Page 36 of The Voicemail

“She didn’t take anything,” I say calmly.

“Then find out what happened to it.”

I lean down just enough that only he can hear me. “Trust me. I’m going to find out everything.”

His smile fades. I walk out before I give him more than I already have.

Outside, I slide into the backseat of my waiting SUV and loosen my tie as Marco pulls away from the curb. My phone sits heavy in my hand, but I don’t call Luca yet. I need a minute before I think about strategy. If I speak right now, my voice will give away too much.

I made Elena more valuable tonight. Still, there’s no version of me that would have pretended not to care.

When I get home, light still spills from under Elena’s door. I stop in the hallway longer than I should, still carrying too much from the meeting.

Elena is safer here than anywhere else. She’s also in more danger because of me. I’m about to walk away when her door opens.

She’s in soft pajama pants and an oversized sweatshirt that slips off one shoulder. Her hair is loose around her face, damp at the ends like she showered not long ago. She looks tired, but her eyes are too sharp for sleep.

“You’re back,” she says.

“Yes.”

Her mouth twitches, but she doesn’t smile.

“Where were you?”

“Out.”

She steps into the hallway, letting the door fall half open behind her.

“This is exactly what I was talking about the other night, Alex,” she says, voice tight. “You’re always so evasive. How am I supposed to know you if you never give me the full answer?”

My patience is thin tonight. Too thin for this hallway, this woman, this argument, and the bare shoulder I’ve been trying not to look at since she opened the door.

“I met with the man responsible for stalking you.” Might as well get this out of the way.

Her breath catches. “Why?”

“Because I wanted to know why he put you in danger. I intend to put an end to it.”

She backs away, eyes wide with panic. She looks down the hallway, then back at me. “Am I safe here?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Because I won’t let anything happen to you.”

The words are out before I can stop them. Her face changes, and I feel the mistake immediately. She steps closer.

“You annoy the hell out of me, and then you go and say things like that,” she says quietly. “You’re really getting under my skin, Alex.”

“That makes two of us.”

Her laugh is soft and disbelieving. Her eyes drop to my mouth. That’s all it takes.

I close the distance and kiss her.

This time there’s no hesitation. Her hands fist in my shirt, and I catch her face in both hands, holding her there while her mouth opens under mine. The sound she makes is small and angry and desperate all at once. It goes straight through me.