“If we didn’t have people constantly patrolling the rooftops of the stores, he’d probably have perched himself on one of them and shot you while you were walking along the street,” mused Luke.
“He left his rifle behind, but nothing else.” Vinnie’s gaze slid to Bree. “A picture was removed from one of Mateo’s frames. A photo of the two of you at a party. Paxton tore off the half that featured Mateo and pressed the other half up against the window near his ‘sniper nest. The photo of you was facing this building. Like he wanted you to watch the bullets fly.”
“I wouldn’t bother trying to make sense of that,” James advised. “Paxton’s actions only ever really make sense to him.”
Vinnie’s cell began to ring. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered, “Yeah?” His jaw hardened. “I see … Will do.” He hung up and then looked at Alex. “That was Tate. I gave him my master key and asked him to go check your apartment while I came here to speak with you. Seems like someone tried to bust your lock. Either Paxton couldn’t get inside or fled because he heard someone coming.”
His beast froze. The bottom fell out of Alex’s stomach. He looked at Bree. “He came back for you.” Son of a bitch. Alex hadn’t thought the other male truly would do it.
She swallowed. “He’ll have hoped that, if nothing else, the shooting would make me feel unsafe here. He told me on the phone to go home.”
“Because he can keep an eye on you there,” Alex pointed out. “You’re not leaving.”
“No, I’m not,” she agreed easily.
After Vinnie and Luke left, Alex crossed to her and said, “We’ll stay here in my old bedroom tonight while the window’s replaced. Tomorrow …”
“Tomorrow, we’ll go back to your apartment,” she finished. “I’m good with that, Alex. He’s not going to make me feel unsafe with you. Maybe it would have worked if you had left me earlier, but you didn’t. I know Vinnie ordered you to stay inside, but that wouldn’t have been enough to keep you there. You stayed for me, and that meant a lot.”
Alex wasn’t so sure it would be so easy for her to go back to his apartment. She might feel differently after the shock had worn off. But he wouldn’t force her to stay there. They could use his old bedroom here until all this had blown over, if need be.
That night, she fell asleep pretty quickly—probably due to the adrenaline bleeding from her system. He kept her burrowed into his side. He needed to have her so close. Needed to have that reminder that she was there with him, not with Paxton.
Just the thought of her in that bastard’s hands threatened to make Alex break out into a cold sweat. His beast pressed up against her, protective and alert. No one would take their mate from them. No one. And God help anyone who even had the gall to try.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Alex watched his mate as she pottered around his kitchen the next day. He and his beast had kept a close eye on her since they returned to his apartment. She’d flicked the new windowpane the occasional glance, but she hadn’t acted any differently than usual. She wasn’t edgy or uncomfortable—he’d have felt it if she was, since he’d now began to pick up echoes of her emotions through their bond. Still, he couldn’t help worrying about her.
“You can stop watching me like I’m a ticking bomb,” she said, pouring popcorn into a bowl. “I’m not going to break.”
He frowned. “I never thought you would break. You’re one of the strongest people I know. But everyone has a tolerance threshold. And I know Paxton hit yours hard when he fired at the window yesterday.” He’d expected her to flinch at the reminder, but she didn’t.
Sighing, she turned to face him. “Alex, I’m not traumatized by what happened. I was upset last night, yes. Now? I’m just pissed. Pissed that he’s targeting you. Pissed that he’s trying to ruin the best thing in my life. Pissed that you were shot at yet again.
“But I don’t feel anxious here. The bullets that Paxton fired didn’t get through the window. The lock he tried to bust didn’t budge for him. You didn’t leave me like he expected. He’s already tainted my house with his bullshit. I won’t let him taint this place, too. So can you stop watching me constantly, because it’s rubbing on my cat’s nerves.”
“I just want you to feel safe. To have a safe place.”
“I do. You.”
His chest tightened. “Careful, baby girl. Saying things like that will get you bent over the arm of the sofa.”
“Later. We’re going to watch a movie first and eat this junk food—which was my plan for last night, before it got ruined.”