Page 21

CHAPTER 21

Birdie

“Gia, can you please get me my laptop? I’m going to work until Tristan returns. Please order some food for the team. They haven’t had anything but coffee since they arrived,” I said. “Get something for Tristan, too.”

She cocks a brow at me. “ Tristan? ”

You call him by his first name? is the real question she wants to ask. “Yes, Tristan, my bodyguard. I’ve just filled you in, Gia. Focus.”

“What really happened last night, Birdie?”

I thought I was being followed by my stalker. Tristan saved me and took me home. We found out the stalker had cameras in the house, and he’d left another note implying he’d murder Saldana after he watched me masturbate and stain her book with my cum. Oh, and I intended to send that book to Saldana, but the package was lost, and we have no idea who has it now. But I decided not to share any of this information to save my ass.

“My laptop, please, Gia. I’m finally inspired. I don’t want the ideas to flee away.”

“You changed your mind and hired Monarca. You’re sleeping in your room again. Katie Saldana publicly apologizes to you. And you’re ready to write another book. Something major happened last night. What is it?”

“Nothing. I thought about what you said and understood you were right. Thanks to you, I finally have a bodyguard, which means I’m cleared to write again.” I approach her, plastering the most genuine smile I can muster. “I don’t say it as often as I should, but I appreciate you, Gia. I appreciate that you’re still here, by my side, after the way I spoke to you yesterday. I’m sorry. I was out of line.”

“The unapologetic apologizes? It must be a heavy secret you’re trying to keep from me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ve been your assistant for five years, Birdie. I know all your deflection tactics. Something happened yesterday, and you don’t want to tell me about it.” Her gaze narrows at a point behind me. “Is that Blake’s gun on your dresser?”

I rush and put the gun and the magazine in the drawer. I was too tired to put them away before I took my nap. “I need to get dressed. Go do the things I asked, please.”

“Did you let Blake come home? If you did, why isn’t he here and why did he leave his gun with you?”

I stomp my way to the dressing room. “For God’s sake, Gia. I don’t need this headache right now.”

“Birdie, I’m your friend before I’m your assistant. Why aren’t you talking to me?”

My steps halt in place, and I spin to face her. “Friend?” I can’t help scoffing.

“Of course.”

I can’t believe the audacity of this woman. She’s been discrediting every word I’ve been saying about Blake, taking his side on every possible occasion, and she may be his spy. How can she call herself my friend? “Cases that involve a cop’s family member are often prioritized. When I, an ex-cop’s wife, talked to the police about the stalker, they said it was nothing but a publicity stunt. Blake could have talked to them, pulled some strings to make them investigate. Have you ever asked yourself why he didn’t?”

She purses her lips. “He must have an explanation. Blake cares about you and your safety more than anything else.”

“He cares about my safety as long as he’s the one protecting me. He didn’t ask the police for help, heck I bet he asked him not to help on purpose, because he sees Butterfly Man as an opportunity to control me again. He wants me to think I can’t be safe without him, and I still need him in my life. Even the police can’t help me without his permission. Can’t you see? It’s his way to have his power back over me.”

“Birdie, you’re exaggerating.”

“Exaggerating?” My voice quivers, the memories flooding back, unwanted and sharp. “Gia, do you remember the time when I was all black and blue last year?”

“Yes, when you fell down the stairs.”

I fold my arms across my chest and let out a bitter chuckle. “Well, I didn’t fall down the stairs .” The lie tastes like acid on my tongue, even now.

“What do you mean? When Blake called that day, he said you fell the night before and he rushed you into a hospital.”

I dig my fingers into my arms to steady the trembling. “He was covering his tracks, Gia. He beat the crap out of me that night, and then he left. He didn’t even bother to put me in a hospital.”

Her eyes widen. “What? Blake?”

The pains of that night shatter through my bones all over again, and I wrap my arms tighter around myself, as if I could hold the pieces together. “ I dragged myself to the hospital. They called the police to take my statement, but guess what? The police called Blake, and, instead of saving me, they helped him cover it up.”

She shakes her head in disbelief. “That’s impossible. Blake would never lay a hand on you. When I came to see you at the hospital, you said you fell. Why didn’t you tell the truth?”

Anger and resentment twist my chest. Hot tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. Can she be that oblivious? “Because he threatened me, Gia. He said if I ever told anyone he hit me, it wouldn’t be a hospital he’d put me in, it would be my grave.”

“I…I can’t… Blake…”

“If you don’t believe me, go ask the security team about what happened this morning when he came. Everything is on camera. You can watch when he lunged at me and four men had to hold him back and disarm him so he wouldn’t hurt me.”

She plops down on my bed, her face pale. “I can’t believe this. I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped. I could have been there for you.”

A cold emptiness settles in my chest as I look at her, seeing for the first time how alone I’ve truly been. “Because you’re not my friend, Gia.” My voice is barely above a whisper, heavy with pain and betrayal. “A friend wouldn’t believe me when I said I fell down the stairs.”

She lifts tear-filled eyes to me, her lips parting to speak, but I gesture that I don’t want to hear it, and then I march to the dressing room.

The bedroom door shuts with a faint click, and a shuddering sigh escapes my chest. I was harsh on Gia, but I just can’t take it anymore. How has this become my life? Parents who never loved me. A husband who treats me as his property to use and abuse however he wants. A friend who has turned a blind eye to his monstrosities because she secretly desires him. Why are the ones I love the most the reason I’m suffering? Why am I never worthy of their love? Why is the only kind of affection I’m getting is a twisted sickness from a psycho stalker with murderous tendencies?

I blow out a heated breath and wipe my face to stop the tears before they spill. Now isn’t the time for self-pity. To get rid of Blake and Butterfly Man, the monsters that have turned my life upside down, I must be strong—stronger than ever.

The fight won’t be easy, but I find solace in the fact that I’m no longer fighting alone. I have Tristan in my corner. With his help, Blake can’t scare me into staying with him, and Butterfly Man won’t come near me again.

But first things first, I have to deal with Katie Saldana.

I don a long-sleeved, black evening dress with a gold floral pattern embroidered on the fabric—powerful colors with elegant designs and maintain a feminine touch. Perfect for the meeting and whatever statement my publisher will demand I make even though they know I don’t do social media. I get my sunglasses ready.

As I look in the dresser mirror, I decide to let my hair down and accessorize with gold earrings, bracelet and lioness-shaped ring. Some concealer, blush and a touch of lipstick won’t hurt, either.

There’s a knock on the door as I head back to the dressing room to put on my heels. It must be Gia with my laptop. “Come in!”

Footsteps echo against mine. “Just put it on the bed, and once you make sure everybody has eaten, you can—” My words are cut off when my gaze collides with Tristan’s face. “Sorry, I thought you were Gia. What took you so long? I was worried.”

“My bike broke down. I had to take the bus to the ferry terminal on the way back. Long queues.” He stands there, holding my laptop, his stare wide and intense and sparkling. Then his lips part, and his chest heaves before he scowls and swears in Spanish. I may not speak the language, but as a former teacher to upper teens and college age students in Miami, I had to learn all the swear words.

I glance down at my outfit. “Is something wrong?”

“Why are you dressed like this?”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re on a mission to make my job so much harder.”

I squint at him in confusion, and then I chuckle. “What do you mean?”

He drags his gaze away from me and puts my laptop on the bed. “ Eres increíblemente hermosa. Quiero desgarrarle la garganta a cualquier hombre que te mire.”

“Tristan, I don’t speak Spanish. Out of respect, please—”

“It’s my way of saying you look breathtakingly gorgeous.” He shoves his hands in his pockets, and his stare returns to pin me in place.

Oh . Heat touches my cheeks. My pulse accelerates at his compliment. The way he looks at me ignites a spark inside me I haven’t felt in years—the thrill of being desired by a man—Tristan may be my bodyguard, former student and a few years my junior, but he’s still a man—other than Blake. A man whose compliments and admiring looks aren’t tinged with suspicion. Too many times, Blake’s sweet nothings have turned into cruel words and possessive behavior. And worse…

“I’m sorry if I’m making you uncomfortable. As your bodyguard, I understand I might have crossed certain lines. Won’t happen again.”

“It’s just a compliment, Tristan,” I murmur, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “There’s nothing wrong with that. Thank you for saying I’m gorgeous. I haven’t heard that in a while.”

Anger flashes across his face for a moment before it softens again. “Then, with your permission, it’d be my honor to tell you you’re gorgeous every day.”

I laugh under my breath, unable to deny how much I’d love for that to happen despite how inappropriate it might be. “Have you heard about Saldana?”

“It’s all over the internet, and your assistant filled me in the minute she saw me. That’s why I brought your laptop myself so we could talk without her listening.”

“My agent called. She and the publisher are going to take legal action. They’ll be arranging for a meeting, and they’ll ask me to make a statement.”

“I get it.” His eyes rove over my dress. “It’s why you’re dressed to slay.”

“Is it too much? Should I change?”

“No.” His refusal is firm, almost a growl. “Don’t you dare. Let your fans before your enemies see how powerful, elegant and gorgeous you are. Let them worship you. Let them fear you.”

A shiver runs through me at the undercurrent in his words. They’re so empowering yet so…dark. “But you said it was making your job harder.”

“Let me worry about that. You wear what you want. It’s my job to protect you under any circumstances. It’s a good thing I know how to fight.”

His confidence and protectiveness wrap around me like a fuzzy blanket. I can’t help the joy I’m feeling despite the situation with Saldana and Butterfly Man, despite the looming danger and the secrets we’re trying to hide. My eyes wander toward the door to make sure no one is out there, and I lower my voice. “The stalker must be the one who forced Saldana to confess. Do you think that is all he meant in the note?”

“I guess…I hope so. We still have to find a way to warn her.”

I figured he’d say that. “Even when we haven’t retrieved the book?”

He sighs, and I know he’ll change his mind. Tristan is smart. He understands the stakes of not having that book back, and he promised me my safety comes first. “How do you know I didn’t get it back?”

“Adriana told me she lost it. You were gone before I could tell you, but I left you a message. You didn’t get it? Is that why you still went all the way to Boston?” My heart races in anticipation. “Did you get the book?”

“I didn’t get the message in time, and I didn’t get the book, but it was a good thing that I met your lawyer because she told me who took it.”

Cold sweat trickles down the back of my neck. “Hold on a sec, someone took it?”

He nods and tells me what happened with Adriana. “It’s him. The stalker has the book.”

“Oh God. That means…”

“You were right about last night. He was following you.”

My heart dips. I’ve convinced myself it was only my imagination, but it was true. I can’t believe he’s come this close to me again. “He watched me in my own home. He knew exactly where I was going. He broke into my house and then followed me around all day.” Panic spreads under my skin. “If you hadn’t shown up, he could have taken me yesterday. He could have done anything to me, Tristan.”

“Hey, look at me. He will never come near you again, not as long as I’m here. I won’t allow it.”

Tristan is firm and reassuring, but I can’t shake the bitterness of violation or the fear of what is going to happen next. “I can’t talk to Saldana about him, not when he has the book. It’s leverage. We don’t know what he’s planning to do with it.”

“But there’s a big chance he’d kill—”

“You asked me to tell her she was in danger. Whatever the stalker did to her to make her go public with her confession means she already knows. There’s no need for me to implicate myself any further in this mess.”

He is about to argue again as the doorbell rings. “It must be the food delivery,” I say as I march out of the room. “Let’s eat, Tristan.”

When I reach the bottom of the stairs, Gia, as pale as a ghost, looks between me and her phone. My chest tightens. I can’t take any more bad news today. “What now?”

“You have to see this,” she whispers, giving me her phone with shaking fingers.