Page 31 of Behind the Shadows

I tapped out my response.

Me:

Did you figure out what the stain was?

A laughing emoji was her only response. I frowned, unsure what to make of it. Did it mean something more, or was it just a simple laugh? I would have to ask her when I got there, though part of me hesitated to know the answer.

I shifted the car into drive, easing out of the parking lot as “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” by Empara Mi and dreamchild played. I couldn’t understand why my playlist had taken such a twisted turn. While I appreciated a good dark playlist, it dragged me back to my past with Draco and … the death certificate.

Ten minutes later, I arrived at the dry cleaners. I paused, looking around nervously, half expecting to catch a glimpse of something, or someone, out of place. If Cooper or Draco were tailing me, they were doing a damn good job staying out of sight.

I opened the door, the bell jingling to announce my arrival, a sound that somehow made me even more anxious.

A dark-haired, brown-eyed lady emerged from the back of the store with a mischievous smile that left me both curious and wary.

“That was fast. Are you going to wear your blouse for a hot date?” Vivian asked.

Although I’d used Vivian’s dry cleaners since I’d returned to Portland, she hadn’t brought up my dating or lack of one before.

“No hot date.” I smiled at her.

Vivian nodded as if she knew something I didn’t. She disappeared around the corner and then a minute later returned with my blouse.

“Good as new.” She handed me the item.

“The stain came out?” I asked, eyeing the front of the shirt through the clear plastic bag.

“It did.” Her voice held a hint of teasing. “Must’ve been one hell of a night.”

Confused by her comment, I asked, “What was it?”

Vivian chuckled and looked around the store before she spoke. “Just making sure it’s only you and me here.”

Why was she acting so weird?

Vivian patted my hand as if she were congratulating me on a job well-done. “Semen.”

I blanched as I felt the color drain from my cheeks. “What? No. There has to be a mistake.”

“I’ve been doing this for fifteen years, honey. That was definitely semen.”

I stood there completely dumbfounded. For seven months, I hadn’t dated anyone, let alone allowed someone to invade my space so intimately.Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!This only confirmed my worst fears, and I couldn’t blame my PTSD or Ambien any longer. Someone had been in my home last night, maybe even sooner. But who? Draco? Cooper? How long had they been in town? How long had I lived under the illusion of safety, unaware of the lurking danger? Was my house bugged? My phone? Part of me wanted to dismiss it all, but the other part couldn't shake off the paranoia.

Vivian winked and said, “At least they missed your face.”

If I hadn’t been in a full-blown panic, I would have laughed at Vivian’s last comment.

“You know what they say, it’s always the quiet ones who have the most fun.” I gave her a tight-lipped grin. Or something like that. “This is my favorite blouse. Thank you so much for getting it clean.”

“You bet. Have a really good evening.” She laughed as I hurried out of the store.

Short, ragged breaths blasted through me as I struggled to keep calm, my mind torn between wanting to rush to my houseand rip the place apart for any hint that I hadn't been alone at times and fearing what I might discover.

I barely made it out of the dry cleaners before the nausea hit.

Shit! Someone came on my top!

Vivian’s words echoed in my skull.I’ve been doing this for fifteen years, honey. That was definitely semen.