Page 9 of Forced By an Obsessive Bratva Stalker

I ignored the voice and headed outside, locking the door behind me.

The sun had set across the horizon about an hour ago, giving way to shallow darkness. Somewhere behind a small cloud, the crescent moon hung in the sky. The cool breeze brushed against my face as I walked down the sidewalk with both hands in the pockets of my jeans.

My neighbor’s dog was barking from inside their apartment, claws scraping against the glass. Shelby had always been a naughty dog, so I didn’t take her incessant growls seriously.

I noticed the streets were quieter tonight—lonelier than usual. The streetlights were constantly flickering, their warm glow casting long, eerie shadows across the pavement.

Have you ever seen a horror movie? This is how every delinquent blond gets abducted.

I ignored the voice and kept walking down the familiar street. I wasn’t sure why, but for some reason, I genuinely thought that this was a good way to overcome my fear. A part of me wanted to prove that I had nothing to worry about—that there was no one watching me.

I have a very bad feeling about this, Aria.

You always have a bad feeling about everything.

When have I ever misled you, huh? Just listen to me for once.

The snapping of a twig in a nearby bush stopped me in my tracks. My head shot in that direction, but there was no one there.

“Hello?” I called out, my voice firm and steady. At least as steady as it could be. “Anyone there?”

Before I could birth my next thought, a tall, masked man stepped out of the nearby bush. He curled his gloved fingers into a fist and began walking toward me.

Why the fuck are you still standing there? Run!

My breath hitched, eyes wide with horror, as I turned and tried to run. That’s when I spotted a second man, closing fast from behind me. Without thinking twice, I took off in the opposite direction.

Both men chased after me.

Fuck.

My heart was pounding against my ribs as I sprinted down the street with nervous glances over my shoulder.

“Slow down, luv, we just wanna chat!” one of them said, his voice sounding closer by the second.

I turned a sharp corner, and that’s when I realized I’d reached a dead end. My heart stopped as I stared at the brick wall in front of me. The two men arrived shortly after, cornering me in that alley.

“Damn, you’re fast,” one said, struggling to catch his breath.

The other, the bigger one, stepped forward with a dagger.

“Stay back!” I barked, picking up a stick lying carelessly nearby.

“What’re you gonna do, beat me to death with that?” the big guy asked, his voice laced with a hint of mockery.

I held the stick like a makeshift weapon.

The men began walking toward me with slow, menacing steps.

“I said stay back!” I swung the stick at them.

They dodged the strike, laughing.

“Oooh, feisty! I like it!” the second guy said.

“You know, I was only going to rub you and let you go,” the big guy began, his eyes flashing with lust. “But after seeing just how beautiful you are, I’ve changed my mind.”

He lunged at me before I could even register what was happening.