Adrik and Timofey had phones. What if he’d tracked one of their phones? Had they considered that?
I eyed the message again, my anger rising. How dare he try to scare me like this? Who the hell did he think he was? He was either a very foolish man, a very brazen one, or he was completely deranged.
I glared at the text. Was I ready to play with the big bad wolf? Hell, yeah. I was Annika Popov. I wasn’t going to hide and cower in fear from this guy.Fuck him.
Bring it on, asshole.
As if he’d heard my thoughts, my phone chimed with a new text message.
My heart thudding, I slowly lifted it and read the new message.
Think you’re safe behind that fence, piggy? I’m closer than you think. I’m so close I can smell you. So close I can touch you. So close I can taste your bloooood.
I gasped, dropping my phone. It hit the carpeted floor with a quiet thump.
Blowing out a breath, I leaned down to scoop the phone up, my fingers closing over it just as it flashed at me.
What the–? I reared back in shock, dropping it again, my mouth falling open. Had my phone just taken my picture? How?
I stared at the phone on the floor.
He’s in your phone, Annika. He hacked into it somehow. He’s spying on you.
My pulse pounded in my ears.No way.Was that even possible?
I cautiously retrieved the phone, swiping the screen. The camera app was open. I must have bumped it accidentally when I dropped it and accidentally tapped the button when I picked it up.
Jeez, I was losing it.
Blowing out a breath, I read his last message again.
Think you’re safe behind that fence, piggy? I’m closer than you think. I’m so close I can smell you. So close I can touch you. So close I can taste your bloooood.
A chill crept down my spine. Wherewashe? He couldn’t possibly be inside the property. There was no way he could get in.
Or was there?
Uneasiness crept in. What if hewasinside? What if he’d figured a way in? What if he was somewhere close by right now? What if he killed Adrik and Timofey and came for me?
My breaths came in quick pants.
A sound from out in the hallway sent my hair standing on end.
I might need a weapon if something happened to Adrik and Timofey.
Remembering the tiny handgun in my wheelchair, I slipped my hand into the pouch, my fingers closing over the gun.
If that wasn’t Adrik or Timofey behind me, then I had to be prepared to fight.
Bracing myself, I yanked the gun free, and spun my chair toward the door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Annika
Adrik stood in the hallway, frowning down at me. “Annika? You okay? You look like you saw a ghost.”
I puffed out a breath, relief coursing through me, and returned the gun to its hiding place.