Page 7 of Chasing Kaylee Kringle

Kaylee had freaked out and wanted to go to the police, but after Elasia told Wyatt, he’d talked her out of it.

“He’s got a little crush. Just ignore him, and he’ll go away.”

Kaylee didn’t like his answer, but she tried to do what he said. She went to class. She ignored the bikers lingering on campus until Ansel left roses on her car with a note. I’m just trying to keep you safe. No hard feelings.

Kaylee didn’t know what he was keeping her safe from, but she couldn’t wait for graduation. She’d tried to talk to Elasia, voicing her concerns about Wyatt and his connections to Ansel, but Elasia laughed. “Come on, Kaylee. You sound paranoid. Maybe you need to let loose a little.”

The bikers disappeared for several weeks, and Kaylee finally relaxed, even accepting a date with a guy who worked at the campus library. Feeling normal again, she thought it was over.

Until her date parked near her dorm, and as they were getting out, a series of lights illuminated them. Kaylee held her hand up to her eyes, spotting a dozen motorcycles lined up she hadn’t noticed. A shadow passed over the high beams, and as the form drew closer, Kaylee’s heart seized in fear as Ansel ambled toward them.

“Did you two kids have fun?” Ansel’s gaze hardened as he zeroed in on their clasped hands. “I think it’s time you called it a night, don’t you?”

Her date swallowed audibly and dropped her hand. “Sure. ’Night, Kaylee. I’ll see you—”

“No, you won’t.”

The guy practically ran for his driver’s side door, and she couldn’t blame him. Ansel’s dark, guttural tone crackled through the quiet night like a lightning strike, and Kaylee resisted the urge to run, too. Ansel stepped closer, clicking his tongue.

“Kaylee, sweet Kaylee,” he practically purred, his rough hands coming up to cup her face, and when she tried to jerk away, he tightened his grip. “I gave you space, and this is what you do with it? Do you know how much this hurts me?” He leaned into her, pressing his mouth to her ear, his warm, moist breath rushing out against her skin, and she whimpered in fear. “You’re mine, Kaylee. From the minute I saw you, I knew. I’ve tried to be patient, to give you time to adjust, but no more games. I see you even smile at another man, and I’ll hang his balls above my door like a sprig of mistletoe. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” His lips brushed her cheek, and when he straightened above her, Kaylee shivered in terror at the savage gleam in his eyes. This deranged man laid claim to her, and she wanted him to leave, to get on his bike and ride away so she could breathe again.

His left hand dropped, but his right palm remained cradling her face, his thumb rubbing along her bottom lip, and she wanted to bite him, to scream at him to stop touching her, but the terror choked her, keeping her silent. “I hate it when we fight, but now that I’ve been clear with my intentions, please know that I value loyalty above everything. No need to involve anyone else. Right, baby?”

Kaylee swallowed back the bile climbing up the back of her throat and croaked, “Just us.”

“Good girl.”

Ansel finally released her and disappeared into the lights before the engines roared to life and the motorcycles, one by one, passed her by. She saw each man clearly, giving her a nod as if they’d already accepted her as Ansel’s property.

Kaylee didn’t make it three feet before she was vomiting in the grass, uncontrollable sobs wrenching from her. When she stumbled through the door, Elasia and Wyatt were cuddled on her bed. Elasia bolted to her feet when her gaze met Kaylee’s, and she rushed to her. Kaylee collapsed against her, sucking in high, panicked breaths as she told her everything.

“That creepy-ass motherfucker!” Elasia squeezed her hard and crossed the room for her keys. “We’re going to the cops.”

“You can’t!” Wyatt’s voice cracked on the words, and Elasia whirled on him.

“I don’t care what kind of deal you have going on with them; they’re dangerous, and I’m not letting that psychotic dickhead anywhere near her again.”

“He’s right.” Both Wyatt and Elasia turned toward Kaylee when she spoke, adding, “They’re dangerous, and the only way to make them stop is to take away what he wants, right? That’s me. I’ll talk to the school about finishing this semester online, and I’ll go home.”

“Kaylee, we can go to the cops—”

“How many times has a restraining order stopped an unhinged man?” Kaylee had hugged Elasia, wanting her friend to understand. “It will be okay. Once I’m gone, he’ll forget all about me.”

Kaylee couldn’t catch her breath, dragged out of her memories when the room swayed. There was no question about what needed to happen next. It was time to run again. If she didn’t get out of there, everyone she cared about would be in danger. She could get out and head through the alley back to her place and disappear.

Kaylee left the office and raced to the back door. There wouldn’t be time to say goodbye or apologize to Dana or give Josie one last hug. There was no way she could live with another innocent life snuffed out because of her.

She unlocked the silver knob on the back door, turned the tab, and then closed it behind her. The cold air stung the back of her neck as she put in her key, double-checking again that she’d locked it. Kaylee didn’t want to leave Dana vulnerable to a stranger sneaking inside the back.

She’d barely pocketed the key when someone grabbed one of her wrists, and she tried to jerk away, but Rick held fast, a triumphant gleam making his eyes blaze.

“Gotcha.”

Chapter Five

Rick