“You said something about a profiler?” she questioned.
“We have a profiler who works with us,” Eli explained. “She’s studied all of the cases we believe are related to him. Do you know you’re the only one who got away?”
“H-how m-many didn’t get away?”
Duncan held her tighter, hating the shudders of fear that ran through her. Damn it, like she hadn’t been through enough. She didn’t need this on top of everything else.
He sent a glare towards his brothers. Eli winced a little but Kellan just stared back at him calmly.
“Seven that we know of. However, it could be more. This guy is smart and probably wealthy.”
“Laken,” Eli sat forward, a soft look on his face. “When you lived in New York, did you ever receive any unexpected gifts?”
She scrunched up her face. “I don’t think so. I mean, well…” her voice trailed off.
“What is it?” Kellan asked.
“Every birthday I received a bunch of my favorite flowers and chocolates, but I always just thought they were from…” she trailed off as she glanced up at him.
Pain clawed at him. She thought he’d been sending her gifts.
“Oh God, I feel ill.”
“Sugar, look at me,” he urged. “Look at me.” This time he made it an order. She glanced up at him. “I am going to keep you safe. I promise.”
“But what about you? Could you be in danger because we’re dating? He could hurt you.”
“Christ, baby, don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. I’d love it if this guy came for me,” he said with a dark look.
“Laken, there is something else you need to know.” Eli glanced up at Duncan, then lowered his gaze to hers. “There is a strong possibility that this is someone you know. Someone who could be close to you.”
Laken just stared at him. “Y-you’re kidding, right?”
Duncan held her closer. This had to be killing her. He wished he knew what to do to help her, all he could do was hold her.
She shook her head. “I can’t believe it.”
“What about your ex? That was him here earlier, wasn’t it? Has he been hassling you?”
“What?” Duncan growled. “Ricky was here?”
“Ricky?” she asked incredulously. “You’re suspicious of Ricky? Christ, if he was twice as smart he’d still be thick as a brick. This isn’t Ricky. Besides, he’s the wrong build. He’s too slender.”
“Would you recognize your attacker?” Kellan asked.
She shook her head. “I never saw his face.”
“What about his voice?”
“I don’t know. It was kind of garbled, like he was disguising it.”
Eli nodded. “Honey, if you can’t do this, we understand. We can hide you away, protect you.”
“How will you find him then?” she asked.
Eli and Kellan looked at each other.
“You’ll wait for him to kill someone else,” she whispered. “Won’t you? If I’m too scared to do this then he will kill again and again.”