A sad laugh came from her. “Yes, I’d like to know that, too.” Screw it. She was going home with him. Why fight? She wanted the safety that he could provide to her right then. She cast a quick glance at Mark. “Give him the footage as soon as you can.”

“For you, anything.”

She headed for her car. When his agents had come to the scene, Eric had ordered one of them to bring her car to the gallery. She was damn glad that he had—she wanted the freedom and control of being in her own ride. Her fingers slid over the key fob, unlocking it. Before she could reach for the door, Eric was there. He opened it for her and stood back, watching, while she slid into the seat.

“I’ll be right behind you.”

She stared through the windshield, gazing at her gallery. Police tape had already been rolled across the front of the building. She was in a nightmare, and things were just getting worse.

Eric slammed the door shut and strode away. Piper glanced in her rear-view mirror and saw him head back toward Mark. He said something to the guy, and she wondered what they were talking about. Eric handed Mark what looked like a business card. Mark took the card, gave a jerky nod, and stepped back.

A moment later, Eric was in his car. His lights flashed on.

A tear slid down Piper’s cheek as she drove away.

This night sucked. This week sucked. The bastard doing this to her—he sucked.

***

Piper had found his tribute. She’d gone into her gallery and seen the work he’d done. He’d been waiting, knowing that she would go back there. Art was in Piper’s soul. There was no way she could stay away. He’d just needed to get close. Needed to wait.

She drove away slowly, followed immediately by the prick in the Benz. The guy who acted as if he had some sort of right to her.

He didn’t.

Piper is mine.

No one noticed when he slowly pulled onto the street and followed the Benz. Piper wasn’t getting away from him. He’d find out where she was going. He’d keep a very close watch on her.

I’ve got you now, Piper.

She wouldn’t be able to hide, not anymore.

Because wherever she went, he could find her.

He wondered what she’d thought of his tribute. Did she realize how very much she inspired him? If she didn’t…

She would.

Very, very soon.

Chapter Eight

You’re fucking in love with her, too.

Eric stared into the flames. The fire crackled and danced in his study, the flames moving quickly. He’d returned home and lit the fire, thinking that Piper might want to come downstairs and join him, that she might want to talk after everything that had happened.