Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Damien cursed. “They were wrong.”
“Yes. He started calling all the time. Sending texts. I changed my number, but somehow he got it again. I bought a new phone. He’d leave me notes in my mailbox. And he seemed to follow me everywhere. I added extra locks to my apartment. The super changed the lock on the front door and reminded everyone not to let in strangers. I told the school what was happening. The principal started driving me home herself, she was so upset. She wanted me to come stay with her, but I refused to put her out or involve her. I told myself he was just annoying and he’d get bored.”
“Men like him never get bored with their prey.”
I felt the color drain from my face at his words.
“Prey?” I whispered, fear wrapping my throat in ice.
“He’s a stalker. And he’s stalking you. He’s not going to stop until someone makes him, Raven.”
Shudders ran through me at his simple words. Deep down, I knew he was right.
“What am I going to do?”
“What happened today? What brought you to me?”
“I hadn’t seen him for a few days. I thought he’d grown tired of it. I needed some things, so I went to the store. But he was there, and I ran. I just left all my groceries in the cart, and I ran. I live about two blocks from here. But he followed. Grabbed me and pulled me into the alley over there.” She pointed to the side of the building. “He told me I was his. I belonged to him, and I needed to stop making him chase me. He said he was getting mad, and I wouldn’t like him if he was mad. His eyes—” I swallowed and shivered again “—his eyes were crazy. I was terrified. I told him I wasn’t his. I said that I had a boyfriend and I was on my way to meet him. He shook me so hard, screaming in my face, telling me he was my boyfriend and we were meant for each other.”
“What did you do?”
“I stomped on his foot. He let go, and I ran around the corner. Saw the pub.” I met his intense, worried gaze. “Found you.” The tremor in my voice grew more pronounced. “I’m sorry.”
He studied me, then shook his head. He reached across the table and took my cold hands in his, chafing them.
“I’m not.”
CHAPTER THREE
Damien
I sensed her fear, the terror she was holding inside. She was in over her head, no one to turn to, no idea how to stop what was happening. Because she couldn’t stop it—it was beyond her control.
But I could.
It angered me the way the system worked. He hadn’t touched her, so therefore, nothing was done. Never mind he was mentally frightening her. It was as bad, if not worse, than laying hands on her. And I worried what would happen if he managed to get her alone and did get his hands on her. The man I had seen was tall and lean, but I had no doubt he was stronger than her. He had a good foot on her, height-wise, and his loose hoodie probably hid muscles that could easily overpower her.
But it wasn’t going to happen on my watch. I couldn’t explain the connection I felt to Raven— the need to protect her, to make sure she was okay, but I wasn’t going to fight it. The memory of how she felt in my arms and the taste of her on my tongue was too strong. There was a reason she’d run in here, to me. I was what she needed to help her.
I wrapped my hands around her cold fingers, rubbing at the skin.
“I know you’re upset and scared, Raven. I understand. But I’m right here.”
She looked away, opened her mouth, then closed it.
“What?” I prompted. “What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”
“I appreciate you playing along. Having me stay and have dinner with you. Giving me a chance to calm down and relax a little…” She trailed off.
“But?”
“Now I have to go home and hope he’s not waiting.”
I shook my head. “I rather hope he is.”
“What?” She gaped at me.
“Since I plan on walking you home, I hope he is there. I have a few things to say to him that might discourage any further interactions. I have a feeling he likes to push people smaller than himself around. If he knows someone is looking out for you, he might back off.”
She frowned, chewing the inside of her cheek. “Do you really think so?”
“I hope so. But I want a good look at him. I plan on finding out as much about him as I can.”
“Why?”
I squeezed her hands. “Unlike my boss, I believe in fate, Raven. You rushed into this bar where I was for a reason. That reason is no one can help you the way I can. No one can protect you like me. I was sitting there for the same reason.”