Brutal Obsession (The Safeguard Series, Book One)
Read Brutal Obsession (The Safeguard Series, Book One) Online
Authors: Kennedy Layne
Tags: #Romance, #Military
The Safeguard Series, Book One
Kennedy Layne
BRUTAL OBSESSION
Copyright © 2016 by Kennedy Layne
Kindle Edition
E-Book ISBN: 978-1-943420-10-0
Print ISBN: 978-1-682303-64-1
Cover Design: Sweet ’N Spicy Designs
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
Jeffrey—it just keeps getting better and better…I love you!
Lisa—I cannot thank you enough for the gift card to Starbucks! Deadlines aren’t so bad when a cup of coffee is in hand!
From USA Today Bestselling Author Kennedy Layne comes a thrilling new military romantic suspense series that will leave you on the edge of your seat…
Keane Sanderson never thought he’d survive to see a day past his latest deployment with the United States Marines in Iraq. That was six years ago and he’s finally ready to ease off the accelerator. A unique opportunity to work for a top-shelf security and investigations firm in Florida is right up his alley.
Ashlyn Ellis had everything she’d ever wanted—a high-profile career as a federal prosecutor, an upscale apartment in the city, and a beach house for when she needed to decompress from all the stress that accompanied the job. All three are threatened when she realizes someone has been following her every move for a very long time.
When Ashlyn comprehends the lengths her pursuer is willing to take things, she calls in a favor. She never expected her plea for assistance to materialize in the form of Keane Sanderson—the one man who had every reason to revel in her misfortune. She’s finally given the chance to rekindle the flames of desire she never should have extinguished, just in time for it all to be taken away when the stalker takes his obsession a step too far.
‡
T
he evenly spaced,
razor-edged shafts of moonlight fragmented the heavy darkness. The shimmering beams were mesmerizing as they peered through the wooden slats of the shutters, allowing a few dust particles to twirl through the rays as if they were performing on a lighted stage. It was a captivating sight and one that gave her something to do other than stress over the insomnia that had plagued her for the last few months.
Ashlyn Ellis sighed in resignation as she shifted beneath the warm, crumpled sheets. She’d woken up five minutes ago, noticing that she’d gotten no more than three hours of sleep according to the green illuminated numbers of the clock on her nightstand. She tucked an arm under her favorite Hungarian goose down pillow in frustration after turning on her side, but not even the cool eight hundred count Egyptian fabric could lull her into a comforting sleep. It was an hour before dawn and the rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock in the living room was the only sound drifting through the still air. Or was it?
Click.
Ashlyn’s breath caught in her throat as she quickly leaned up on one elbow and tilted her head, straining to hear if there were any unwelcome sounds coming from the hidden recesses of the bottomless shadows. Had she been mistaken? The air was now frozen in place as the golden pendulum continued to swing with a graceful cadence, but the stillness had undeniably been disturbed.
Was
he
here?
Ashlyn slowly leaned forward and carefully opened the top drawer of her bedside table, never once taking her eyes away from the open door to her bedroom. Multiple shadows hovered at the end of the hall, appearing slightly darker than usual due to the soft golden hue of the nightlight plugged into the outlet. Her fingers finally came in contact with her nickel-plated Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact handgun. It gave her a small semblance of security.
A slight film of perspiration coated Ashlyn’s palm, making it difficult to maintain a grip on the mother of pearl handgrip of the weapon. She still managed to aim the barrel toward the hallway as she slid the covers off and quietly swung her legs over the side of her bed. Had the shadow to the right shifted somewhat lower?
Ashlyn carefully felt around the top of her nightstand for her phone, not wanting to make any loud noises. Was he watching her? Was he standing at the end of the hall, waiting for her to think she had a chance of calling for help before making his move? Was he here to finally kill her?
There was no phone on her bedside table. Her heart rate accelerated even more at the implication and she tried to stem her panic. Where was it? Had he been standing next to her bed and watching her sleep? She tried to swallow the revulsion that backed up in her throat.
Ashlyn glanced down to the floor, thinking her phone had possibly fallen. It was only then she remembered leaving it in her office on its charging stand, which was on the other side of her apartment. She didn’t have a landline in her home and her security system linked through an independent cellular data plan, which apparently hadn’t done its job. How was she going to get help now?
Nausea slammed into Ashlyn and she pursed her lips, doing her best to breathe through her panic. She stood on slightly trembling legs, her bare feet cold on the hardwood floor. The shocking sensation gave her a sense of foundation and she took a tentative step forward, needing to get to her office. Why couldn’t she hear him? What was he waiting for?
Ashlyn passed by her mirrored dresser on her left, almost letting out a small cry when she caught her silhouette in the reflection. She took a moment to calm her racing heart. It was then she noticed that the drawer holding her panties had been left slightly open…and she hadn’t left it that way after her evening shower. He’d gone through her things…her intimate belongings?
He
was
here.
She swallowed against the queasiness as she contemplated flipping the switch beside the doorframe, but that meant releasing one of her hands from the only protection she had and alerting anyone in the apartment that she was awake. She refused to do that and forced herself to move forward.
Ashlyn’s upper body began to hurt from the way her heart was slamming against her chest. She considered herself a strong woman, but this constant fear she’d been living in these last few months had taken its toll. It had definitely put a few dents in her armor and her resolution to continue living as if
he
wasn’t a real threat to her safety. He’d just proved her wrong. She didn’t like being made a fool of and tried to find her justifiable anger, but it was buried too deep under the fear he’d instilled in her.
“I’m armed and I will shoot,” Ashlyn called out, wincing at the tremor in her tone that suggested she was absolutely terrified. She was, but she didn’t need to announce that fact. She took another tentative step and managed to continue until she reached the end of the hallway, holding her weapon as steady as she could. “I won’t miss either.”
Why wasn’t he answering? Was this what he wanted?
Ashlyn reached the end of the hallway. She looked everywhere, grateful she’d left the light on underneath the over-the-range microwave oven. Nothing appeared out of place and no one was in sight. She had an open layout, so she quickly scanned it once more, taking in as many details as she could.
Where was he?
Ashlyn wasn’t sure she could hear him over her uneven breathing, so she held her breath while skimming her gaze over anyplace he could be hiding. Was he behind the large arch that separated the kitchen from the living room? Was he hiding behind the couch? What about the long Parisian Fall curtains that covered the double windows overlooking the Capitol? She slowly exhaled, unable to stop her unnerved senses from believing something was still amiss.
The front door was to Ashlyn’s left. It was located in a very small foyer that was beside the entrance to the kitchen. She shot a glance toward her office, wanting to get to her cell phone, but she figured she had a better chance of getting to safety if she ran out into the hallway and sought help from one of her neighbors. Would he finally show himself if she made a run for it?
She sidestepped, never once taking her gaze away from the living room. She calculated she was still ten feet away from the door when the corner of the thin Edwardian style entryway table dug into her upper thigh. She bit the side of her lip to prevent herself from crying out when the Venetian crystal vase wobbled and eventually fell to the floor with a loud, reverberating crash.
Ashlyn cringed and braced herself for the inevitable attack. It never came. The high-pitched noise from the shattered glass reverberated in her ears, but her chance of freedom was now or never. She ran as fast as she could, skipping over the shards of glass as best she could, finally releasing one of her hands from her handgun to open the door…only to find that it was secure.
That couldn’t be right.
Ashlyn quickly glanced over her shoulder to make sure he wasn’t behind her as she continued to try to turn the doorknob. It wouldn’t budge. She ran a hand up to the deadbolt, only to find it bolted shut. It made no sense and yet she couldn’t feel his presence now that her sanity slowly returned.
The light switch was next to the front closet, so Ashlyn reached out and flipped it up while spinning around to face her apartment. She brought her weapon even with her gaze while taking a shaky breath as anger finally started to shove away the deep-seated fear.
That
was what he truly wanted—her fear.
Ashlyn slowly crossed the hardwood floor onto the kitchen slate, moving sideways so that she could still maintain a view of the entire area. She continued to turn on every light as she made her way out of the kitchen, through the small dining room and into her home office. It seemed to take her an hour, but it couldn’t have been more than a minute or two.
A bubbling, hysterical laugh tried to come out when Ashlyn realized no one was there. She cautiously looked down at her modern glass and steel desk, seeing her cell phone positioned exactly where she’d left it on the small round charger connected to her computer. She walked around her desk, keeping a watchful eye on the apartment laid out before her as she reached for the device, now second-guessing placing a 911 call when there was no evidence of foul play. Either they wouldn’t believe her, just sending a cruiser through the area, or they’d simply file a report after talking her down. She knew the justice system well.
Had
she been the one to leave her dresser drawer open when she got ready for bed? He had her second-guessing herself, just as he had all along.
Ashlyn took a step toward the door only to immediately stop when a sharp pain radiated through the heel of her foot. She lifted up her leg and hopped back, leaning against her desk. She was bleeding. A shard of glass was embedded in her left foot and she’d trailed blood throughout her apartment all over the Mazama hardwood she’d handpicked upon moving to Washington D.C and finding the right apartment that fit her eclectic style.