and neither would I, but we both knew what it meant. We both understood.

“I hate you.”

After finally getting to a point where I felt better, I hadn’t gotten the opportunity to talk to him alone. But what would we talk about? Clear and concise, he had said. He didn’t play mind games, but I was still dealing with that knot in my stomach that Steven had nurtured and grew. Worry and fear of rejection, of getting yelled at or manipulated or whatever he decided to do that day.

How long would that last?

I had a scar on my right leg and a tattoo on my left, my body still sore and exhausted from everything we had done. If he asked me if he could tie me up and blindfold me, I would do it without question, knowing that he wouldn’t do anything to me that I didn’t like, that I didn’t crave.

Trust, most would call that. Devotion.

So then how long would it take me to shatter that knot in my stomach Steven had groomed and replace it with the rose garden Everett was trying to build?

“I’m trying to learn.”

I needed to do it too. I just…I wasn’t sure where to start.

“Hello.”

My eyes lifted, the smile already on my face. “Hey, how are you?”

I asked, opening up the book to the title page, only to find a folded note set within the crease. I eyed it, signing my name quickly.

“Good,”

he said when I pushed the book back. “The note is for you.”

I studied his brown eyes for a second, the smile remaining, trained at this point. “Oh, thank you,”

I nodded, taking it out of the book and setting it to the side.

He continued to smile, nothing remarkable about him. Just an ordinary guy with an ordinary smile. He gave me a curt nod, tucked the book under his arm, and left without another word.

Okay, that was strange.

I glanced over to Katie, wondering if she had noticed it, but she was already waving me onto the next person.

I rolled my eyes and tucked the note away, moving on with the signing. My hand was starting to hurt, but I had to push through. I had a few dozen people left and time was running out.

“Hello, prickling rose.”

My eyes shot up from the book that landed on my table, finding a pair of terrifying Devil-blue eyes, that mask plastered on his face.

“Oh,”

Katie said, stepping up. “You’re not allowed to wear masks in here.”

“She knows me,”

he said with a smile. “Don’t you?”

My heart was skipping. What the fuck was he doing here?

“Rose?”

I blinked a few times and shook my head. “Oh, um…yes, yeah, I know him, it’s okay.”

Katie gave me a look but resigned herself. I would certainly get flack about that later.

My eyes returned to Azrael, and I quickly signed his book. “What are you doing here?”

He looked down at me, something dark in his eyes. “Things tend to move rather quickly in the end, don’t they?”

he asked, his stare unwavering. “The snowball effect, they call it. Happens in every story, no matter the plot or how hard the author tries to drag it out, every story hits that crucial point where there is nothing left to do or say but allow the characters to just…suffer.”

I swallowed, my skin chilling. “What?”

His smile grew sharp. “It’s about time to suffer, dear rose. I would apologize, but every character has their arc, now it’s time for yours.”

With that, he turned on his heel and headed for stage left.

What. The. Fuck.

My heart was pounding, my panic growing at his words. Snowball effect? Suffer…

I instantly reached for that note.

“Abigail,”

Katie said, joining my side, “are you okay?”

I tore it open, my hands shaking as I read over the words.

We have the girl.

Make a choice.

My brows furrowed, confusion filling me. What girl? It’s been a few hours since I last saw Evelyn…

I lifted my head, searching the crowd.

“Abigail,”

Katie said again. “You still have more signings to do.”

Right, I knew that, but…

But what? Evelyn was trained in this world. If something happened to her, she would be fine, I knew that. And anyways, what would I do about it if she was gone? Nothing. I’d stand around and pace, that’s it. Worrying and doing nothing to help the situation.

I pressed my lips into a thin line and nodded, shoving that note away, the rock in my stomach only growing. I had maybe an hour left. After that, I would call Everett, tell him about the note, but there was no point in worrying or leaving now.

I released a breath and forced my smile back. “Sorry, how are you doing?”

Everything would be fine. It would be fine.

Everything was fine.

“I hope you do too,”

I told the last person.

She smiled brightly, clutching her things to her chest as she headed off the stage.

I leaned back, releasing a breath of relief and rubbing my right hand. “God, I need to figure out some hand exercises or something.”

Katie laughed, joining my side again, her expression one of pure exhaustion. “Yeah, I can understand that.”

She placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “You did good, kid. Head back to the dressing room, take a beat, I’ll close this down.”

I grimaced. “You sure? I can help tear—”

“Stop,”

she laughed. “We’ve got people for it. Go, get home, take a hot bath, I know I’ll be doing the same when I get home.”

“Hopefully with some company?”

her husband asked, sliding his hands around her hips.

She giggled, leaning back into him. “Definitely with some company.”

I couldn’t help but smile. I always admired their relationship. “Okay. Thanks again, Katie, I owe you everything.”

“Just give me another best seller, eh?”

she teased as I pushed myself to a stand.

I laughed lightly. “Yeah, I’ll get right on that.”

With a wave goodbye, I finally headed back towards my makeshift dressing room. God, I was exhausted. I could barely keep my eyes open. My face hurt from all the smiling, and the wig was starting to itch. All I wanted to do was fall into bed and sleep for a week.

I blinked slowly, trudging through my dressing room door, only to slow when I saw Everett leaning against the far wall, half in the shadows, waiting for me.

My heart skipped a beat, but as much as I wanted to go to him, I was also drained of energy. I didn’t even think I had the capability of kissing him right now. Just before I was about to tell him how tired I was, I remembered the note. “Is Evelyn okay?”

I asked, walking over to the musty couch they had set up for me.

“Is that what that note said?”

he asked, pushing away from the wall.

I wasn’t surprised that he knew about it. If he hadn’t been watching me, Azrael would have told him, I was sure of it. Without replying, I pulled out the note and held it out to him, my right hand shaking.

It was going to be swollen tomorrow; I was sure of it. I would definitely need to stick it in an ice bath tonight.

“Evelyn is fine,”

he said a second later. “There are four other women in your life though, Olivia. Katie, your mother, Stella, and Baily.”

I let my head fall back into the couch and draped my arm over my eyes. I had a migraine. “Oh, well then it was probably some guy mom hired to freak me out. She knows about all of my signings, she just never wanted to make the drive.”

I could feel him step up to me, in front of me. “I’ll make a call. What did he look like?”

Sleep. I just wanted to sleep. “Unremarkable,”

I mumbled, feeling myself slipping slowly into unconsciousness. “Brown eyes, brown hair, 30’s, striped shirt…corduroy pants…”

I yawned. “The complete opposite of you. Memorable, beautiful, a siren in this world of silence. Your violence is…peaceful…”