“You won’t know until the time comes.” But maybe she’s right. Maybe if all my kills were righteous, I wouldn’t have to retire.
Chapter Eighteen
Quinn
“Act natural,” I tell Daman. He glances down at me. It’s clear that I’m the one not acting natural. I’m going to guess my stiff posture and the fact that I’m whisper yelling at Daman are what’s giving me away.
“Relax,” he says, leaning down and kissing me below my ear. “We’re just an engaged couple shopping for groceries.”
“I don’t have a ring.” I look down at my hand.
“Gloves.” He answers at the same time I remember that I have them on. Why did he have to say engaged? And not just that we are a couple. This is so not the time, Quinn, I tell myself. I’m on a case. A very important one. I can analyze what Daman said about us later.
I want to know what this man is up to. Could he be out stalking other women, too? What if he comes here because he’s checking on one of the “women” he’s into? Do these kinds of people get infatuated with multiple subjects at a time or do they focus on one? There are so many things I don’t really know. It strikes me odd that he didn’t pay any attention to any of Trin’s stuff when he was in our place. He was hyper focused on my things for some reason.
We keep our distance from him but are close enough to see what he’s doing. Daman grabs a basket and starts randomly putting things inside. “Don’t stare,” he says as he kisses the top of my head, spinning me around. I think the move was on purpose, Chris having looked this way.
“We should go.”
“Why? What’s happening?” I try and turn around, but Daman doesn’t let me.
“You’re very noticeable.”
I roll my eyes at him. He always thinks everyone is checking me out. It’s adorable how pretty he thinks I am but everyone is not looking at me.
“I got this.” I pull from his hold but I don’t let his hand go. I look around, not seeing Chris anywhere. “We lost him!” I half shout. I throw my hand over my mouth. Okay, I’m really terrible at this. “Sorry.” I throw both my hands up, stepping back. I graze the side of a book display at the end of the aisle.
Daman pulls me back so that I don’t fall into it but it’s too late. I watch in horror as the entire thing falls to the ground in what seems like slow motion. I don’t even try to stop it because there’s no use. Books tumble everywhere. This is a grocery store. Why the hell is this display here anyway? I’ve been sabotaged by the very thing I love.
Everyone around turns to look at us. Chris comes around the corner, his eyes locking right onto mine. My stomach drops as I stare into his dark green eyes. What I see there sends chills through my body.
“Quinn?” He says my name, taking a step toward me. I can’t see Daman but he must give Chris some kind of look over my head because he takes a step back. Anger flashes through his eyes for a brief second before he focuses back on me.
“Hi,” I say because I have to say something. He said my name. Plus I’m supposed to act natural. “I’m such a clutz.” I try and laugh it off, but it comes out forced. Chris leans down, picking up the metal rack that held the books.
“Don’t worry. We got this.” A store employee rushes over.
“You should put this at the end of the aisle. She could have been hurt,” Daman says.
“Yeah, I keep telling them to move it.” The woman’s eyes meet mine. She waves her hand at me. “You’re not the first to knock it over. Maybe this time they’ll listen to me. Don’t worry about it.” I think she thinks I’m embarrassed. Normally I would be but right now I’m more worried about the creep standing in front of me and being caught. I shouldn’t feel fear with Daman here but after what Chris had done in those videos it’s hard not to. Even though I know that Daman would kill him without hesitation. Is that what I really want?
“Are you ready, babe?” Daman lifts our basket, giving it a small shake. “Or did we forget something from off your list?”
“We’re good.”
Chris stands there watching our interaction. He doesn’t try to introduce himself to Daman or say anything else to me. He only watches.
“Guess I’ll see you around.” Wait, did that sound too inviting or friendly? Shit. I really am terrible at this.
“See you soon, Quinn,” he whispers as we walk away. This was too real, being this close to him. Looking him in his eyes having been thinking about killing him for the past few hours. Was I really thinking about that?