I took a deep breath, thinking it through. “He knows my proper address. Not too difficult to find out, but means he’s not an amateur sending stuff care of my agent. Mind you, is there even such a thing as an amateur stalker?”

“Good question.”

“And he knows stuff about me. The lingerie was my label and the right size. He also has access to cow hearts, though probably he could just have got them from the butcher.”

“Blech.”

“Right?” I shivered. “He’s clever and opportunistic, handing stuff off to the delivery guy and paying him to bring it in. But at the same time, him coming to the building again shows he’s willing to take some risks. There were a few ways that little stunt might not have worked out.”

Abigael just frowned. It was a frowning kind of topic of discussion.

“He’s bloodthirsty, obviously. Likes using a knife.”

“You’re freaking me out,” said Abi. “This is why I don’t watch murder documentaries.”

“Imagine being in my shoes. It’s always at the back of my mind, making me jumpy as a cat on a hot tin roof as Elizabeth Taylor would say.”

Abi gave me a small smile. It was a shitty situation. No hiding that. She finished up my face while Lena stood in front of the shooting area with its all-white surrounds. This room had no windows to let in outside light. She had another room upstairs with large industrial style windows that was cool to work with. Air-conditioners were doing their best, but I still felt the heat from the lights. I blinked a few times, adjusting to the fake eyelashes and the brightness.

“I like this look.” Zane, my co-designer for the lingerie line, took my robe. “The demi-cup bra was a nice idea. Goes well with the boy shorts.”

“We work magic together, dude.”

Zane sniffed. “Don’t call me dude. Dude.”

I held back a smile. “You were right, the trompe l’oeil embroidery is beautiful in light blue. And I like the opaque back on the panties.”

“Such a sweet set. You look almost virginal,” sighed Lena, lifting her camera to her face.

“Oh, I’m afraid those days are long gone, sweetie,” said Zane with a smile.

“Nice. Very nice.” I mock frowned. “You people are supposed to be my friends.”

“Please. Fashion means never having friends. Now stand there and look pretty.”

Lizzo played loud and proud over the stereo, setting the mood. I could only make out the shadow of Ziggy’s face due to all the lighting and him standing near the back of the room. But then he stepped forward far enough for me to see him and holy shit. The look in his dark eyes made me catch my breath.

And I definitely wasn’t imagining the I want to eat you from top to toe looks. Not even a little.