Temptation, The Complete Serial Series 1-4 (The Temptation Serial Series) Read Free Page B

he was still out there!
    Shane huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “There’s nothing to be done right now except to make sure you’re safe. Now go get packed.”
    Sin smiled and threaded her arm through mine, giving a gentle tug. When I didn’t move, she jerked me toward the steps. “Hey, that’s my move!”
    She chuckled and told me to shut up. I was pissed, but it got worse when she said I couldn’t bring all of my clothes and I almost cried. I didn’t have much in my closet, but I loved all of my dresses.
    With pouting lips I begged, “What if the freak touches them? They’re my favorites.”
    “All of them?”
    I nodded. “Yes.”
    Morgan squinted her eyes, but said fine and unceremoniously shoved them all into one large suitcase. “There isn’t much room for shoes.”
    I smiled. “Good thing I’ve corrupted you…and that we’re the same size.” She gasped, eyes wide, palm over her heart. The evil part of me loved making her sweat just a little. “Yep, we can share, Sin.”
    She stuffed the second suitcase while I grabbed a duffle and crammed in my hair dryer, curling irons, and toiletries. I turned to leave the bathroom, but something was off. In the hallway, something wasn’t quite right. Squinting, I tried to figure it out.
    One of my paintings was missing. That fucker! First my panties and now my painting?
    I was frozen, staring at the empty spot, when Morgan came up behind me. “What?” She followed my gaze and froze beside me. That was why I loved her. She understood.
    “Hey,” she said softly. “This is getting weird really fast. I’m glad you’re coming to stay with us.”
    “What if he knows where you live? What if he follows me? I can’t put you in danger, Morg.”
    She smiled and hugged me. “You won’t. He won’t find you way out in the desert.”
    I hoped not.
    Shane carried all of my bags down to the car. The officers hung around until we were seated, belted, and Shane was ready to drive away. Andy, with his palm gripping the driver door of the SUV, bent down and said, “I made sure to lock the door, but you’ll need to install a deadbolt when you come back. And I’ll do what I can to push the case forward.”
    As he sat back down in the cruiser, the car sinking under his weight before bobbing back up, Andy leaned over and looked out at us. “You know, I see here where you got into some trouble a few months ago. Any chance the ex is trying to scare you? Maybe get revenge or something, or get you to leave town?”
    Of course he’d bring up the one and only time I’d been arrested. I unbuckled my seat belt and walked over to the police car. “I served my debt to society, number one (volunteering for Habitat for Humanity groups that were working in the burbs), and number two, Peter is too big of a pussy to pull off something as detailed as this. There’s someone out there who is planning to hurt me, and my blood is going to be on your hands!”
    Shane pulled me away from the officers’ car before I got arrested for the second time in my life. He pushed me into the back of his SUV and pointed his finger at me. “Shut it.” When I opened my mouth to sass, he shushed me and closed the door.
    I heard him tell the officers that I was stressed. He apologized on my behalf and thanked them for their time. I knew it took a lot out of him to do that for me, and I appreciated having friends like Morgan and Shane. They had my back.
    You could have heard a pin drop in that vehicle as Shane drove off into the desert night, leaving the neon glow of Vegas in the rear view.
    Then Sin had to break the weird silence. “Someone has a birthday in a couple of weeks!” Shane threw her an irritated glance, but smiled back at me in the rear view mirror. He wanted to irritate me. Asshole.
    Great timing, Morgan. Remind me that I’m turning thirty. Thirty . Remind me that I’m a dancer when all I want to do is paint. Remind me that I’m tucking tail and running because some psycho