Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Grainger
I can do everything in my power to protect her, but I can’t do anything to protect my own damn heart. -Grainger
I sit across from the woman who has captivated me for the last five years. Her eyes are red and puffy, and her hands still shake.
“Now that the cops are gone, we can talk this out a little bit.” I reach for her hands and take them in mine.
“I want you to know we’re going to figure this out.
We’re going to make sure you’re safe. I can promise you that.
” And I will keep my promise. I will make sure she doesn’t have reason to feel fear again.
She gives me a slight smile. “It’s so good to see you, Grainger. I’ve wanted to call you often. I wanted to tell you how grateful I was…”
I squeeze her hands. “No need for that. Let’s talk about what’s going on and why someone would want to do this.”
The police seem to think it’s just a crazed fan, but something feels more off than that to me.
I’m sure Lana has more than her fair share of obsessed fans, but this is…
well, this is more. The cat was almost decapitated.
All the blood, the message in the mirror…
it’s very personal. And disturbing as hell.
She gulps. “I should probably show you something. I didn’t think much of it before, but I got a couple of letters a few months ago. I showed the cops today, but they didn’t seem too concerned about them.”
She hands me several plain white pieces of paper with words typed neatly on each page.
I scan them, knowing it will take hours to analyze the single-spaced lines.
There are phrases written repeatedly, like “you ruined my life” or “you are the great pretender”.
The letters are both signed, “the forgotten one”.
I raise an eyebrow. “You showed these to the police?”
She flushes and nods. “I get weird stuff all the time though. And um…” she twists her hands together.
“I guess they thought these were just more of the same.” She wrinkles her nose, “but these letters sure didn’t feel like the ones I usually get.
” She takes a long, deep breath in. “I don’t want this getting out everywhere.
The only reason I called them in the first place is because I was absolutely terrified.
” Her brown-eyed gaze shifts away from mine.
“Besides, I don’t have the greatest faith in the police.
That’s one of the reasons I called you.”
I sigh and run my hand through my hair. I know exactly why she doesn’t trust the police.
I researched Lana’s background when she was involved with Schroeder.
Her dad was abusive as hell and her mother was a drug addict.
Most people in her hometown knew what she came from and felt sorry for her, but did absolutely nothing to help her.
The local law enforcement did nothing to protect her.
That’s why she ran out to L.A. as soon as she turned eighteen.
“I understand.” I glance down at the papers again. “Any clue who could be writing these?”
She shakes her head emphatically. “No idea.”
“Any guys on the radar? Men you’ve dated who might want revenge?” My stomach roils with nausea at the thought of her with another man, but I need all the pieces to the puzzle.
“No, no one. Not since…” she bites down on her lip. “Not since Scott actually. I decided I couldn’t trust my own judgment after that one.”
She hasn’t been with a man in five years? Fuck…
Desire drums through my system. Now is not the time, Grainger. Keep your libido in check.
“I’m on it, Lana. Until we find this guy, I’m your shadow. I’ll have some of the guys at my firm working on it, but it’ll mainly be me.” Because I choose it to be. Because I don’t trust any other guy, even my best friends, to protect her like I will.
A hopeful smile crosses her face. “That’s good. I’m okay with that.”
I sure as hell hope so, sweetheart, because you’re stuck with me. I’ll never let this monster near her again.