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As Derek continued to pace back and forth, I darted toward my door but he got there first, slamming it closed with one hand as I tried to yank it open.
“You’ll come with me to this party, or you’ll regret it.” He pulled his jacket back, revealing the silver handle of a gun sticking out of his waistband.
All my strength evaporated like a popped balloon, the puppet strings firmly back in place. My head spun as I fought to keep control of my balance.
Derek lunged toward me and gripped my arms, but I was frozen in place. I tried to command my arms to move, but they were stuck to my sides like they were superglued there.
“I told you that if you ruined my future, I’d ruin yours,” he shouted, spraying spittle on my face.
“Derek, let go. You’re hurting me, and I need to go pick up Matson.”
He squeezed tighter before abruptly letting me go. “You’re coming with me to that party.” He pointed a shaky finger at me, poking me painfully in the forehead twice.
I didn’t respond, just thankful my body was finally cooperating again. I hopped into my car and quickly locked the doors, but when I looked in my mirrors, Derek was nowhere to be found. It was like he’d never been there at all.
Once I pulled out of my parking space, I’d just stepped on the gas when the sound of tires squealing behind me got my attention. In my rearview mirror, I could see Derek’s black truck riding my ass. He was so close, I was afraid he was going to hit me.
Making a right out of the lot, I intentionally sped up to see what Derek would do. He stayed right on my tail. And when I jerked my car across two lanes of traffic without warning, I watched in my mirrors as he did the same.
Derek continued to aggressively follow me as I navigated the streets of Santa Monica, too scared to drive to my parents’ house. I refused to pick up Matson while Derek was this reckless. And my poor parents . . . they had no idea any of this had been going on, and it seemed too late to try to explain it all to them now.
Terrified, I drove erratically, making turns at the last second without using my blinker, and going in circles around blocks. But Derek refused to let up, flashing his brights and honking his horn like a maniac. When he tapped my bumper, I almost lost control and crashed into a parked car on the side of the road.
My nerves were shot, fear fueling my adrenaline, and I knew there was only one place I could go. Racing into the employee lot of Sam’s bar, I turned off my engine and sprinted through the back door, praying that Ryan was inside.
Desperate, I searched for him, my heart nearly pounding out of my chest. When I spotted him near the back of the bar, wiping off a table, I ran to him.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know where else to go. He’s chasing me, and he’s crazy,” I said through shaky breaths.
Ryan pulled me into his arms and held me tight. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Who’s chasing you? Derek?”
“Yes,” I said, but my emotions caused me to get choked up. Seeing Ryan and being in his arms after these past few weeks, coupled with being pursued by Derek, left me feeling overwhelmed.
“Is he here?” Ryan tensed, his body stiffening beneath my palms.
“I think so. He followed me.”
When I pointed towar
d the back entrance, Ryan released his hold on me and took off, slamming the door hard against the building as he bolted outside. I’d never seen him so angry, so determined, so protective.
He was back inside the bar within seconds. “He sped off as soon as he saw me. What happened?”
The ping of a text message alert stopped me from answering Ryan’s question.
Unknown Number: I told you his blood would be on your hands. Remember that you caused this.
I almost dropped the phone when Ryan tried to read the message. Terrified that Derek might storm in and start shooting up the place, I panicked.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Don’t follow me, Ryan. I mean it. I shouldn’t have come here. I won’t make that mistake again.”
“It wasn’t a mistake. Sofia, it wasn’t a mistake,” he shouted.
But I was already running out the back door for my car so I could lead Derek away from Ryan and any innocent bystanders. My thoughts instantly went to Matson. If I didn’t show up soon to pick him up, he’d worry. It was my job to protect and worry about him, not the other way around.
As soon as I exited the parking lot, Derek’s truck came into view. He’d been waiting for me.
When I got stuck at a red light, he pulled up next to me and yelled out his window, “You couldn’t just stay away from him, could you? You’ve ruined everything!”
