triggering the alarm? Had he somehow managed to trigger the alarm after he’d entered? If so, how long had he been in the fucking apartment? Christ. Jackson had been so distracted, he’d let this fucking psycho get close enough to hurt them. Dammit.
“Jackson!” Day shouted from upstairs.
Jackson glanced up to see Day holding Kevin in an awkward grip, the fat cat spilling over Day’s arms. Jackson sighed with relief, meeting Day at the top of the stairs. He took the gym shorts Day held, slipping them on before taking Kevin from Day to look him over. He was unharmed. Not only was he unharmed, but his collar was still in place. Jackson glanced down to the collar on the counter. It was the same color, the same name tag. Everything identical. He placed Kevin on the floor, heading to his room. He snatched his phone and dialed Linc.
“Hey, brother. What’s up?” Linc said, voice gruff from sleep.
Jackson dropped onto the edge of the bed, digging the heel of his hand into his eye. “I think this fucker may have finally made a mistake. I think he can see us.”
At Day’s sudden intake of breath, Jackson pulled him close. Day dropped onto Jackson’s knee, and he wrapped an arm around him, grateful to have him close.
There was the rustling of covers and Wyatt’s sleepy voice asking, “What now?”
“Go back to sleep,” Linc muttered before a door closed. “You think he’s got eyes on you in your own apartment?” Linc asked, fully alert. “How?”
“I don’t know, but I want a team in here ASAP to sweep for cameras or any kind of remote access devices. I have Webster pulling footage from the security feed, but this fucker probably wouldn’t be stupid enough to show his face. Maybe, if we can figure out how he’s watching us, we can trace it back somehow? I also want to know where this guy showed up the first time. What site? Once we’ve got a company name, I want a meeting with their IT people, like yesterday.”
“Yeah, I’m on it.”
Jackson disconnected without saying goodbye. He tossed the phone on the bed and wrapped both arms around Day who said, “Do you really think he’s finally made a mistake?”
Jackson kissed Day’s shoulder. “I don’t know for sure, but I hope so.”
“Do you really think he’s watching us? Even now?” Day asked, looking around with a shudder.
“Either that or he’s found a way to Houdini himself in and out of my apartment. I’m not sure which idea I like less.”
“Me either,” Day mumbled. “I’m really sorry about all this.”
Jackson gripped Day’s chin gently, forcing his head upwards. “Hey, none of this is your fault. Keeping you safe is my job.”
“I’m not even paying you,” Day reminded him.
Jackson caught Day’s lips in a fierce kiss. “It’s not my job because you’re paying me. It’s my job because you’re mine, and I protect what’s mine.”
Day dropped his head to Jackson’s shoulder. “Did you think he hurt Kevin?”
Jackson smiled, not because of Kevin, but because, for the first time, Day hadn’t argued that he and Jackson were a thing. “Yeah, I thought it was possible. But he’s fine. You’re both fine, and you’ll both stay that way.”
“Charlie and Wyatt think I know him,” Day said after a few minutes.
“Why do they think that?”
Day looked at Jackson, his pool blue eyes wary, like he was almost too exhausted to be afraid. “Because he never speaks or shows his face. Do you think it’s true? That it’s somebody I’ve met? Charlie said it could be anybody I’ve ever talked to, even in casual conversation.”
“Is there anybody you talk to on a regular basis who knows about you camming?” Jackson asked.
Day shook his head. “No. It’s not something I talk about to people. Not that I even talk to people. I don’t have friends. I don’t even have casual acquaintances anymore. Not since Sarah died. Like, the only people I ever talk to are bill collectors, my cable provider, my new gross landlord, and the guy who works in the payroll department for my camming site,” Day said, sounding annoyed. “They screw up my pay constantly. He says there’s some kind of glitch with my account. Every time we think it’s fixed, it happens all over again.”
Jackson looked at Day, frowning. “It’s always the same guy you talk to?”
“Yeah, his name is Oscar. He’s always making really bad jokes.”
Jackson reached for his phone. “Do you know Oscar’s last name?”
“No, we’re not exactly BFFs or