A light gasp left Anika, and when her body pressed into mine, she gripped my hand hard enough to capture my attention. I glanced back, behind her, to find another two skeletal goons blocking us in from whence we came.
We were good and trapped.
Nice.
“Nas,” Anika whispered, sneaking a fearful peek at the man behind the counter. When her frightened eyes met my own, she held them a moment. Her fingers tightened around mine. All that she managed to do was shake her head subtly and mouth, “Bad.”
Yeah. No shit, babe. I kind of gathered.
My stomach knotted in dread, but as I shifted my focus on the man in the suit, I watched in wide-eyed curiosity as he opened cabinets and drawers before taking the loaf of bread out of my fridge and tossing it onto the counter.
And then, he spoke.
“This complicates things,” he uttered in a deep timbre as he retrieved the peanut butter and jelly, placing them onto the counter beside the bread. “I hoped you’d be alone.”
He had yet to turn. All I managed to see of him was his back. From this angle, I could make out a few things. He was tall and dark-haired. He had a small silver hoop in one ear. He was muscular. And his confidence was frightening.
“Who are you?”
My question went unanswered.
The man went about his business, taking out some bread and a butter knife, then began to spread one slice with peanut butter. His bored, “Not enough of a complication that I’d abandon my task,” had my brow creasing. He spread the other with strawberry jelly and slapped the two pieces together to…
My brow pulled down.
…make a sandwich.
How peculiar.
He straightened to full height and spoke as though he was talking to himself. “No need to worry. A mild hiccup.”
And then, finally, he turned.
I was momentarily dumbfounded. I hadn’t expected him to be so—the word stuck in my throat and my mind just the same—striking.
He was all arrogance, wide-set shoulders, sharp angles, and full lips.
A pair of dark eyes met mine, dark in color and dark in character, and he smiled slow, predatory, revealing straight white teeth. I couldn’t help but notice his pointed canines. “Honey. You’re home.”
This man… I didn’t know who he was, but I knew enough. Another glance at the goons told me he held a position of authority. And he was here, in my home.
Why?
It didn’t happen often, but I was stunned speechless. I couldn’t speak. No words formed. None that I could say out loud anyway. I did think one though.
Fuck.
He checked his thick, masculine wristwatch. “It’s not polite of you to keep me waiting. I’m a very busy man.” He took a bite of his sandwich and chewed deliberately. I peered out of the window toward the direction of Sasha’s house. If I called out, it wasn’t likely anyone would hear me. Not to mention, I’d probably have my ass beat. My options were limited. And the man spoke impassively, “Give me a little credit, Nastasia. I’m not a complete simpleton. Your brothers aren’t here. You can screech your little heart out, but I should warn you.” A forbidding smile graced his lips as his gaze swept my body. “I like it when they scream.”
My gut clenched in apprehension.
He knew my name.
Of course he did. Because why not?
There was a man in my house, and he was looking at me in a way that had the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. Men like this were a standing fixture in my life. I knew them, knew what they stood for. The rapacious gleam in his eyes screamed menace. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out he was dangerous.
I needed to have a care here. Figure out what he wanted and do what I could to appease him. My late nights watching true crime had taught me that being taken to a secondary location would likely mean the only way I’d be coming home was in a body bag.
In an unconscious move, my hand went to my belly.
This whole scene was unfavorable. I watched him bite into his sandwich. He hadn’t taken his eyes off me ’til now. Surprise took hold when his hard gaze landed on Anika, and I shit you not, it softened some. His tone gentled, and he asked, “How you doing, princess?”
Anika’s eyes shot to mine, then back to him, and my chest ached at the familiarity between them.
Her low and emotionless “Roam” was all she responded with.
My brow lowered.
Excuse me?
Numbness seeped into my pores, oozing through me until I felt nothing at all.
They knew each other.
How did they know each other?
“Why are you here?” I asked in a remarkable calm I did not feel. Right now, with the way he was looking at my friend, the need to garner his attention took precedence. Anything to have him stop looking at her like he was hungry and she was the only thing he wanted to eat. “Can I help you with something?”