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She lives off Wilshire, I m pretty sure. I m hoping her building has valet parking.
Then we ll have time to see her car before it s parked.
Wait, Dylan said. Is that it?
The building was a pretty rose color and only a few stories high but in impeccable
upscale condition. Dylan expected that the condos inside had to go for close to a million
dollars, considering the neighborhood. More importantly, a cherry-red sports car was
parked to the side of the entrance, next to a black sedan.
Dylan drove right up to the front entrance. Cherokee swore and leapt out of the car
before he was able to park. What was wrong? Dylan slammed his brakes and glanced
back but Cherokee was already running toward Brandi s car.
When he shut off the engine, he heard a scream and saw a doorman run from the
entrance. Dylan pulled his cell phone from his pocket and pushed open his door.
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Anh Leod
Another scream. This time he heard the word help ! He recognized Brandi s voice.
Cherokee s arms rose, then a dark figure fell to the ground. A woman stumbled
back against the hood of the black sedan, after it tangled with the falling figure. That
was Brandi.
Dylan hit the emergency call button on his cell phone and ran toward the fight
behind the doorman.
Brandi, spread across the sedan s hood, began to cry, holding her hands to her face
as the dark figure came off the ground and ran around the backside of the sedan.
Cherokee jumped onto the hood and then off the car to catch up with Brandi s attacker.
The next thing Dylan saw was the dark figure flying up on Brandi s car hood. He
heard a crunch as the person, who he saw was wearing a dark sweatshirt, hit the
windshield of her sports car.
Miss D Angelo? the doorman shouted. Are you okay?
He shook me and slapped me, she sobbed. That bastard. He s crazy!
Dylan reached her, examined her for blood as he spoke to the emergency operator.
He was distracted by a crunching sound.
The doorman swore and moved toward Cherokee. Just hold on to him, don t kill
him, sir!
Brandi wrapped her arm around Dylan s neck, still sobbing.
He put his hand on her head and pulled her into his shoulder. Your stalker?
She nodded. He was crouched in the back seat of that car so I didn t see him. He
grabbed me when I walked by.
The doorman helped Cherokee get the man to the ground. Cherokee sat down next
to him and held his hands behind his back. Dylan could see a stain spreading past the
man s face and bet Cherokee had broken the guy s nose. At least Brandi s car looked
like it had survived the violence.
Why did he come after you now? Dylan asked.
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Cherokee s Playmates
Brandi sniffed. He s been jealous that I ve been going out at night. I d been staying
home since he started following me. I guess seeing me with other men sent him over the
edge.
How did he pick you to bother?
He lived here until about six months ago, the doorman said, returning to the
black sedan to check on them. But he lost his job and his condo was foreclosed.
I don t remember ever seeing him here, Brandi said, looking up.
Dylan tried to wipe away her tears with the fingers of his free hand. She drew in a
breath quickly when he touched her right cheek. That must be where she was slapped
hardest. He didn t know how to touch her to soothe the pain away.
He kept to himself. Strange guy, the doorman said. I ve seen him around here a
few times recently but I thought he was visiting friends in the building. Guess I should
have known he didn t have any.
The doorman shook his head. I m probably the person who told him your name.
I m so sorry.
Dylan saw flashing lights from the street, then two police cars pulled into the long
circular driveway. The doorman excused himself and went to speak to the police.
Two officers came over to Brandi so Dylan took her into the lobby to talk to them.
Three hours later, after a trip to the police station, Dylan, Cherokee and Brandi were
sitting in her soothing oasis of a living room, sipping glasses of deep red wine.
Dylan took a sip of his then noticed how much it looked like blood and set it down.
I don t want to hear I told you so , Brandi said into her glass. Just because you
were right didn t mean that I m okay with you talking to my father.
I m not sorry, Cherokee said stiffly.
Dylan wanted to clap his hand over the infuriating man s mouth. They had a
chance to reconcile here and he could tell that Cherokee was going to mess it up.
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Anh Leod
Thanks for being so sweet, Dylan, Brandi said. I d love it if you spent the night. I
don t really want to be alone tonight, which is unusual for me.
What about me? Cherokee said, after drinking the contents of his wineglass as if
they d been shot-sized instead of a full glass.
You can go home, Brandi said. I m not happy with you.
Dylan winced. Was Cherokee going to make him take sides or would he leave
quietly? If Cherokee left, Dylan would have time to talk to Brandi when she d calmed
down, maybe in the morning. He could patch things up between them.
I didn t drive, Dylan did. I don t have my wallet with me either.
Brandi stood and stalked out of the room. A minute later she returned and handed
Cherokee two fifty-dollar bills. Get a cab.
She sat down. And thanks for rescuing me.
Cherokee stared at her for a minute, then smiled, his expression darkly
mischievous. You must not be that upset with me.
She waved her hand dismissively. I m not in the mood to think about you any
more tonight.
Fine. Cherokee turned to Dylan.
Dylan wished he could duck out of sight but Cherokee didn t say anything. Dylan
raised an eyebrow at him and Cherokee nodded, then went into the hall. A moment
later, Dylan heard the outer door open and close.
Brandi clutched her shoulders with her hands. I really didn t think the stalker
would get violent. I was right in a sense. He slapped me and shook me, like he was
disciplining me for being bad or something.
It could have escalated to much worse, Dylan said. But let s not think about
that.
I should move, Brandi said. So he can t find me when he gets out of jail.
Not a bad idea, if you can afford it.
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Cherokee s Playmates
Oh sure, Brandi shrugged. Trust fund.
You can stay with me for now, Dylan offered. In case he can afford bail. Holly
won t mind.
Brandi glanced around the room. I run my business out of here but I guess most of
it is on my computer. It will be okay.
Cherokee is a good bodyguard, you know. He could escort you over here when
you need to come back if there s any question of whether the stalker is free.
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