Chapter Sixteen #2
“I don’t think you understand exactly what’s happening here,” I continue. “It’s not the Russian mafia trying to kidnap me. They’re not going to demand a ransom. And he’s not some James Bond villain. He’s a mentally disturbed man who’s developed a sexual fascination with me.”
Dad looks upset, but tries to recover. “That makes it even more important that you come home with us.”
“No. He sent a photo of me at your house. Did you know that? He knows where you live. He knows everything about me. I’m not safe there either, Dad.”
I look at Luke, who’s listening quietly. “I want to go somewhere he won’t be able to follow,” I tell him.
“Okay,” he says.
“Like where?” Dad asks.
“I’ve got an idea,” Caesar says. “What about 35 South?”
I frown. “A holiday resort?” I’ve heard of it, although I’ve never been there. It’s on Evermore Island and named after the line of latitude that passes through the Bay of Islands.
“It’s not just a resort,” he continues. “It’s a private coastal estate where they hold international conferences and symposiums. There’s enough security that half the country’s CEOs disappear there when they need to get off the grid.
If someone’s trying to find you, they’ll have a much harder time there than they will in Auckland. ”
“Do you know the owner?” Marcus asks.
Caesar nods. “I met him at a conference there. I can call him. If he has a villa free, I can fly you up tonight.”
“I’ll come with you,” Mum says.
“No, I’ll go,” Marcus states.
That makes my mind up for me. “Absolutely not. I need some time to myself.”
“You’re not going alone,” Dad says incredulously.
“I won’t be. I’ll have my CPO with me.”
Luke glances at me, but doesn’t say anything.
“I don’t like this,” Marcus says.
Luckily, I’m saved from having to reply as the doors open again, and a woman comes in carrying a case and a set of white overalls.
At the same time, the two constables appear from the elevator and state that the room is clear—the perpetrator has gone.
Sarah introduces the woman as the scenes-of-crime examiner, and says they’re going to go up now and photograph the room, and they head over to the elevator.
“I’ll take a statement now,” Constable Parish says, and I nod and follow him to the chairs.
I sit, glancing over at the others. Caesar takes out his phone and walks outside.
Luke is still watching me, and he holds my gaze for a moment before Marcus starts talking to him urgently.
My brother is going to try to talk him out of going, but I already know that Luke will be on my side.
He understands how angry I am. And he’ll back me up.
I give my attention to Constable Parish, and he jots down my statement on his iPad.
It takes about fifteen minutes, and then he calls Luke over.
His statement is more thorough than mine; I hear him saying, “At approximately 6:20 p.m. Ms. Ashford entered the bedroom. I remained in the hallway for several seconds before joining her…” It makes me want to smile, although humor is the last thing on my mind right now.
Caesar comes back in, pocketing his phone.
“I spoke to Gabriel,” he says. “They’re pretty busy because they’ve got a conference on, but he has an executive villa available with high security.
They put royalty and movie stars in it. Nobody will be able to get to you there.
” He gives me a small smile. I remember Luke saying that our parents insisted Caesar and Marcus keep it from me.
While I wish they hadn’t been so obedient, I do understand why they followed their instructions.
“I suggest we don’t tell anyone where Aurelia’s going,” Ella says. “Not the team, not friends or extended family. Let’s keep it between ourselves while we let the police investigate the break-in and decide the next step.”
Dad nods stiffly. “You’re going to fly her there tonight?” he asks Caesar.
“Yeah.”
“What about clothes?” I ask Ella. “Can I go up and pack a case?”
“I’m sorry,” she says, “not until the police have finished.”
“You’ve got clothes at the house,” Mum says. “You can take those.”
I have a skeleton wardrobe there formed from items I’ve either left at some point or forgotten—yoga pants and tees and basic underwear. I nod. “Okay.”
“As soon as you’re done here,” Dad says, “we’ll drive you to the house and you can pick them up.” He holds up a hand as I go to tell him Luke can drive me. “Your boyfriend will need to get a few things of his own.”
My face heats. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“I sincerely hope not,” Marcus states.
“Jesus.” I go to walk outside, then realize I probably shouldn’t. Instead, I storm off to the public bathroom.
“Do you want me to go with you…” Mum calls after me, but I ignore her and go inside.
It’s empty, and I sink down onto one of the toilets gratefully. I put my face in my hands. This can’t be happening. I wanted more freedom, and instead I feel as if I’m locked in a cage. Tears prick my eyes. I hate it when I fall out with my family, but right now I don’t want them anywhere near me.
The thought of going to Evermore Island, where it’ll be warm and safe, appeals to me immensely, especially as the only person coming with me will be Luke.
Guilt rises in me at the thought that I told him he was coming; I didn’t ask.
Maybe he has other, personal commitments.
But he didn’t complain, and instinctively I know he’d put them aside for me.
I think about how quickly he spirited me out of the apartment.
How calm he was when he called the police and Marcus and the office.
Until now, I’ve been half irritated by his presence, and frustrated at what I’ve seen as his over-enthusiasm.
Now, I feel as if I’m looking at it through a different lens.
He was attempting to keep me safe. Trying to teach me how to protect myself.
I’m going to teach you how to control how close a man gets to you.
I thought he was talking about Dom, and maybe that was part of it, but it was mostly because of the man who’s been following me.
I rest my chin on my clasped hands as I force myself to think about him.
My stalker. Is it Dom? When Ella mentioned him, and I said, You think Dominic did this?
Luke said, No. We don’t have anything to tie him to it.
Ella implied the main reason she thinks it could be Dom is because of the photos on his phone.
Could it be him? I think about the guy I lived with for several years.
The man I used to love. He did things to me I didn’t want done, and Luke made me see how inappropriate that was.
What did he say? It doesn’t matter if he was your first or your twenty-first, you’re not responsible for his behavior.
Something along those lines. I do remember him saying, Rule number one of being a man—a real man—is understanding when to stop.
But despite this, I can’t imagine Dom stalking me. Sending me hundreds of messages and gifts, especially when I didn’t respond. He gets bored easily. And he looked genuinely puzzled when I mentioned the roses.
Things started going downhill between us after the incident where the photo was taken.
When we had our big argument that ended in us breaking up, he didn’t fight me.
I think he already knew we were done. He’s not the kind of guy to hang around a girl when he thinks she’s not interested.
He was never short of female attention. He’s moved on already, I’m sure.
I’m convinced it’s not him. So… who is it?