Need Me (Dark Obsession 3)

Gabe nodded. “Tear into every detail of her time at St. Helen’s Hospital. Rip into her life.”

The new life that she had. The life that had begun just months ago.

The order was cruel, but it had to be done. Before they could start connecting any dots that might exist between Eve Gray and Jessica Montgomery, they had to find out as much information as they could about Eve’s “recovery” at St. Helen’s.

Gabe had seen enough families with broken hearts. He wasn’t just going to call up the Montgomerys and tell them that their missing daughter had been found.

His team would investigate Eve. Tear into her life. Learn her every secret. If she checked out, then they’d move forward.

And for Eve, that would be the time when the real danger began.

I hope you’re ready for what’s coming. Because if she truly had escaped a killer once, she might not be willing to put herself in the target zone again.

But if she turned out to be Jessica Montgomery, there wouldn’t be much of a choice for her. The media would find out about her survival. The FBI would rush in.

And the Lady Killer would know that she was still alive.

***

Eve woke, her heart racing in her chest and sweat covering her body. She grabbed the thin blanket and clutched it tightly in her hand. On the cots beside her, the other women kept sleeping. Soft snores filled the air. Faint mutters as Sue Smith talked in her sleep. Sue always talked, asleep or awake. Those mutters should have reassured Eve. I’m not alone, others are here.

Eve’s gaze searched the darkness. She couldn’t remember her dream, never could. But that was just normal … since she couldn’t remember anything.

She rose from the cot, moving quickly. She always slept in her clothes. Sweatpants and a loose top. The men were down the hall, housed separately, but …

But they made her nervous. Most of them did, anyway. Just not Pauley.

She went to Pauley, because she knew that he’d be up, too. He never could sleep at night. He said the darkness reminded him too much of his time in battle.

She wasn’t sure where or when Pauley had battled or even if he’d actually been in a war, but Eve never questioned him. He didn’t question her story about having no past, so why should she question him?

Eve found him by the front door, in his usual guard position. He looked like a big dangerous shadow, but she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. Pauley was gentle on the inside, good, but …damaged. She knew that, too.

He spoke slowly. Moved slowly.

It didn’t matter. He was her friend.

“Someone’s watching, Ms. Eve.”

Pauley’s quiet voice had her smiling at first, but then, as his words registered, her smile froze. “Wh-what do you mean?”

“I can feel the eyes. Just like I felt ’em in battle. The enemy’s out there. He’s watching.”

She looked out of the window. Saw only streetlights. Darkness. “The doors are locked, right?” And they did have a security guard at the shelter. Except James spent most of his time sleeping. Pauley was a much better guard.

“Locked. Checked ’em all.” Pauley rocked forward onto the balls of his feet. “Four times.”

Her smile spread again. “Then I’m sure we’re safe. Especially with you on duty.” She said the words easily, but a chill still seemed to be icing her skin.

“Not safe. Watching.” He put his hands against the door and leaned forward. “I should go patrol.”

He was going to open the door. Go outside. “No!” The sharp order broke from her, and Eve wasn’t sure why. She grabbed Pauley’s big hand in hers and held tight. “Stand guard in here, with me.”

He gave a hard shake of his bald head. “Need to patrol. Patrol.”

But the darkness was scaring her. Watching. What if Pauley had seen someone out there?

Her left hand rose to her throat. Brushed lightly over the raised scar. A scream echoed in her mind. “Stay in here with me,” Eve whispered.

Pauley glanced down at her, frowning.

She could confess to him, as she couldn’t to anyone else. “I’m scared, Pauley,” she said. Scared because she’d just taken a very dangerous step with her life. Eve Gray had no past. So she had no enemies. Nothing to fear.

But Jessica Montgomery? That woman had been a victim. She’d been hurt. Attacked. Left for dead?

The authorities were sure that Jessica Montgomery had been abducted by the Lady Killer, a sadistic serial killer who was still on the loose. Still hunting.

Still looking for Jessica?

She knew her hand held too tightly to Pauley’s arm. “Stay inside,” she said again. It was too dark outside. And, like a child, she was very much afraid that …

Monsters waited in the dark.

***