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My heart feels too heavy in my chest. I had so much to say when I saw her in the crowd, but all of my words fail me now. I’m afraid that if I say the words out loud, they will come true.

I swallow and glance at my feet.

“Is everything alright, Klaus?” She tilts her head to peer into my eyes.

I shake my head.

“Come on, let’s go outside,” she says. “There’s something I wanted to discuss with you as well.”

She leads me toward the back exit. As I follow her, I feel eyes on the back of my head. I glance back to find Alaric watching me with concerned eyes.

Victoria and I step outside into the night.

There’s an electric charge in the air tonight. I glance up to see that like my mood, the sky has darkened. The stars are covered by heavy clouds.

Victoria guides me toward one of the benches in the garden.

I notice a movement behind me. Someone else has entered the outdoor area as well. It’s a dark-haired man wholooks to be a part of the staff. He lights a cigarette and leans against the wall.

“Is everything okay at home, Klaus?” she asks.

Victoria is friends with Helena, so she knows things about my family that the rest of the world doesn’t. I trust her implicitly because she’s always looked out for us, even when she had nothing to gain from it.

“Things are fine at home,” I say.

“The kids are doing well?” she asks.

I nod. “Emma is good for them.”

“I’m so glad to hear that,” Victoria says. “They need some stability in their life. And they’re lucky to have an uncle like you.”

I nod even though I know she’s just saying that to be nice.

My attention catches on the dark-haired man again. He’s not even facing us, but something about him sets off alarm bells in my head. There’s something familiar about the set of his shoulders.

There’s an alertness to his body language that reminds me of a tiger watching from between blades of grass.

He’s out of hearing range, but he’s listening to our conversation.

As if he can feel my eyes on him, he turns his head in my direction. It’s only by a fraction of an inch, but I don’t miss it. In that split second before I look away, I catch his profile. I catalog his features, comparing them to what I know about Adam, Emma’s stalker.

It’s him.

I don’t know how he got into the club, but that’s definitely him. His hair is darker. He must have either dyed his own hair or is wearing a wig.And I’m fairly certain he’s using some kind of listening device to eavesdrop on this conversation.

My instinct is to confront him face-to-face, but I remember what Alaric told me. This man is implicated in worse crimes than stalking my girl.

“There’s something we need to discuss, Klaus,” Victoria says. “It’s about Emma. I’ve heard from multiple sources that the two of you are together.”

There’s a sharp ripple of energy from the man. He exhales smoke into the cold night air, but I catch the way his hand shakes.

“What exactly are you asking me, Victoria?” I say, fighting to keep my voice even.

“Well, is it true?” she asks. “Are the two of you in a relationship?”

I have an engagement ring in my pocket. I’ve been carrying it with me since I got it back from the jeweler. I don’t know what the future has in store for us, but I’ve always known one thing for certain—I’ll do anything to protect that girl.

“I wouldn’t call it a relationship,” I say. “It’s more of a fling.”