Page 128 of The Darkest Note

“Then I’m the one who owes you.”

Her eyebrow quirks.

“I always repay my debts.” I lean down, getting close to her frustratingly sexy lips. “Can I show you how I plan to repay you?”

She turns it over in her head. I can see her thoughts churning.

“Come on.” I slide my hand to the small of her back. It feels familiar. Feels right. Like I’ve touched her a million times before.

“I’m not getting into a car with you.”

“Because I might be a psycho?”

“Haven’t we established that?” she returns cheekily.

I laugh. Everything about her delights me. I can’t explain it. Can’t even begin to make sense of it. But I would change everything about myself, become something entirely new for this girl.

“I figured you’d have your reservations. Which is why no cars are involved.” Jutting my chin at the building across from the park, I whisper in her ear, “Tell me what you want to do.”

She trembles slightly.

I breathe over her neck, right there against her collar bone. “If you accept, I’ll never show up in front of you again.”

“And if I don’t?”

“I will chase you to the ends of the earth.”

Her lips curl up. “A threat?”

“A promise.”

Her eyes flicker to my mouth before she juts her chin down. “Fine. But no names. No questions.”

“A mystery. How exciting.”

“A safety measure. I don’t want you chasing me anywhere.”

I extend my hand to her. “Come with me, Redhead.”

Her eyes dart away for a bit. I watch her hesitate, but I don’t move towards her. This has to be her choice.

When she finally puts her hand in mine, relief explodes in my chest. I grip her tightly and lead my mystery girl right into the dark.

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

CADENCE

I can’t make sense of him.

Dutch went to all that trouble to contact me.

He chased me into the night.

And now he has me alone.

We’re in an elevator. My skin is buzzing from being this close to him, but he’s staying a respectful distance away.

If I weren’t in this red wig, would he have such self-control? I close my eyes and picture the times he threw me over his shoulder in school. Or when he backed me up against the coffee machines. Dutch never seems to know what personal space is when he’s with the other me.