Fatal Obsession

an the last. Heaven's hands shook as she picked up image after image-her face caught in ecstasy, her

, her voice breaking. "

oice was sharp, commanding. "Y

ultiplying before her eyes like some horrible optical illusion. She could feel it happen

This is punishment. I should never have... I should never have let

rough her mounting hysteria li

e falling. Adaline was standing over her, arms crossed

ly. "And spiraling isn't going to hel

years ago... it's like a curse. Every time I try to be normal, every time I try

k fuck with a camera, not cosmic justice." Adaline sat down on the bed, care

have sex, Ada. Someone was out there in the dark with professional equipment, phot

ne of the photographs, studying it with clinical detachment. "Look at the angl

f her hand, trying to focus through t

ch of middle-aged cops who'll analyze every detail of your naked body for evidence?" Adaline's voice was brutally

rs examining these images, discussing them in break rooms, making joke

hat do

ght." Adaline began counting on her fingers. "I knew. Mario knew

tment and texted you immediate

ust. "Eight months of mediocre dick and now he thinks he

Mario's not... he's boring, but h

stood up, pacing the small bedroom with predatory energy. "Think about it-you dump him, then immediately

n know I had sex

ou for moving on." Adaline's voice was getting higher, more agitated. "I

don't

to give people the benefit of the doubt. But I see men for what they re

e Mario crouched in the bushes with a telephoto lens. It seemed so far o

finally. "Let's

brick and industrial fixtures that tried too hard to be hip. They caught him just as

. "I wasn't expecting to see you so soon. Are you-" His expr

e sweetness. "Fancy meeting you here at your own

or signs of guilt or deception. He looked exactly the same as

ouldering past Heaven to get closer to Mario. "Af

ther in confusion. "I... w

r the fucki

t to bed at midnight." He looked between them, clearly

," Heaven said quietly. "Taking pict

Mario's face. "Pictures

. "The kind that sick stalkers take

racked. "You actually think I

ck seemed genuine, the hurt in his eyes too ra

st night? No alibi

sive. "Mrs. Damon from next door came over around

ous. "Of course you played Monopoly.

nd on Adaline's arm, but h

has been stalking you, violating your privacy,

oing in the hallway. "I would never do s

gerous whisper. "You call eight months of boring her to dea

tarted, but Mar

e an accessory to my party lifestyle." His eyes flashed with unexpected fir

who works at his daddy's insurance company a

eing a gold-di

e a gunshot. Adaline's hand print was a

" An elderly woman opened her door,

ickly, his hand pressed to his stingi

Three. I'm calling the super

felt panic rising in her chest again-too many eyes, too much attention, too mu

e said urgently, gr

here," Adaline s

already backing toward t

d is poison, Heaven. She's been poisoning you against everyone who actually cares about you.

against her ribs. Behind them, she could hear doors closing

ive," Heaven said when

ect. Did you see how defensive

n't think

-boring, possessive, can't handle rejection.

an incoming call. Jasper's

and she is not happy. She says you missed another appo

ely forgot. I'll

e Heaven tried to prepare herself for another confrontation. Miss Von Domme was City Al

n arrived, her silver hair pulled back i

gracious of you t

erely apologize. I had

d have cut glass. "What I care about is professionalism, reliability, a

rack. After everything that had happened in the last twenty-fo

ion," she managed. "If you'

hree times I've rearranged my schedule to accommodate your supposed tal

ed by surprising authority. "Heaven has been dealing with some serious personal issu

er, taking in his paint-stained clothe

two years. Her talent is extraordinary, and her dedication is unwa

onveniently vague. Very well, Mr. Greene. One final opportunity. But if Miss Hallsey fa

e a disapproving queen, leaving

"I don't know what I would have do

ing." Jasper's smile was gentle, understanding. "You don't have to be perfe

herself stepping forward, wrapping her arms around Jasper

me," she whispered a

good to you." His arms tightened around her, sol

y here tonight, work on the p

a rough day. Maybe you sho

tographs scattered across her bed, made her stomach turn. "I

nizing the stubborn set of her jaw. "Okay. But promise me y

romi

an expression she couldn't quite read. "Heaven? You know you can talk to me

w. Tha

"Constraint" series-a figure bound by shadows but reaching toward light, caught in the eternal struggl

er and the only light came from the harsh fluorescents above her easel. The repetitive motion of brush against canvas was med

when she heard the cr

canvas. The studio was supposed to be

t, her voice echoing i

d unthreatening. A figure emerged from the s

at are you

e disheveled than usual. "I couldn't stop thinking about

dn't ha

bles and began unpacking containers that smelled like heaven. "Homemade lasagna, Cae

read, genuinely touched

." His grin was boyishly proud. "I may not be a

surrounded by canvases and the detritus of creative work. The fo

und a bite of lasagna. "Where d

t for college." Jasper twirled pasta around his fork with practic

rt w

be a forensic accountant like my dad. When I chose art instead...

ith new eyes. "I didn'

me out matter-of-fact, without accusation

spe

covering her hand with his. "You've been

nd herself studying Jasper's face-really looking at him for perhaps the first time. He was handsome in an unconventio

uietly. "I've been self

u're just... careful. Gu

made her look up sharp

elf, in the way you never quite trust anyone to get too close." He squeezed her hand

hat was both comforting and terrifyi

hurt you. Some of us..." He paused, seeming to struggle with something.

ill water. Heaven became acutely aware of his hand covering hers, of th

spe

iting two years for you to really see me, Heaven. Two years of being your

es dark with want and hope and something d

ct between them. "I can't. I don't... I'm

devastating. The gentle hope drained out of h

as bitter, all warmth suddenly abs

be upset. You're impor

, knocking over his stool. "Just good old reliable Jasper, alway

formation in his demeanor. "You're my

ea what I've done for you? What I've sacrificed? Two years of my life d

r asked

ought... because I believed that eventually you'd s

pon. Heaven felt her heart racing, fl

ce rising. "I thought you were special, pure, not like th

s voice was low, dangerous. "

space in a way that made her skin crawl. "You won't even look at me twic

"How do you-" The realization crashed

went ve

ve a whisper, but it carried the weight of absolute certainty.

st stood there, his chest rising and falling rap

into her easel. "You violated me. You watched me hav

ld now, controlled. "I had to see what kind

haking with rage and betrayal.

k here too. I've been taking care of this

T O

his shoulder with jerky, aggressive movements. At t

quietly. "You'll realize what

with her half-finished painting and the terrible knowledge that someone she'd t

rayal. Everyone she'd thought she could trust had revealed themselves to be something el

a mystery man with surgeon's hands and analytical eyes remained completely unknown to her, the

ght between constraint and freedom-and reali