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Used to the drill by now, Vivian walked Mancini and the other officers through the recent events She let them collect the unopened letter fro the manila envelope with the other letter out of her purse Once the evidence was out of her hands, she unlocked the

back door and led them outside

One of them took her state wide sweeps over the shadows Her role done, Vivian stepped back fro fright, that htly around her stomach, An initial spark of terror hit at the sound of measured footsteps from the street to her back, but when she spun, she only saw the broad, co

Mancini spotted hi her search

“Hey,” Vivian called

“He got away,” Shadow Man said without prea distance now and for some reason it was natural to reach out to hi her toward hi

Spiced heat enveloped her, along with the heavy scent of worn leather Vivian tucked her head under his chin as he hunched protectively around her His stubble prickled against her forehead and cheek, and under her lips she could feel the curve of his collarbone

“You’re the friend who chased after the suspect?” Mancini asked

“I am” His voice rumbled in his chest

Vivian tried to focus “This is”

“Zeke Harding”

Mancini pulled out her notepad “Zeke Harding?”

“Ezekiel, if we’re being specific”

“Care to tell me what happened?” Mancini’s voice was deceptively polite Vivian remembered that same tone the first time she’d made her report at the station She was panicked, probably looking like some kind of crazed mess It made sense that the detective had been wary But Vivian had to hand it to her, once Mancini determined the stalker was a threat, she’d never wavered in her resolve to have hiht

Too bad Shadow Man—Zeke—didn’t know any of that He straightened, his ar Reluctantly, she stepped away, only to be stopped by his taking up her hand He didn’t look at her when he spoke, focusing co work I heard Viv yelling at soet inside and call for help”