Page 13 of The Stolen Dagger

CHAPTER ELEVEN

KATHERINE

T he sun faded below the horizon and left a golden-orange glow that came in through the library window.

Most of my research had hit a dead end after Drew texted me.

I learned a bit more about Henry from an interview with his widow, but I still didn’t know why he’d met with Adrian that night or how the dagger came into play.

Although I didn’t want to, it might help to talk about what I’d witnessed. There were so many things I wished I had done differently.

I shouldn’t have followed Adrian or tried to run when he heard me.

My mind wandered back to that night.

“No, no, wait, think about this for a second,” Henry pleaded, raising his hands out in front of him. “Don’t do anything rash. You know what would happen if you killed me? They’ll come for it. They’ll come for her.”

“I’d like to see them try.” Adrian chuckled. “I’ve already secured my future.”

“Please,” Henry begged. “Do you really think an engagement will stop the Reaper from getting her back?”

Adrian tilted his head as if in thought, then shrugged. “I’ll take my chances.”

Three shots rang out. Henry’s body crumpled face first into the dirt at Adrian’s feet.

This time, I couldn’t contain the gasp that stole all the breath from my lungs. My vision blurred and silent tears cascaded down my cheeks.

H—he’s dead. Adrian killed him.

My body shook with fear, and my hand tightened around my phone. I should have called 911 right then, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from Henry’s still, lifeless body.

My gaze flickered to Adrian, who lowered his weapon and approached Henry, picking up the item that Henry still had clutched in his hand.

With Adrian’s back to me, I released the breath I’d been holding and slowly backed away.

I have to get out of here. He can’t know that I followed him.

With each backward step I took, my mind spun. I couldn’t help but think I was next. I shuffled back quicker with each panicked thought.

What if he saw me? What would he do? Would he shoot me, too? Would he ? —

A loud clang reverberated throughout the alleyway. I quickly glanced down at the tin paint can as it rolled across the dirt.

No. No, no, no. Shit!

I quickly glanced back over my shoulder to see Adrian’s dark eyes narrowed on me .

“Emilia?” Adrian’s deep voice shook with confusion and anger.

His tone alone caused goosebumps to rise all over my body. I wanted to run, but I completely froze as more tears fell down my cheeks.

A sinister grin spread across his handsome face as he took his first step toward me, the gun still firmly in his grasp.

“You weren’t supposed to see that, mi princesa .”

I turned to a run but tripped over that stupid tin can. I righted my footing, but his heavy footsteps were right behind me. He wrapped an arm around my stomach, pulling me back into him before I could take another step. A hard object dug into my side.

The gun. His gun.

“Oh, pretty girl, you know you can’t run from me,” Adrian whispered in my ear. His arm tightened around me, pulling me harder into him.

“Please,” I whimpered, shifting away from the gun against my ribs.

“I really wish you hadn’t seen that, mi princesa .” his breath was heavy against my ear. “What am I going to do with you now?”

Tears streamed down my face as I shook my head and struggled against his hold.

Adrian spun me around in his arms, so we were chest to chest. “Oh, don’t worry,” he said, wiping the runaway tears on my cheeks. “You know I could never hurt you. So long as you do exactly as I say.”

Whoa. I shook my head as if to shake away the memory.

Where did that come from?

My memories of that night were hazy. The scene of Adrian shooting Henry was vivid in my mind but after that was like a movie I hadn’t seen in years. Even though I’d lived through it, it felt like I was grasping for the details in a sea of fragmented scenes that were just now coming to the surface.

Piecing together what happened was difficult, painful even, as I was forced to relive a night I’d repressed for more than a year.

Yet, I was haunted by it—taunted with the truth that was buried in my subconscious.

My phone vibrated on the table beside me. It was probably Drew saying he was on his way. Reaching for the device, I smiled to myself. It was nice to not deal with this all on my own. I was grateful for Drew, and I wanted him to know it.

But when I looked at my phone, it wasn’t Drew.

The stalker had sent another picture.

A single image.

My heart rate increased, beating like a drum in my ears.

Of me.

Goosebumps prickled along my skin.

Sitting at this table.

My mouth opened in a gasp.

With a message that said, “Here I come, little bird.”

I quickly stood, dropped my phone on the table, and searched my secluded corner of the library for the stalker, but the area was empty.

There was no sign of anyone watching me or taking pictures. Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t seen anyone walk by for the past hour.

Where is everyone?

I looked back down at my phone and the photo displayed on the screen. It was taken at an angle from behind me through the small gaps in the bookshelves. The picture was zoomed in, like it was taken from across the room.

How did I not notice someone taking my picture?

I mentally kicked myself, recounting the first thing Drew taught me in self-defense: always be aware of your surroundings.

I stepped out from the little enclave I was in, searching for any other student or librarian, but the floor was empty. The barred lights that hung from the ceiling were dimmed, and darkness spread in the farthest corners of the library.

A shiver raced through my limbs.

I was alone.

With my stalker.

My phone vibrated in my hand from an incoming call. I held in my scream when I saw the Caller ID and answered immediately.

“Drew?”

“I know I’m a little late,” Drew said, “but I’m almost there. Are you still in the library?”

“Yes,” I whispered. “Please, hurry.”

“What’s wrong?” he asked immediately.

“I—I don’t—it’s—” I struggled to form a coherent sentence, too on edge.

“Katherine? Just breathe, baby. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“A—a stalker,” I rushed out. “He’s been sending pictures of me all day. He just sent one of me now, here in the library.”

It was silent for a beat.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Drew asked, but it came out more like a growl.

“I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t realize this floor was empty. I’m getting my things now. I’ll?—”

“Get to the main floor as fast as you can,” Drew instructed. “If you find another student on your way down, stay with them. I’m about to park. I’m on my way. Stay on the phone with me.”

“Okay, okay.” I frantically shoved my laptop into my backpack and swung it over my shoulder. “I’m heading for the elevator. ”

“No!” Drew shouted. “Take the stairwell.”

“Okay.”

I fast-walked to the staircase, looking over my shoulder every few seconds.

Bang!

A loud noise, like someone had slammed a book on a nearby table, echoed behind me.

I squealed at the noise and turned, but no one was there.

“What is it?” Drew asked immediately.

“I—I don’t know,” I stuttered. “Something behind me.”

“Just keep going, baby.”

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the exit door and hurried down the stairwell to the first floor.

Bang!

It was another sound, like someone had slammed a door in the stairwell.

My heart raced. “Oh, my God.”

“Just keep moving. Don’t let anything distract you. Get outside. I’m almost there.”

I swung open the staircase door and bolted through the main lobby of the library. My shoes slid against the shiny, polished wood floors. I passed a row of study tables and neared the circulation desk off to the right side of the foyer.

No one was there.

“That’s weird,” I muttered.

“What?” Drew asked, desperate to know what was happening.

“There’s no one at the front desk.” I slowed my pace and looked around for the librarian. “Where is everyone?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Drew huffed like he was running. “Just get out and?—”

The call dropped.

Heavy footsteps pounded behind me and stopped. I twisted around near the study tables .

Empty .

Tightening my grip around the phone, I turned for the entrance of the library again but froze mid-step at the dark figure blocking my escape.