Page 67 of Crash

Me: That’s overkill.

Blake: Fine. I’ll help the spider fill out a rental application.

I caught myself smiling. This was one thing I loved about Blake. He’d let me have my deeply emotional moments, he’d let me freak out and panic, but then he’d slide back into his normal self. Wonderful, sarcastic, normal him.

This was why I felt safe with him.

The joy of that realization almost made me forget about the envelope waiting like a bomb on my dresser. A smarter person would stop opening them. But since the police refused to take action, these twisted letters were my only window into my tormentor’s increasingly unstable mind.

36

BLAKE

Me: You have a meeting near my penthouse today, right?

Jace: What, do you have a tracker on my phone? #CreepyAF #StalkerVibes

Me: You mentioned it last week. Need a favor.

Jace: Here we go. Can’t wait to hear this. What, did you forget your favorite shoes? Or did you run out of hair product for that meticulously disheveled look?

Me: Tessa’s at my place.

Jace: Really? *smirking emoji*

Me: Not like that, dude. I’m helping her with something. And wipe that smirk off your face. I can see it through the phone.

Jace: I bet you are “helping” her. With your extensive “skills.” Is that what the kids call it these days?

Me: She’s not responding to me though. Can you check on her, please?

Jace: I’m sure she’s fine. Probably saw your name on her screen and decided to preserve her sanity.

Me: Won’t be able to focus on work until I know that for a fact. She hasn’t answered her cell in hours. I’m getting worried.

Jace: Don’t you have an employee or neighbor you can ask? This is a mile in the wrong direction for me. Some of us have actual work to do, not just playing doctor.

Me: Not friendly with neighbors.

Jace: You’re not friendly with anyone. That’s your personal brand.

Me: You gonna make me beg? Because I’ll send a voice memo of it and you can use it as your ringtone.

Jace: Fine. Jesus, you’re pushy. When I see her, I’m going to tell her to answer her fucking phone next time. Or invest in a better friend.

Me: Yell at her, and I’ll dislocate your teeth. And ruin your perfect smile for your next Forbes cover.

Jace: Your gratitude is overwhelming. Truly heartwarming. Is this how you speak to all your organ donors?

Me: Only the pretty ones. Text me when you see she’s in one piece.

Jace: Yes, Your Majesty. Anything else? Need me to pick up your dry cleaning while I’m playing errand boy?

TESSA

I didn’t hear the door open. Didn’t hear the man come into Blake’s penthouse and didn’t hear him come up behind me. Reason being, I was blasting music while making Blake blueberry cupcakes. It was the least I could do to say thank you, right? So, I’d sent the chef home and planned to have this all cleaned up long before Blake returned from his shift.

I was swaying my hips and singing loudly to the music while stirring the batter in an oversize silver bowl when it happened.