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“Wow. You really are a terrible stalker. Again, kind of surprised you didn’t do that already.”
His lips draw into a line.
“Darling, there are lines even I wouldn’t cross. While I have no problem watching you, hacking into your phone is what I would consider a step too far.”
The man tracks me to a field, steals my number and this is where he draws the line?
“If you didn’t hack my phone, how did you know where I was all the time?”
He sends me a flat look.
“I said I would consider it a step too far. Mark, on the other hand, has no such problem. It’s one of his many wonderful qualities.”
“So, really, I have no choice?”
“No, no. You do have a choice. The only thing that won’t change is the result.”
Sighing, I enter the pin and hand him the phone. It’s not like I have much to hide anyway. Besides, having my location after being bashed in the head doesn’t sound terrible. I suppose I could have worse security than a sexy serial killer as a bodyguard.
“Thank you.” Taking the phone from me, he begins swiping away at the screen. My foot taps anxiously while I wait for him to finish. When he holds the phone out to me, I don’t waste any time snatching it from his commanding grasp. His fingers come up to the back of my neck, pulling me in for a bruising kiss. Pulling away with a smirk, he runs his thumb under my lip. The tender touch sends butterflies throughout my body.
“There. Now, you can leave.”
A few minutes later, I’m in the car on the way to my office. I shouldn’t feel like this is so normal. I’m living with my stalker. I’m fairly certain there’s something happening between my sister and his brother, raising several questions all on its own. Despite the alarm bells ringing in my mind, I like it. Am I really that fucked up? The phantom memory of his touch dispels the negative thoughts much too quickly. Pulling into the parking space, I contemplate going back before the responsible part of my brain wins the battle.
Thankfully, my fringe and sunglasses hide the majority of my bruises, saving me from uncomfortable questions as I make my way through the floor and into my office. As I begin my day, a knock on my door interrupts my train of thought. Carl slides my glass office door open and steps in. Immediately, my hackles are raised. This fucking prick. He may not be flower-worthy, but I’m certain there’s something else I can think of which would be appropriate.
“What do you want, Carl?”
He enters my office, closing the door behind him. Wasting no time, he steps around my desk, cornering me. Rising from my seat, I ball my hands into fists.
“You’re taking too many trips in the woods. Looks like a tree finally got some payback.”
He points at my forehead and chuffs a laugh. Alarm bells ring in my ears. I knew he was a piece of shit after his outburst. He may have run across my mind as the person who attacked me, but it was fleeting. Now, he has my undivided attention.
“What does that fucking mean?” I clutch the pen. The office may not be the ideal place to do this, but I’ll gladly drive it through his temple.
“As much as I enjoy watching you squirm, I am here about work,” he seethes through clenched teeth. “I saw Lennox yesterday at the auction you should have been at. He says he expects you to make the appointment with him this afternoon. No excuses. So be a good little cunt and show up.” He shrugs and crosses his arms as if he’s a commanding presence.
The sight would be comical, if it wasn’t so sad.
“Yes, I’ll be there. Such a good little messenger. Do you need a tip?” I ask with a smirk.
He takes a step forward, his hands balling into fists. Rage boils closer to the surface of his body as a vein pulses along his neck. I’m ready for the lunge he takes, snapping my palm upward. A crack reverberates down my arm as I make contact with his nose. Blood seeps through his fingers. Heat coils in my chest with satisfaction as I watch him stumble.
“Touch me again, and they’ll never find the pieces of you. Understand?” Taking another step toward him, I lean in, letting the warning shine clear in my vision. “Do. You. Understand?”
He clenches his jaw and nods.
“Fucking whore.” He moves around my desk and reaches for the sliding glass door.
“Oh, and Carl”—he turns to look over his shoulder at me—“just so you know, my security system has a wonderful recording of that night. It would be in your best interest to keep my name out of your mouth.”
He storms out of my office. The sliding glass door slides closed with so much force that it slides open again.
If only I could find that man in a parking lot. He needs to be taken down a peg or two. It takes a few minutes to steady my nerves. Once the anger recedes, I set to work. The morning flies by. When it’s time to leave, I check to make sure I have a full copy of the report for Lennox.
When I arrive at the estate, the guard isn’t in his cabin. I look around to see if he’s nearby, but don’t see anyone. I wait a few more minutes before hitting the button. Lennox’s voice comes through the call box.
