To the Ends of the Earth (Stripped 5)

The morning of the fight, I wake up to find the hotel suite empty. There’s a note by the coffeemaker. Went in early for strategy session. Allie will pick you up before the fight.

The fight doesn’t start until tonight. Why didn’t he bring me with him? Why didn’t he wake me up if he needed to leave early? I remember what he told me— This close to a fight, I need to focus. And I’m a distraction.

At least I can call Delilah during the day.

I find her finger painting with Candy, her face smeared with pink war paint. “Mama!”

“Hey, sweetie,” I tell her, my heart feeling full. I’ll get to her soon. And we’ll be free of the threat, free from my past. And then what? Where will we go next? “What are you painting?”

“Wainbow,” she says, holding up a picture with colorful streaks.

“That’s beautiful. And just what I needed to see today.”

“Mama!” Her voice is demanding, and I hear the questions in it. Why aren’t you here? When are you coming back?

“I miss you so much, baby,” I tell her with a sigh. “This will be over soon.”

At least I hope so.

Luca has told me a little of the plan.

Colin has a network of other fighters and ex-military guys stationed at the ticket entrance. Of course they’ve never seen him. Even Luca’s never met him. So I worked with someone who contracts with the police force to create a sketch.

With any luck they’ll apprehend him when he enters the stadium.

I’m a little nervous with the knowledge that I’ll be close to him soon. Even if he doesn’t make it inside, we’ll be in the same city. In the same building. We might have already been, if he’s stalked me here. I’ve been well insulated in the hotel suite and the gym—both heavily guarded places. And I’ve always had Luca at my side. Except now.

My breath catches. It would be the perfect time to approach me.

I gaze out the large windows overlooking the city. The buildings seem to go on for miles, highways running through them like arteries through muscle. Is he out there?

Or is he even closer?

The skin prickles on the back of my neck. With uncanny certainty I can feel him closing in. Maybe that’s just paranoia. Or maybe Luca understands the darker shadows of the mind enough to predict this.

On jelly legs I cross the plush carpeting to look out the peephole.

And let out a startled squeak at the distorted view of a man on the other side. Not my brother. Wearing a suit, from what I can see.

“Ma’am?” he says through the door. “Are you okay?”

My heart thuds with lingering adrenaline. “Yes. Um…who are you?”

“West Hightower, ma’am. Sorry to startle you. If you give Luca a call, he can verify my identity.”

Too late I remember that the elevator required a key card to open on this floor. I flip open the lock. “No, I’m sure you’re—”

“Ma’am, I’d really prefer that you call Luca.”

I blink, startled at his insistence. So I find my phone and call Luca, who confirms that he did send West Hightower, a private security consultant with Blue Security, to protect me while he’s training. When we hang up, he sends me a picture of the man outside, not smiling, wearing a suit.

With a small laugh I open the door. “Wow, these are some serious security measures.”

West doesn’t smile. “We want to keep you safe, ma’am.”

“Of course.” My stomach falls, the ground rising up to meet me. “So I’m stuck here?”

“No, ma’am. We can go anywhere you need to. There’s a car downstairs.”