Exposure - Kelly Moran Page 0,57

feet before she halted and lifted a shaking hand to her mouth.

Her furniture was overturned, pictures smashed, drawers emptied. The floor wasn't even visible through all the clutter. They'd even broken her dishes in the kitchen. She trembled in anger, in fear, at the violation that left a thick, dirty coat over her skin.

Max set a reassuring hand on her shoulder from behind. "We should go. Let the cops handle it."

"Yes," she agreed, turning. She couldn't stand another minute in here, a place that had once been her refuge, where her and Noah had spent endless time together as friends. Tainted, all of it tainted.

Her gaze fell on the inside of the door. She froze, not believing her eyes.

Pinned to the door with one of her kitchen knives was a note, written with lewd scratches in black marker.

He's not who he seems.

Her gut turned to ice. This wasn't a random break in, nor someone just looking for drugs or quick cash. God. They'd been in her apartment.

The door crashed open. Max pushed her behind him with one arm, drawing a gun with his other. She fisted her hand in his jacket to keep from falling but, before her heart could start beating again, he relaxed and put his gun away.

"I almost shot you."

Noah, jaw tense, ignored Max and stepped around him. "Are you okay, baby?"

She nodded, sagging in relief, and went willingly into his arms. Would she ever stop shaking? "We got here after it happened."

He tightened his grasp, running his hands up and down her back as if to warm her. "What were you doing here in the first place?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but two young male officers strode in and eyed the mess.

"Before you do anything, you need to see this." Max kicked the door shut, revealing the note.

Noah tensed against her. He and Max shared a knowing look. "Out," he growled. "Get her out and somewhere safe."

"Hold up." The black officer raised his hand. "Start at the beginning." He took out a pad of paper. "Which one of you lives here?"

"She does," Noah said. "And that's about to change."

Raven didn't even have the strength to argue. Besides, she could never live here again. Not after??his.

The next hour dragged endlessly, scratching her nerves raw and trying her patience. She'd been through the same story eight times on when she'd last been to the apartment, who she thought the note referred to, was anything missing??/p>

Sending in the crime scene techs, the officers weren't hopeful on getting any prints or evidence. She didn't care. They knew exactly who was involved and had no choice but to keep silent. The FBI would deal with it, and catch Rizzoli's man. They had to.

All she could think the whole time was, what if she hadn't agreed to extend the time with Noah? When he'd stood right here in her living room and used the safeword, she'd been so nervous she'd almost said no. She could've been home when the guy who'd done this had come. It could be way more than just her apartment he'd trashed.

She shuddered. "Let's go home."

Chapter Fourteen

Noah checked his watch and pulled Raven closer to his side in the backseat. "We only have an hour until we need to be at the charity event."

He wanted to say fuck it and cart her back to Aubrey Castle until all this blew over, but too many people were depending on him. His company hosted this event every year. Proceeds went to a battered women and children's shelter. A twisted way for him to try and save Melissa and Aubrey, a decade too late.

"Do we have to go?"

"You don't, but I do." He kissed her temple and closed his eyes, imagining all the damn things that could've happened to her. "I'd really like you to come, though. It might take your mind off everything." He'd get a few glasses of champagne in her and take her home, where he'd fuck the memories from her head.

It was a good plan.

"I'll go, since it'll make you feel better."

She didn't like crowds and, after her day, the fact she'd do this for him stirred emotions to the surface. "Thank you," he whispered against her hair.

She didn't say much on the rest of the drive or in the elevator. As she stepped into their bedroom, he leaned against the doorway while she took in the items he'd laid out on the bed. The dress he had his assistant buy, but the other purchases were