His Obsession

br

ate-night news anchor says robotically to the camera. Th

every single

ews anchor continues, "and were considered persons of interest to Inte

e. If only they had the good sense to quit while they wer

tongue in disapproval. "Serves them right, I

I ask her, paying

e a ligh

s grainy, but it's very obviously of a young woman. It's not just any young woman, eit

qu

ho currently remains at large. If you spot this individ

ers. "That's her! The wom

ly. "Quiet. You

cking my line of sight. She shakes her head, her hands on her hips. "Monsieur Rochefort

standing up to peer down my nose at he

to call t

N

criminal. A criminal sleeping right down the hall from your

ituation. I, however, am not a normal person -though I certainly pretend to be. If Penelope knew the truth about wh

tate simply. "I'm asking

g to intimidate a grizzly bear. It takes a minute or two, but she eventuall

what you're doi

lway

the household slee

fore prying off the license plates and scratching out any identification numbers. By 2:00 a.m., the vehicle is dropped off at the nearest scrapyard, scheduled to be

, the windows, everything. It's not that far off from my

y been here for three days -and unconscious for the majority of it- but that's all it took for her to completely

Chet would even consider letting his own daughter join his crew. If I were in charge, there's no way in hell I'd let Odette anywhe

ear the thought of anything happening to Odette. Perha

t quite right. What I

ra

thoughts of Raquel

burn and fire behind her dark chocolate eyes. The way her sultry voice is a violin

ation is for weak men, and I'm anything but. Besides, I'm sure that this whole matter will be wrapped up in a mat

ment in the kitchen. Quiet shuffling, the clinking of

et

water with both of her tiny hands. Raquel's dressed in a simple white tank top and black s

going on?

g a big sip of her drink. She says noth

east, I think that's what she said. I thi

. "She

.. Y

ter's voice in two years. I've taken her to see countless speech therapists an

el with Odette. "What are yo

fact that she's more comfortable speaking to a complete stranger than she is with me.

uel says softly. "I think she

daughter in French. "Di

e learned by now not to

and go back to sleep. Do y

ows Raquel a cute little wave before heading back upstairs, her e

comments fondly.

y teeth.

at was my favorite

H

ha

as the type of perso

asks dryly. My grasp on American humor isn't t

be resting

help herself t

bring it

I checked, my legs

sassy for someone who showed up half dead on my doorstep just three days ago. A normal

he top shelf to your

her tiptoes, reaching as high as she can for the pain killers. She's too short, but she doesn't stop tryi

I ask, part

mbles, contin

going to

r, reaching past her smaller frame to grab the aspirin. When she takes a step back, he

oans, soft

the dark kitchen to see the blush blooming across her cheeks and neck. Her eye

g involved -more than I already

an who doesn't take e

or. I have to remind myself that while she may be up and about, she's still recovering. No matter how rou

of her breath. Raquel leans her body against mine, her hands gripping the front of my

timid and not at all like the stubborn s

self and the kitchen counter. The cute little ga

want from m

e swallows har

y i

who you are. W

furiatingly beautiful woman bef

my old tattoo. She frowns, a flicker of recognition flashing across her eyes. She doesn't let me escape, moving so swiftly that I hav

s open. "You'r

ss. "I am an

d knows you,"

op

a part of

g inside me fracturing. "

ha

a part of

stand. You're

ew," I snap. "The Red Ravens wer