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Those bags look heavy. Want some help?
Goose bumps stood up on the back of her neck. Frantically, she glanced around her. Where was he? All she saw was a younger woman walking her dog across the street, and only one other couple walking away from her ahead on the sidewalk, hand in hand. No cars pulled by on the small side street, either. Where was he? She glanced at nearby condo windows, but saw no one. Still, she could almost feel his eyes on her, watching every move she made. Her own condo was more than a block away. Was he following her? How had he even found her? Was it just luck...or something more sinister?
She fumbled with her phone, trying to turn off her location setting, but even as she did so, she knew it was too late. In her haste, she dropped one of her grocery bags and an apple rolled out.
“Dammit,” she cursed, stooping to pick up her groceries.
Another message from Nost dinged.
Love it when you bend over.
Now she just wanted to quit the app. She wanted him out of her phone, out of her life. She picked up the apple, shoved it into her bag and whipped the reusable tote over her shoulder. Another message followed.
Better watch it, or the apple isn’t the only thing that’s going to get bruised.
In a panic, Emma deleted the entire app off her phone. Her heart thudded in her chest as she frantically scanned her surroundings. Now it was just the woman walking the dog, who’d gone halfway down the block. The couple had turned at the corner, and the street was empty save for a few parked cars. Where was he? How was he watching her? She quickened her pace to her apartment, wondering what she should do: Call the police? They might laugh at her. What would she say? A mean guy is texting me? Claiming to be watching me?
Yet, the hairs on her forearms stood straight up. She knew with certainty that the man was nearby somewhere, and she knew he planned to hurt her. She remembered Xavier saying the man had a record, a history of assaulting women. She didn’t know what to do, so she called Xavier. The phone rang once before he picked it up.
“Emma. I’m so glad you called, I...”
“Xavier. He’s here. The guy who wore the Cardinals hat. Somehow he found me, but I don’t know how. He’s been messaging me and I think he’s watching me. Can you talk to me while I get to my apartment? I’m just a half block away now.”
“Emma, you need to call 911. Now.” Xavier sounded panicked. “Get inside your apartment as fast as you can. I’m coming to you now. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”
Her heart thudded even faster as she threw a quick glance behind her. Still no sign of the man, but she knew he was watching her. She could feel it.
“Are you sure?”
“More than sure. Hang up. Now. Call 911.”
“Okay,” she agreed, suddenly even more afraid than she was before. She’d never heard Xavier sound so rattled. The fact that she wasn’t overreacting to the situation didn’t make her feel any better. Reluctantly, she hung up. Emma quickened her pace so that she was almost jogging as she headed to the stoop of her three-flat, which she could see. It was just about fifteen feet away. Emma fumbled with her phone, dialing 9-1-1. She was about to hit send when she felt someone come up behind her. Then came the rough hand that slapped her arm and her phone went flying. She whirled in time to see the man she’d dreaded. He wasn’t wearing his Cardinals hat now, but she’d recognize the cold glint of his gaze anywhere.
“Where you going so fast, Kitten?” he said, voice low and full of menace.
* * *
Xavier’s heart leapt to his throat as he began his full-on sprint from the Brown Line L stop near Emma’s condo. He’d already dialed his Chicago detective friend, Ian, who happened to be on duty not far away.
“I’ll be there in five minutes,” Ian said, and he could hear the whir of the siren of his unmarked police car in the background as he flicked it on.
“I’ll be there in two,” Xavier said, kicking it up a notch as he ran even faster, his arms pumping, his heart beating wildly in his chest.
Please let her be okay, he prayed. If that asshole so much as touches her, I’m going to kill him, he vowed as he skidded to the corner of Emma’s street. All he had to do was turn and her condo was the third on the left. Got to get there. Every cell in his body worked frantically to propel him forward. He rounded the corner and saw what he most feared: Jimmy grabbing Emma. She was struggling against him, her tote bags full of groceries scattered on the deserted sidewalk. She was no match for his massive strength as he dragged her toward a nearby alley, his thick hand wrapped around her throat. She couldn’t scream, could barely breathe. Xavier’s blood ran cold.
