Hate was dangerous. So was fury and fear. He’d have to watch her carefully. But what else is new there? He seemed to watch her all the time.
And Rachel didn’t know. She had no idea that she’d become his obsession.
“I won’t worry.” Lie. When she shifted away from him, Dylan put his hand on her back and steered her toward the hotel’s main desk. “We work this one together.”
“Just like always,” she murmured. But Rachel was tense beneath his touch. Far too tense.
The hotel manager stared at Dylan with nervous eyes. Dylan flashed him an ID. An official-looking piece that labeled him an FBI agent. The ID was just part of a cover provided by the EOD, but the manager would never know that. “I’m going to need access to ev
ery bit of security footage that you’ve got at this hotel.” The EOD would be confiscating that footage. Then their techs would review it, moment by moment, as they looked for the killer.
A killer who seemed to be back, hunting once again in the U.S.
* * *
HIS RACHEL WAS still as beautiful as ever.
Her hair was a little longer. She used to wear it just to her chin, but now it skimmed her shoulders. It was still as dark, still looked as silky.
She was a bit thinner, and there was a new delicacy to her that hadn’t been there before. Probably because of the recent attack she’d suffered.
He’d heard that Rachel had been in the hospital. A knife attack. Some crazed fool had attacked Rachel in her own apartment.
He’d been furious at the news. No one else was supposed to kill Rachel.
She was his.
The man with the dark hair stood too close to her. He touched her too much. Even then, his fingers were on her back.
Dylan Foxx. He knew the man’s name, and he also knew that Foxx was an EOD Agent.
Foxx had ex-military stamped all over him. It wasn’t the too-short hair or the go-to-hell glint that he’d caught in the man’s eyes. It was obvious in the battle-ready way he walked. In the gaze that kept sweeping across the room. The guy was looking for threats.
I’m right here, but you don’t see me.
Probably because he’d borrowed a cop’s uniform. The uniform gave him the up-close access that he needed to the hotel. He’d wanted to see who would be called in for this kill. He’d hoped Rachel would get the case.
She had. Now, finally, things could get interesting again.
He followed two other uniforms out of the hotel. He kept his head down as he walked. Not that he expected anyone to recognize him. Not with the changes he’d been through.
Rachel might look the same. Just a few slight differences.
He’d altered completely.
And that was why she would never see him coming. Not until it was far too late.
I’ve kept my promise, Rachel. I’ve come back for you.
* * *
“IS IT HIM?” Bruce Mercer demanded as his hands flattened on his desk.
Dylan hesitated before answering the boss.
“Don’t try to sugarcoat this mess,” Mercer snapped at him. “Tell me straight...is he back?”
“It’s too early to tell for certain. It could be Jack, or it could be a copycat.” He knew Rachel hoped they were dealing with a copycat, anyway.