Chapter Fourteen #4
Sniffing, Moth adjusted his crotch and stroked a hand over the rump of his bike. “I'll make sure you're always protected and–”
“How?” I interrupted, “You'll be gone as soon as he's arrested. I'll be on my own, still looking over my shoulder.”
He clenched his hands either side of him and tilted his head to the side. “I know you don’t have any reason to trust me but fucking trust me… okay?”
Drawing a deep breath, I nodded. If he was going to guarantee that I was safe, then I had to believe him.
“Plus,” he went on, “you've got …Josh, is it? …to look out for you. He certainly wanted to at the hospital.”
His tone was sharp and his cheeks very slightly pinker than his usual pale complexion. I searched his gaze, but he turned from me, picked up the helmet I'd dropped in our struggle and handed it to me.
“Yes.” I sighed, holding the helmet against my stomach. “He certainly is a safe option.”
Grunting, he waved for me to put on the helmet, his jaw so tight, I could hear his teeth grinding.
Was he jealous? Surely not. He'd told me that he wasn't interested.
He still hated me and punished me with his cock.
Not that I minded that part, he was fucking good at it. Yeah, I was still messed up.
“Do you want to hear my idea on how to trap him?” I stroked the moth on the helmet. “Brandon, I mean.”
He scratched his jaw, stretching it wide before replying. “You know him better than I do. Go ahead.”
I did know Brandon better, and if we were going to catch him out, I'd have to risk everything. There was no better way to get his attention than to use myself for bait. I just had to make sure that Moth was prepared to allow it to get as far as it had to so the police would finally do something.
“The opening night for the dark romance club is soon.” I held up a hand when Moth tried to speak.
“I know it's a risk to do anything there, considering it's my business, but it will be the most public place. I’m hoping to have a band, drinks and book readings.
We could invite masked male models to the event.
Hopefully, Brandon will come. I'll then flirt with the other men outrageously, winding him up so much that he follows me into a separate room or downstairs.”
“Okay, so far so good.” Although he watched me intently, I could see the thoughts running through his mind. He was playing the scenario out in his head.
Clearing my throat, I touched the skin where he'd not long choked me. My involuntary shudder caught his attention and he gave me his death stare.
“Concentrate,” he barked.
He knew exactly what I was thinking about, even though I hadn't said a word. We were terrible for one another and would always end up rutting and fighting, instead of actually living life.
“I have CCTV in every room in the building,” I said, “so I’ll goad him into hurting me.”
He frowned. “Hurting you?”
“I have to let him do what he wants for the police to actually fucking do anything.” I shrugged. “But, if you're there, you can rescue me just before he kills me.”
His mouth actually dropped open and he looked at me as if I’d completely lost it.
Okay, so it was extremely risky, but the cops hadn’t even bothered to check CCTV when I'd told them about the last attack.
They didn't give a shit about me and wouldn't until the stalker did serious damage. We just had to get the proof.
Stepping closer, Moth glared down at me. “What’s wrong with you, woman? We need to take him down, but you don't put yourself in a shit ton of danger to do that. There's other ways.”
“But will it work?”
He huffed and turned away, his shoulders hunched. “You're not fucking doing it. I won't let you get hurt.”
A warmth fluttered in my chest before I shoved it away.
No matter how sentimental my romantic side wanted to make his words, Moth had made things very clear.
He was a man of honor, hence why he’d made his hit list in the first place.
He obviously believed in justice and revenge, which was a noble cause.
However, sometimes, to get full justice, that person's true colors had to be exposed. Fully.
“You just asked me to trust you,” I snapped, “You've got to return the favor.”
Huffing, he bared his teeth. “Fine but on one condition. If he gets out of control, I will hurt him. I'm not risking your life to do this, no matter what the cops need.”
“We need to be clever about it.” I rested the helmet on the bike seat. “There's no question about it. I just… need to be completely innocent myself. I can't message him or make out that I'm even thinking of him. As long as you and the guys–”
“The guys?”
I nodded. “Your friends. Maybe? Would they help? I know I'm asking a lot, considering they view me as an evil she-demon, but their backup would be crucial. I can't risk my friends and readers.”
“I'll talk to them.” Moth winced when his phone beeped. “We better get going.”
Picking up the helmet, I cradled it in my arm and reached for him as he went to climb on the bike. “Is that a yes? We’ll try my plan?”
He looked over his shoulder as he started the engine. The vibration rumbled through me as I waited, staring into his brooding eyes.
“Yes,” he muttered, “we'll go with your plan first. And if it doesn't work…” He grinned manically. “…I'll just kill him.”