Up in Smoke - Tessa Bailey Page 0,101

cheek, inordinately happy to hear his mother refer to Erin as theirs. “Late as usual, but you made it.”

“So.” She ignored his teasing and patted her neon-yellow head scarf. “Where’s the guest of honor?”

“In the bathroom. She’ll be right out.”

Erin stared at the wooden door of the bathroom stall, reading the various scrawlings that had been done with everything from Sharpies to knives. Megan loves Paul. Paul is a dick. Dick is a dick. She stood and used the toe of her boot to flush the toilet, felt the switchblade shift at her ankle. Experiencing the familiar urge to leave her mark, she embraced it, removing the blade and flipping it open. She thought for a moment, then carved the words, “Be the fire and you won’t get burned.”

The bathroom door opened and closed, bringing her back to the present. How long had it taken her to carve the words? Connor had probably sent Polly in to check on her. She shook her head even as it gave her a thrill of pleasure. Being cared for. Caring for someone else. She hoped she never took it for granted.

With one final glance at her handiwork, she shoved the blade back into her boot and pushed open the door. “Peeing is kind of a one-woman jo—”

Terror took root in her veins. Just inside the bathroom door stood her stepfather. He still had an abrasion on the side of his head where she’d clocked him with the skillet, but that wasn’t what chilled her most. It was the intention on his face. She was used to his disdain, but this was different. He was here to kill her.

She dropped into a crouch and snatched the blade from her boot just as he pulled a gun from his jacket and pointed it at her, forcing her to freeze before she could even flip her weapon open. Anger rose in her so swift and furious, she choked on it. She’d only just figured out what it meant to be happy and this man, this nightmare, would not stop coming at her. Would not just leave her in peace.

“You want the money? Take it,” she spat. “It will be a small price to pay for never having to look at your face again. I don’t need it. And I’ll sleep just fine knowing you’ll run out someday and be miserable all over again. Just take it.”

His laugh was almost indulgent. “That offer is late in coming, I’m afraid. Your little goon squad has closed ranks around you, so it’s not just you I’m contending with anymore.”

Dammit. The restraining order. It had set him off, just as she’d known it would. “What’s your other option? I’ve got a captain in the Chicago PD to vouch for my sanity. You’re nothing but a bitter, lonely man.” She already knew his plan. In his convoluted brain, he thought if he killed her, the money would go to him. Her next of kin. But she needed to keep him talking. Connor would find her. He’d be wondering what was taking her so long.

“I know you’re stalling, but I would advise against it.” His expression turned gleeful. “You didn’t think I’d come without leverage, did you? Oh no. You’re going to walk with me right out the back door without a problem. I promise.”

Her teeth started to chatter. “What is it?”

“More like who.” He started to speak faster, sounding more impatient. “That day at the courthouse wasn’t the first time I saw you in Chicago. No, I’d been following you longer than that. Saw you go into a building down in Lincoln Park.” Erin tried to show no reaction, but his sickening grin told her she’d failed. “I watched the building a while. Saw your boyfriend coming and going with his mother.” His hand flexed around the gun. “Drop the knife and the cell phone in your pocket. Get your ass up and come with me now, or I make a call and she’s gone.”

Erin’s heartbeat pounded in her ears, her mouth dry as dust. He could be lying. As far as she knew, her stepfather had always worked alone, and this plan would require another set of hands. But she couldn’t chance it. It was too in character for him to prey on weakened women. Goddammit. She couldn’t allow her life to affect the ones she cared about. She wouldn’t.

“Fine.” After letting the knife clatter to the dingy floor and digging out her cell phone to drop beside it, she