Read Online Her Dark Knight by Sharon Cullen - Free Book Online Page B

back in spiky handwriting was a different phone number. His personal number, he said.
    Why would a man who didn’t even know her, a man who seemed to be as important and popular as Christien Chevalier, leave her his private phone number?
    Frustrated she tossed the card in the trashcan—again—and deliberately walked away, refusing to heed the irritating voice telling her to dig it out—again.
    Outside her apartment door, she heard people speaking and recognized Giselle’s voice. When Giselle told her about this apartment and urged her to rent it, Lainie had no idea her boss would be living next door. She wasn’t exactly pleased when she found out either. Apparently it wasn’t enough she had to put up with Giselle at work, now she had to put up with her outside of work. But to give Giselle credit, she never bothered Lainie at home. In fact, it seemed she went out of her way to avoid Lainie as much as possible. Which was more than fine.
    Lainie’s good sense fled and she stepped closer to the door. She wasn’t one of those neighbors who noted the comings and goings of everyone who lived around her. But Giselle’s voice on the other side had her curious to see who she was talking to.
    The rumble of a male voice drew her closer. What was this? Giselle had male friends?
    Unable to help herself, she peered through the peephole, trying to get a glimpse of the man Giselle had brought home with her.
    He was too close for her to make out many details, but he was tall with wide shoulders and blond hair. Not the pale blond like Giselle but a deeper blond cut short.
    As if he sensed her perusal, he glanced up. Quickly she stepped back. Her heart knocked in her chest and she took a deep, shaky breath. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She checked the lock on the door before looking through the peephole again.
    He was still standing there, talking to Giselle whose back was to the door. However, he kept glancing at Lainie’s door as if he knew she was watching him.
    He was tall, but not as tall as Christien. Light to Christien’s dark. How weird that she was comparing this man to Christien, but something about him reminded her of Christien. Maybe it was the way the stranger carried himself with that inexplicable presence that turned everyone’s heads.
    Giselle moved out of Lainie’s sight, leaving the man standing in the middle of the hall. He studied her door for a moment before stepping closer and looking directly at the peephole. Directly at her with eyes so dark they appeared black. Bottomless. Soulless. Lainie’s breath caught in her throat.
    He smiled and winked, then sauntered to Giselle’s apartment.
    Lainie pulled herself from the door and stumbled to the wall to brace herself. She couldn’t breathe. The air stuck in her lungs and her heart raced. Fear spread through her, making her legs and arms numb. She desperately tried to pull in a breath but all she could manage was a gasp. She closed her eyes and pictured those eyes staring at her, expressionless. Almost…demonic.
    A sob caught in her throat, tore through her body, making her tremble so hard she slid down the wall, wrapping her arms around bent knees. Evil. She sensed evil surrounding her. Pressing in on her. Touching her. She scrubbed her arms, trying to rid herself of it. To push it away.
    She had to get out of here. She didn’t question the overwhelming urge to run, but obeyed it. It was a struggle to stand. Her legs wouldn’t cooperate. The fear invaded everything, leaving her weak. She gathered up her purse, her cell phone and keys and reached for the door. Her gaze locked on the trashcan. Quickly she dropped to her knees and dumped it out. She swept up Christien’s card and with trembling fingers dialed the number written on the back.
    Get out, get out, get out. Her mind screamed the warning. Hands shaking she put the phone to her ear and bit her lip, glancing at the locked door.
    She leaned against the wall, fighting for each breath.