Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
He hands me the key and I make quick work of opening the drawer. Inside, I find a stack of letters, written on brittle paper from another time period.
E,
You are everything to me.
A
Oh my God.
“I knew it,” I shriek, turning to show Two the top letter. “They were lovers!”
He studies the letter, eyes widening. “This was their…”
“Love nest.”
Finding this hidden room where the two men kept their biggest secret feels surreal. My heart aches at the thought of them hiding their love from everyone around them.
“We can’t put this in our project,” Two mutters under his breath.
“Why not?”
“Some secrets are meant to stay hidden.”
Though I disagree, I don’t argue. I like the idea of just the two of us knowing it exists. Maybe Paula and Gregory do too, but they never mentioned it before.
We continue to inspect the small space until footsteps can be heard approaching.
“Dinner’s ready! Where’d you two go?” Paula calls out from close by. “Attic?”
My eyes meet Two’s and he covers his lips with a finger, signaling me to be quiet. I give him a nod and remain still as we wait.
As soon as she’s been gone for a few moments, we scramble to find our way out of the room. It’s as simple as pushing on the right side and the bookshelf unhooks from its latch in the middle, swinging like one of those rotating doors you see at the airport. Once we’re back in Alexander’s room with the shelf pushed into place, we share a knowing grin.
We just made an awesome discovery.
Together.
It’s late by the time Paula kicks us out. Neither me nor Two is eager to leave after what we found earlier, but it’s not like we have a choice. Once outside in the chilly night air, Two takes my hand in his, squeezing it.
This whirlwind between us keeps growing in intensity. It makes me wonder if this is how Willa felt when she started seeing Callum. Or if Dempsey felt consumed by Sloane like I do Two.
My thoughts are on Two’s ravenous kisses making the cold much more bearable. But also, because of it, I completely forgot about my stalker.
Until now.
A bone-chilling shudder ripples through me when I see a yellow flower quivering in the wind, barely pinned by my wiper blade. Beneath it, sits a small, torn off piece of paper with a note for me written in neat, black scrawl. Two snatches it up and holds it where we can both read it.
I hope it’s not too late. From what I’ve gathered, you’re still very much an innocent. However, with each second that passes, you’re getting closer to losing that precious innocence because of that boy. I wasn’t ready to have you as my beloved guest yet, but perhaps I need to move up my timeline.
Whoever wrote this must be privy to me and Two’s budding romance. Are they watching our every move? Is it someone I know or a complete stranger?
It’s not until Two gathers me in a fierce hug that I realize I’m trembling. He murmurs sweet assurances against my hair as he rubs my back. I melt in his embrace, thankful to have him on my side.
“We’re going to find out who this fucker is,” Two tells me vehemently. “He’s not taking you anywhere. Ever.”
I wasn’t ready to have you as my beloved guest yet, but perhaps I need to move up my timeline.
Bile creeps up my throat. This person is unhinged. Do they mean they’re preparing a place for me? Some hidden room like the one behind Alexander’s office for them to have me whenever they want?
“I’m scared,” I admit, blinking back tears.
“Me too, Golden. Me too.”
I’ve been on edge all week. Aside from the threatening note my stalker left on my car Monday night, it’s been crickets ever since. Two, true to his word, has stuck by my side whenever I’m not at home. I’ve been tempted to let my guard down a few times, but then the thought of being someone’s prisoner always finds a way to creep its way back into my head. Even my job is suffering as I’ve been apprehensive about freely putting myself out there for the world to see—for my stalker to see.
“What the hell, Gem!”
Dempsey bursts into my bedroom, huffing with fury. I shrink into my covers, my heart clawing its way up my throat with the jump scare he just gave me.
“I was almost asleep,” I bite out, squinting against the lamplight when he turns it on. “Why are you here? It’s late.”
Two went out with Dax this evening, so I was left to be bored out of my skull all night, hence my going to bed early.
“I’m here,” he grits out as he sits on the edge of my bed, “because Sloane told me you have a goddamn stalker.”