Deadly Chase Read Online Free

unease, he took a backward step and shrugged. “I was just going to stop by the bakery for breakfast. Unless…”
    Sierra’s breath rushed out, and her shoulders relaxed. “Oh, yes. I almost forgot about the pastry. Of course, I’ll see you then.”
    Chase brought forth his most charming smile and strode away until darkness claimed him and then he turned, making sure Sierra got inside safely. As soon as she closed the door, Chase slipped into the four-story building directly across from her apartment. One-Fifty-Seven Chapel Street had served his purposes well over the past few weeks.
    Bypassing the rickety elevator, he took the steps two at a time. He headed to apartment 239, slipped the key into the lock and entered. A musty odor permeated the dank room, probably from years of grimy buildup on the shag carpet. Chase hadn’t seen that particular shade of orange since he’d been in elementary school.
    His stale surroundings didn’t bother him. The location was perfect. He shoved aside the window’s thin curtain, unlocked the pane and eased it up. Cool air rushed in, but he didn’t mind. He wanted to hear Sierra if she screamed.
    Chase shrugged out of his long, dark overcoat and tossed it aside, relieved to be free of the heavy material. Slipping his cell phone out, he sank into a pea-green winged chair. Dust particles flew from his dirty clothes and he swiped them away. When he returned home, he would burn the old-ragged sweatpants. If he never encountered another pair again, he’d be satisfied.
    Propping steel-toed shoes on the windowsill, he dialed his brother’s number. The phone rang once before Jake answered with clipped words. “It’s about time. You like to keep people in suspense. Don’t you?”
    “You’ve never had much patience. Have you?”
    “You know I don’t. What’s going on?”
    “I met her in person.” Chase braced himself for Jake’s rebuttal.
    Silence and then a deep, exhaling breath came over the airwaves. “What happened to lying low? Did you tell her who you are?”
    “Not yet.”
    “But you are going to, right?”
    “She’ll find out eventually. For now, my cover’s secure.” He let out a humorless chuckle. “When Eason shows up, he won’t recognize me—not the way I look. I’m even getting used to this scratchy beard.” Chase fingered his whiskers absently.
    “I understand your motives, but I’m not convinced this is the best way.”
    “I’ve exhausted all other options.” Chase shifted into a more comfortable position, but still kept watch on Sierra’s apartment. “She’s my best hope.”
    “I wonder what your bait would think of this idea.”
    “Think of it this way, she’s getting protection she wouldn’t otherwise have.” Sierra was alone, running from a man determined to destroy her. Chase’s stomach twisted and unease weighed him down. He knew what Kevin Eason could do. He would not allow it to happen again.
    “I hope this plan of yours works.” Jake’s voice cut through his thoughts.
    “I’ll make it work.” Chase imagined his brother rubbing his hair as he often did when troubled. “Don’t worry. I’m going to stop this guy.”
    Jake cleared his throat. “If Amber had only told us how bad things had gotten we could have—”
    “Regardless, I should’ve recognized the signs early on.” Chase jerked from the chair and paced the room. He slipped a hand in his pocket automatically reaching for the agate worry stone he and Amber had taken turns carrying around, but came up empty, painfully reminding him the rock was still missing.
    “When are you going to stop blaming yourself?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe when Eason is behind bars. Maybe…never.”
    “You should call Mom,” Jake added after a long pause.
    “I will when I have something to tell her.” He peered through the window. Each light in Sierra’s apartment remained on. “Did I tell you she never turns out her lights?”
    “Eason attacked her at night.”
    “I know. He