Targeted Risk (R.I.S.C. #7) - Anna Blakely Page 0,70

their division.

Not to mention, she was also female. In her experience—especially at her old department—that meant she had to work harder and be better than any of the men she worked with.

So far, she hadn’t experienced anything like at her old job. But she didn’t want to press her luck, either. Which was why, when she felt herself growing more personal feelings for Eric, she’d played it cool.

It worked, too. But then he started showing interest in her.

At first, it was just playful teasing between the two of them. She’d make a smartass comment and he’d come back with a smartass quip. They’d banter about everything under the sun, but at the end of the day, they were an amazing team that got the job done.

The dynamics worked for them for a while...until it didn’t.

The closer they became, the harder Riley fell for him. The harder she fell, the harder she tried to fight it, until her suddenly cool demeanor toward him started causing problems on the job.

Determined to resolve their issues, Eric had shown up at her apartment one night after work. They talked. They argued. And then they’d stripped each other’s clothes off.

After that night, there was no going back. Not for her, and as far as she could tell, not for him. But with their jobs on the line, they still had to be careful. So they stole a kiss, here. A wink or a smile, there.

And they came to this run-down shack to play pool, drink, and then spend the night devouring each other. Riley knew they couldn’t keep this up forever, but for now...for them...it worked.

Pulling away, Eric licked his lips and pulled his phone out to call a cab back to his apartment. Within minutes they were walking out of the bar together and she’d forced all thoughts of death and murders completely out of her mind.

The next morning—after another amazing night with Eric—Riley treated herself to some Starbucks drive-thru on the way back to her apartment.

Feeling deliciously sore in all the right places, she unlocked her mailbox and grabbed the previous day’s mail. She was sifting through the handful of junk mail when the building superintendent walked up.

“Hey, Riley.” The kind, balding man smiled. “This wouldn’t fit, so the guy who delivered it left it with me.”

He handed her a small, brown box with no return address. “Any idea who it’s from?”

“No clue. He didn’t say, and I didn’t ask.”

That’s strange. “Okay, Frank. Thank you.”

“No problem.” He gave her a half-wave as he turned and walked away. “Have a good one.”

In her apartment, Riley set the box down onto her dining room table next to the pile of mail and hung her purse on one of the chairs. Sipping her coffee, she studied it with an expert eye.

Upon closer inspection, she found no ticking sound or traces of any sort of powdery substance. It wasn’t heavy in the least, and when she shook it, it didn’t rattle.

In fact, the box felt sort of...empty.

The detective in her wanted to take the package down to the station and have the forensic guys check it out, first.

“You’re being ridiculous,” she told herself, and then she went into the kitchen and grabbed a knife from the set next to her stove.

Returning to the table, Riley set her coffee down. She sliced through the brown packaging tape and put the knife to the side.

Pulling the top flaps of the box apart, she looked inside and frowned. Folded up in the middle of the box was a single piece of folded paper. Assuming it was some sort of advertising gimmick, Riley grabbed the paper and unfolded it.

Her breath froze in her lungs when she read the printed words...

Miss me?

Dropping the paper, she stumbled into one of the chairs as she reached for her purse and pulled out her phone.

Hands shaking, she hit the first saved number on her favorites list and waited. Eric answered on the second ring.

“Miss me, already?” he answered in his goofy, teasing voice.

His choice of words sent a shiver down her spine. “Can you come to my apartment?”

“Are you okay?” His voice had turned low and serious. “What’s wrong?”

She swallowed hard. “I just need you to get over here. Now.”

“I’m on my way.” A shuffling sound traveled through the phone and Riley knew he was getting out of bed. “Are you safe?”

She looked down at the note again, the words sending a familiar shockwave of terror through her system. One she vowed to never feel