She took a calming breath as she walked close to the corner of the park. She couldn’t see anyone around. But she knew the guys were out there somewhere, watching. They’d made certain of the route she would walk before they’d all headed out to hide. Their one hope was that this guy didn’t know how many people she had with her.
She prayed this guy didn’t spot any of her guys. The message had told her to come alone or that Bain would die.
She swallowed. She couldn’t live without Bain. He was everything. If anything happened to him, she didn’t know what she would do.
She came to a stop a few feet away from the west corner gates. Where was this guy? She glanced around. Nerves tightened her stomach. Shit. Shit.
“Hello, songbird.”
She nearly gasped at the words, jumping into the air and glancing around frantically for the source of that voice.
Songbird? That’s what her stalker called her.
“Hello? Who’s there?” she called out loudly when she didn’t see anyone straight away. She didn’t know how far away the guys were. This corner of the park was quiet. It wouldn’t take much for someone to grab her and wrestle her into a car.
Someone stepped out of the shadows of a tree and she frowned. He was pale. Tall and kind of thin. His dark hair was shaggy, as though it hadn’t been cut in a while. But it wasn’t stylishly done like Aric’s was.
There was something oddly familiar about him, but she couldn’t place it. Had she seen him before?
“Hello, Arianna. Miss me?”
“Miss you?” she asked cautiously. Last thing she wanted was to set him off. That had been Caleb’s advice. Don’t get close to him. Keep calm. Don’t rile him.
He stepped forward, closer to her and she resisted the urge to step back.
“Of course, don’t you remember me, darling? I heard your message to me. I’m so sorry that I didn’t realize you’d been trapped all these years, songbird. It was your awful family. They’ve always held your prisoner. Treated you like you were less. Especially when you retreated into yourself. When you stopped talking. I know why you did that, though, don’t I, songbird? It was to protect me.”
What the fuck was he talking about? To protect him? Did she know him from her childhood? She tried to think back. Then she studied him again. The dark hair fit. And he was probably about the right age.
“Jerome?” she whispered.
He smiled wide. “You remember me. I knew you would. I’m here for you, songbird. To set you free.”
“You sent me those letters? You’re my stalker?” She glanced down at his hands, spotting what looked to be the same tattoo as the man they’d caught on camera delivering the last letter.
He frowned. Shit, Ari. Don’t make him mad.
“I’m no stalker. I made those letters to get your attention. I was going to be your hero, your protector. But you hired those stupid bodyguards. I’m glad to see you came without the other one. I couldn’t let you leave me, songbird. We belong together.”
“Is Bain all right?” she asked worriedly.
Jerome’s eyes narrowed, anger filling his face. “Why do you care about him? I’m your soulmate!”
“Of course you are,” she soothed, remembering Caleb’s words about not angering him. “I just don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“You always had a soft heart. That’s why you need me to protect you. You always have since you were four. We were only together a short time, but I took care of you. Until my slut of a mother got fired and we were forced apart.”
She licked her lips. “You said I went silent to protect you?”
Did he know why she stopped talking? What her nightmares were about? The sleepwalking? Was he the reason for all of that?
“Yes, songbird. You never told anyone. I knew you wouldn’t. Because you were loyal to me. Don’t you remember?”
“Of course. But I guess I never fully understood it all.”
“You were young. You must have followed me out of the house one evening. I didn’t see you. But I know you just wanted to be with me, so I’m not angry.”
Okay. She guessed that was good.