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Me: No. You’re seeing me.

Blush: Purrfect.

Blush: Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

Blush: Sweet dreams.

Me: You too.

I put my phone on the nightstand, wondering about that interaction. If it wasn’t Blush following me, then who was it?

CHAPTER 19

Blush

What the fuck am I doing?

If Whisper catches me, how will I explain what I’m out here doing at three in the morning trailing him through the streets of Mistone?

We end up in a swanky suburb, even nicer than Crestvale but geared more towards working professionals rather than affluent families. He navigates to a high-rise building I remember hearing about on the news when it officially opened. The units started at three-quarters of a million and went up from there. It’s called Waterview, which is hilarious because there’s nothing but a man-made canal behind it.

Whisper parks outside the complex lot but remains in his van. I pull over several cars back, tucked behind an SUV. I have to strain to see him, but it’s better than being caught.

After several minutes, Whisper exits the van. He’s wearing all black again, including a hoodie, and my body heats with the familiarity of the outfit. That’s what I wear when I’m hunting.

But there’s no way, is there? If he kills for sport, his MO is all over the place. Three nights ago he was in one of the shittier parts of town, now he’s here.

He slips out of view behind a building, and I know I should leave, but I don’t. The curiosity is just too much, so I pull on my own hoodie and quietly exit the car, creeping in the direction he disappeared.

I search the darkness, but other than normal night sounds of insects and animals, it’s silent. He’s gone.

I startle when a man comes around the corner with a dog. He’s wearing a bathrobe and shorts and looks pretty pissed off to be walking the small animal. He nods at me and I nod too, hurrying off. If he thinks it’s odd that I’m wearing a hoodie in summer, he doesn’t act like it.

Deciding I better head back to my car and just get out of here, I turn and dart back the way I came. I make it to my car, and I’m just about to hop in when an arm slides around my neck, pulling me back.

“Why are you following me?” Whisper, asks.

Fuck. I’m busted.

Raising my arms slowly, I exhale so my voice isn’t as shaky as it feels. “It’s me. Blush.”

He releases his grip. “Jesus.”

I turn to face him. “I’m sorry.”

“Why the fuck are you following me?”

“I don’t know. I was curious, I guess.”

“About what?”

Shoving my hood off my head, I reluctantly admit, “You.”

“You know me, Blush.”

“Do I?” He looks so angry right now. I blew it. Like I always do. “I’ll just go now. I’m sure you never want to see me again.”

“What?” He pulls his head back. “Let’s not jump to conclusions.”