In His Shadow (Tangled Ivy Book 1) Read Online Free

didn’t really stop to think, I just hurried to the mouth of the alley, skidding to a halt when I saw what was making the noises.
    Two men were fighting, both of them moving so fast it was hard to tell who was winning. The falling snow and the night obscured their forms. Suddenly, one broke loose and began running straight at me. A shot rang out. The front of the man’s forehead exploded, sending red splatters of bone, flesh, and blood flying. His body crumpled not ten feet from me.
    I stood, frozen in shock at the man on the ground. A pool of crimson stained the pristine snow.
    My eyes jerked up as the man still standing moved. He had a gun in his hand and when he stepped into the dim glow of the streetlight, my heart lurched into my throat.
    It was Devon.
    He took another step my way and that’s when I turned and ran.
    I slipped and slid my way to my car—thank God I’d had it running—fell inside and shoved it into drive. I stomped on the gas and shot down the street, looking in my rearview mirror to see Devon standing in the spot I’d just vacated, staring after me. As I watched, he melted back into the shadows.
    Panicked, I drove too fast, making myself slow down when the car skidded around a curve. I didn’t know what to do. Should I call the police? Call 911? But Devon had seen me, knew that I saw him kill that man. I was a witness. Would he come after me now? Hurt me, too? And what would I tell the police? I didn’t even know his real name.
    In the end, I drove home, unable to make myself call the police. I’d talk to Logan. He’d know what to do.
    Our apartment was on the third floor of an old warehouse that had been remodeled. The remodel hadn’t included an elevator. Normally climbing the flights of stairs in the boots-from-hell would have me searching for more colorful expressions to describe how I felt about the lack of an elevator. But tonight all I could think about was Devon and the dead man. He’d kissed me . . . then murdered someone.
    A chill skated down my spine at the memory. I had no idea why he’d done what he had—and I didn’t want to know. I felt guilty for not calling the police, but overshadowing the guilt was fear. I didn’t want to end up like the guy facedown in the snow. Did that make me a coward? Probably.
    Logan and I each had our own bathroom, so I didn’t have to worry that he’d complain about my leaving clothes on the floor. I took a long, hot shower, the warm water easing away some of the tension in my body. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that man’s head exploding, and Devon, standing with gun raised and pointed at me.
    Shaking my head to dispel the images, I got out and wrapped myself in a towel. Grabbing my brush, I started combing through my tangled hair as I exited the bathroom and headed for the television in my bedroom.
    I sat on my bed, watching TV, and brushed my hair until it was nearly dry. The long strands shone like spun gold in the glow of the lamp. It soothed me, brushing my hair. My grandma used to do it for me all the time. I missed her. If it wasn’t so late, I’d call her, just to hear her voice. It would be something normal and ordinary after the events of tonight.
    A sound from outside my door had me glancing at the clock. Strange. I hadn’t expected Logan would be back so soon.
    Another sound, the slight squeak of a shoe on the wooden floor, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Logan wouldn’t be so quiet. He’d be thumping around the kitchen and would turn on the television in the living room.
    My panicked eyes locked on the knob on my door. It was turning, ever so slowly.
    Adrenaline iced my veins, making me feel like I’d just been dipped in a bath of cold water. I lunged for my bedside table and yanked open the drawer, pulling out the gun I kept there just as the door swung open.
    “This is a bit unexpected,” Devon said, his eyes on the gun pointed at him.
    “You!” I exclaimed, horrified. “What are you doing