Page 99 of The Stalker Snafu

And I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact my boyfriend was on the FBI Most Wanted List, of all things. He was a fugitive. I was dating a guy in hiding and had no clue what was the truth and what were lies.

I’d never felt more unanchored in my life.

Darkness shadowed the duplex until I unlocked the door and flipped the lights on.

“What the—?” Julian popped up on the couch, hair askew, blinking against the brightness.

I winced, freezing in the doorway. “Sorry!” Gosh, I couldn’t stop apologizing today. “I didn’t know you were here. Do you want the lights off?”

He rubbed both hands over his face and threw off the blanket wrapped loosely around his waist, before squinting around the room. His eyes fell on me, blinking rapidly. “No, no. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

Shifting my weight, I carefully shut the door behind me. “I thought you went to the clinic?”

“I did.” He checked his watch and took a deep breath. “You guys were gone longer than I expected.”

I lifted a shoulder, glancing out the window at the empty driveway. “Traffic.”

He slipped his glasses on before looking me over. “You saw Kincaid?”

I nodded, wetting my lips. “A glimpse of him.”

Julian sagged back in his seat, but I wasn’t sure if it was with relief or dread.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I know this is hard for you.”

A flash of guilt gave me pause, and I winced at how selfish I was being. I wasn’t the only one affected by this. “I’m sure it’s not easy for you either.”

He managed a small smile at that and ran a hand through his hair.

It dawned on me this might be a good time to fish for more information. I stepped further into the room and tried to keep my voice casual. “By the way, your handler showed up while we were at the house.”

Julian’s hand froze in his hair. “Repeat that?”

“Your handler. He showed up where Noah’s staying.”

He blinked. “Who told you…? Wait. Did you talk to him?”

“No, I was manhandled and shoved behind a shed before they saw me,” I said evenly. Julian actually looked relieved by that, and I squinted at him. “And I’m not a snitch. If you guys would be a little more forthcoming with information—like sharing what you do that requires a handler of all things—you wouldn’t have to walk on eggshells, wondering what you can say in front of me.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You don’t understand what’s at stake, Emma. I’m sorry, but we can’t say more until Kincaid is cleared.”

“Maybe if you just explained the stakes⁠—”

“I can’t. And when I say that, I mean I contractually can’t tell you.” He sighed and shifted on the couch. “And this is probably bad timing to bring up now, but have you thought more about staying here for the time being?”

I swallowed. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

There were a million reasons I shouldn’t hide out at Julian’s. Like how I didn’t know him—not really. He was friends with my boyfriend, who’d lied to my face.

Julian frowned. “I know I don’t seem very trustworthy to you right now with all the secrets. I get that. But can you please trust me when I say you’re not safe at Westcroft alone right now?”

“I’ll be fine. I have my pepper spray.”

One of his brows rose. “Nobody brings pepper spray to a gunfight.”

My eyes snapped wide. “Who’s having a gunfight?”

He didn’t answer—just watched me steadily, waiting.