I sneaked out of Maya's room sometime at night. I couldn't sleep even though Maya was lying comfortably on my chest.

I was careful not to wake her up, but it wasn't difficult as she has a deep sleep.

I sat down on the couch in the living room with my cell phone in my hand and a number on the screen. I looked up at the time and noticed it was four in the morning.

I picked a great time for this.

I exhaled heavily and dialed the number. I put my phone to my ear and listened to it ring.

After a while, I heard a pick-up tone. "It's seven o'clock in the morning." I smiled when I heard his voice.

"Four here." I laughed. "Nice to hear you too Killian. Did I wake you up?"

"Oh come on." He snorted. "Lucy got up an hour ago." I could hear other voices in the background, but I wasn't sure what they were saying. "Yes, it's Sebastian, Lucy."

"Tell her I miss her." I smiled.

"She misses you too. She's also asking when you'll be back. Which I'd be interested in too. Theo said you're not picking up on him. Everything okay?" I could hear the worry in his voice.

"I'll call him when I have time." I grabbed the back of my head and exhaled. "I'm calling because I want to talk to Lyssa, is she around?"

"Lyssa?" He asked. "Yes, she's here."

"Could you give her the phone?"

"Yeah sure, don't talk to your brother who you haven't seen in months but his girlfriend." He joked, which made me happy since the last year has not been the easiest for him.

"Don't say you miss me."

"You want me to lie?"

"Give the phone to Lyssa," I said with a laugh.

"Nice to hear you too." He laughed and I heard movement in the background.

"Lyssa?"

"Yes?"

"Welcome to the world of the living, how are you?"

"Um, okay?" She hesitated. "Does this conversation have any meaning or..."

"I need a favor."

"That sounds about right, what's going on?"

"You have a laptop with you somewhere, I need you to find someone for me."

I could call Nyx, but it's not certain she won't involve Maya.

"Sure, give me a second." She moved somewhere and I heard her open the door and sit down. "So what's the deal?"

"Eddie's bar in Seattle, a bartender named Mason, I don't know his last name. Can you find out anything about him?"

The reason why I couldn't sleep? I was thinking about what Maya told me. What Mason told her seemed familiar. Like I've heard it before.

Or rather read.

"Mason Johns, twenty-six, moved to Seattle five years ago, single and childless. Is that him?"

"Sounds like him. Can you find out if he's had any trouble with the police or any complaints against him? Anything that would indicate he's capable of stalking someone."

"Give me a second." She typed something on the keyboard. "A couple of speeding and parking tickets, but nothing out of the ordinary. Why do you think he's stalking anyone?"

"It's just something he said." I shook my head and ran my hand over my face. "But maybe I was wrong. Thanks and sorry..."

"Hold on." She cut me off. "There are some items that are not accessible due to him being a minor. I'll just do this and..." She clicked on something. "There it is. He spent a few months in a juvenile detention center for assault."

"Who did he attack?" I frowned.

"Samuel Dixon. He had a mild concussion, a couple of broken ribs, and also a broken nose. There's also a restriction order, but it was filed by some girl. Helena Roberts."

"Does it say the reason?"

"Uhmm. Yeah. She was supposed to be in a relationship with Mason, but then he assaulted Dixon and she filled out a restriction order the next day. Dixon was supposed to be harassing her and Mason was just defending her, but she said Mason started it. She said he's been more of a jerk lately more aggressive, and when she was just talking to Dixon, he attacked him."

I shouldn't jump to conclusions, but when it swims like a duck, looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it won't be a fucking chicken.

"Does it says something else?" I breathed heavily.

"Not really."

"Okay, thank you, Lyssa. I owe you." I ran my fingers through my hair. "It was good to hear you again, I'm glad you're alive."

"Thank you?" She laughed. "Okay, stop for a second. Are you okay? I've been gone for a year, I know, but you sound...different."

"Good or bad?" I frowned.

"This is the first time we've had a normal conversation and you haven't tried to flirt."

"It was nice to hear you, Lyssa". I laughed. "I'll see you when..." I stopped. "When I come back." For some reason it was hard to tell.

"Sure." She laughed and hung up.

I looked at my cell phone in my hand for a while longer.

Restriction order. Detention Center for Juveniles. Assault.

If that doesn't sound like someone who would be capable of stalking someone, then I don't know anything anymore.

But I hope I'm right.

I hope Mason is Maya's stalker.

Why? Because now I only need to kill one person instead of two.

That little scene that happened in the dressing room? I would make sure it doesn't happen again.

I went back to Maya's room and lay down next to her. When she felt I was near her, she put her arm around me and rested her head on my chest.

"Everything all right?" She asked in a sleepy voice.

"Of course." I ran my hand through her hair. "Everything is okay."



Never did I think I'd go to work worried I'd see Mason there.

On one hand, I want to see him. I want to scream in his face.

But on the other hand, fear runs through me when I remember how he cornered me.

And then there's what he said.

What does he have that I don't? Why can't you see me?

I can assure you that he is no better for you than I am. Just let me show you."

It sounds like...

Sounds like the messages I've been getting from my stalker.

But I can't be one hundred percent sure. Yes, he made a mistake, but that doesn't mean he's stalking me and threatening Acker.

"Maya?" I snapped my attention to Acker next to me in the car.

"Huh?"

"You can stay in the car and..."

"No." I jumped into his speech. "If he's there, I need to talk to him."

And what do you want to tell him?

I got out of the car, Acker right behind me, and we headed to the bar.

Acker did not move a single step from me. He was looking around as if he expected that at any moment someone would run out and attack us.

I texted Julie to stay away from Mason for a while, which wasn't a problem for her since she wasn't planning on going to work this week.

"I'll go see Eddie". I informed him. "You can wait here and..."

"No way." He cut me off. "You're not going back there alone."

I couldn't have been more relieved after his words.

Together we walked past the bar and stopped at the door to Eddie's office. I knocked while Acker stood behind me.

"Come in." It sounded from inside and I opened the door. I found Eddie there behind a desk with his head in papers and an open laptop.

"Am I interrupting?" I asked out of politeness.

"No, of course, come in." He pointed to the chair across from him.

I gave him a narrow smile and walked towards him with Acker at my heels. When Eddie noticed him, he looked at me in confusion.

I sat down opposite him and Acker joined us after a while.

"Is Mason working today?" I asked after a moment of silence.

"No, he texted me yesterday saying he needed time off." I nodded before Acker snorted and it was obvious he was irritated. "Maya, do you want to tell me what's going on?"

"Mason..." I started, but I probably didn't say it fast enough, as Acker interrupted me.

"Your employee assaulted Maya."

"What?" Eddie looked at me horrified and I wanted to bury myself under the ground. "Maya, what is he talking about?"

"And I'm also pretty sure he's been stalking her. You know, pictures, messages and even breaking into her house."

"Sebastian, stop it." I stopped him. "You can't be sure.

"Just..." Eddie breathed heavily. "Just tell me everything."

And that happened.

I told him everything. From messages, through photos and threats, to what happened a few days ago in his bar, under his nose.

He listened carefully the whole time, and even when I finished speaking, he was silent. I could hear the wheels turning in his head.

"But are you okay?" He looked at me with concern and I smiled and nodded in an attempt to calm him down. "I'll work it out, Maya. I promise."

"Thank you," I said honestly.

"Of course. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to him." He nodded his head at Acker.

Sorry, what?

"Okay?" I looked at Acker and saw slight confusion on his face. I stood up and walked past him to the door. "I'll wait by the bar."

So that will surely go well.



I don't know if this is supposed to be a competition to see who can look at the other one longer, but I'm determined to win.

"Thank you." He suddenly said and I was so taken aback that I forgot my own name for a moment.

"What?" I frowned.

"That you take care of Maya." He explained.

"Yeah, and of Julie too, so whatever you have planned for her? Screw it up, one tear from her and I'll make sure you lose everything you ever wanted. Is that clear to you?"

"I don't want to hurt her."

"I don't recommend it."

He laughed. "God help me, I'm starting to like you." He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.

"So what are you going to do with Mason?"

"Don't worry, I'll make sure he's taken care of. He won't hurt anyone."

"All right," I said emotionlessly and stood up from my chair. "But if I were you, I'd move if you want to deal with the police. The moment I find out he's really stalking her, no one will find him."

He stood up from his chair. "In that case, I'll make sure to take it slow with the police."

Did he just say what I think?

"Are you okay with that?" He held out his hand to me, which I examined carefully.

"More than satisfied." I shook his hand with a small smile.

I pulled away from him and started walking away from his office.

Maybe he's not as badas I thought.

"Everything okay?" Maya asked as I stopped next to her at the bar.

"Yes." I kissed her forehead. "You?"

She nodded and smiled. "So what are we up to today?"

"How about a double date?" I heard a familiar female voice behind us.

Oh no.

Maya and I turned and our eyes fell on a man and a woman holding hands. Lana and the idiot.

"Lana," Maya said in surprise next to me before trying to kill me with a look.

I told her they wouldn't last, but I guess I was wrong.

"So what about that double date?" She said happily, completely oblivious that Maya is killing me with a look and me and that idiot are doing the same between us. Who does he think he is? "Come on, I'm sure it'll be fun." She smiled.

I looked at Maya, who just exhaled heavily and nodded. "I'm sure you're right."

"Awesome! There's an amazing restaurant a little further down the road, you're going to love it. Let's go." She began to drag her boyfriend behind her, who didn't say a word.

"I'll kill you," Maya whispered as we followed them. "This is your fault."

"I'm sure if I happen to forget, you'll be happy to remind me." I smiled at her and grabbed her hand. I intertwined my fingers with hers as if it was the most normal thing in the world and we walked to the car.

"Follow us," Lana shouted to us as she walked over to the car.

"Sure thing," I said back and walked over to the passenger door to open it for Maya. "Miss." I smiled.

"That smile won't save you anymore." She pointed her finger at my face. "I can't guarantee I won't cause a scene." She crossed her arms over her breasts and stood in front of the door.

"I have a feeling this is going to be boring, so please, cause some drama. I also like you when you're all pissed off."

"Idiot." She laughed sweetly and got on.

Maybe I'm an idiot. But I'm her idiot.

What the hell are you talking about? When did she manage to brainwash you?



Oh Sebbie, she brainwashed you the first time you showed up in Seattle.