Finished by Claire Kent

Mike had come out victorious merely by the force of his persistence. Drayton might be more intense, but Mike had the stronger will.
    She’d managed to put off Mike’s question an hour ago by hugging him and then suggesting they find something to eat for dinner. But they’d ended up back in Mike’s room, lounging on his bed. Julia’s head was quite comfortably resting on his lap, and she’d hoped he’d just keep stroking her hair and not pursue his earlier inquiry.
    But this was Mike. He wasn’t easily fooled or diverted. She wouldn’t like it if he was. There was something deeply comforting in the fact that he could always tell when she was upset and that he wouldn’t leave her alone until she told him.
    It could be annoying too, of course, but she wouldn’t want it any other way.
    “It’s nothing,” she tried, knowing it was futile as she spoke the lie.
    He didn’t bother responding. Just looked down at her with an impatient expression.
    “I’ve been bad,” she admitted baldly.
    His eyebrows arched, and she saw a particular smolder ignite in his eyes—one that got her a little excited.
    “That wasn’t an invitation for a spanking,” she clarified, unable to keep from giggling. “Sadly, it was the truth.”
    His hand grew still on her hair for just a moment, before he resumed his caress. “What have you done?”
    “I snooped on Drayton. I followed him, and then I searched his room.” It had felt perfectly natural—almost inevitable—when she’d been doing it, but admitting it now was mortifying. Her actions sounded so silly as she listened to the words.
    Mike’s expression didn’t change, but she heard him let out a breath. “Oh, baby.”
    “I know. It was terrible. But something is going on with him, and it’s starting to feel like it might be dangerous. I think I found blood on his shirt when I was doing some laundry for him.”
    “Blood?”
    “Yeah. Not a lot, but definitely more than a little cut or something would bleed. And then, today, there was this whole thing with a creepy man who owns an antique store.” She briefly summarized the events of lunch and then the conversation about the candles, concluding with, “And then after that weirdness, the guy hit on me! He offered to take me to his bed and give me great pleasure.”
    Mike stiffened palpably. “He what?”
    “Don’t get all bristly. He wasn’t pushy about it. But it was an entirely creepy conversation, especially since I’m sure it was him who came close to hitting me with his car. And then in Drayton’s room, I found the strangest thing.”
    “The folder with the newspaper clippings?”
    “Yeah. What do you think—” She suddenly realized the implications of his question. “Hey! You searched his room too! And you were going to lecture me for—”
    “I wasn’t going to lecture you. Do you take me for some kind of judgmental hypocrite? I just want you to be careful.”
    She’d been lying on her side, but now she rolled over onto her back so she could more easily peer up at his face. “Careful of what?”
    “Of Drayton.” Mike’s expression was sober—almost impassive. “I’m not sure I trust him anymore.”
    Julia’s heart gave an agonized lurch. “You don’t really think he’d hurt us, do you? I mean, I know he’s hiding something, but I really think he cares about us.”
    “I think so too, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a danger.”
    She didn’t answer immediately as she tried to process his words, and her face twisted as she struggled against anxiety and confusion. “How do you think he could hurt us?”
    “It’s mostly you I’m worried about.” Mike wasn’t looking at her now but staring at the wall across the room. “I can take care of myself, but you still trust Drayton, and it would be so easy for him to take advantage of that. He might not do so intentionally, but there are so many ways he could hurt you.” He paused, as if he were hesitating before he continued, “Did you