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I felt my heart jump into my throat and found myself lowering the gun, even though I probably should’ve kept it pointed right at him. Even though he’d been following me, watching me, probably had dug up information on me.
The gun was pressed to the side of my thigh now, my fingers still tightly wrapped around it. “Why are you following me?” Maybe I should’ve kept my mouth shut or turned around and kept moving, but I needed to know.
I needed to know what I was up against.
“Why don’t you get in the SUV and I’ll drive you the rest of the way home?”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Are you fucking serious?”
He laughed softly and shook his head, focusing on the road in front of him. A car drove past Butcher’s vehicle, slowed, looking inside. I could see the dazed look of the driver, probably high or drunk. His piece-of-shit car rattled, probably a loose muffler ready to fall off.
But then I saw the realization on the man’s face, saw when he recognized it was Butcher. His eyes widened as he straightened and looked forward, his throat working as he swallowed.
And then he hauled ass out of there.
Then it was just us again.
I stared at Butcher. He stared at me.
Nothing was said, but the tension was high, the emotion electric.
“I can walk myself home.” I put the gun back in my bag and exhaled. “And stop fucking stalking me.” I wanted to tell him I’d call the cops if it kept up, but then again, he and I both knew I wouldn’t. I’d be lying.
He didn’t say anything, so I turned around and just left, starting to walk to my place. I looked over my shoulder and watched him, pleased he seemed to be listening, that he wasn’t advancing in his vehicle.
And despite the fact that I was glad about this, happy he clearly saw some power in me, a part of me sensed that safeness I’d felt with him start to go away the farther I moved from him.
It confused me, but most of all, I was afraid of those feelings.
* * *
Butcher
I watched her leave,walk away from me. I didn’t know if Poppy thought I’d give up, listen to her when she told me not to follow her. She didn’t know me very well.
However, she would.
She disappeared down the road, and I drove forward slowly. I circled the block so she couldn’t see me following her… stalking her. But I did it all for her.
I pulled the SUV down one of the alleys right across from her complex, turned the vehicle off, and sat there, watching her building, making sure no degenerate or druggies or motherfuckers got to close. A moment later I saw a light go on, knew it was her bedroom. Hell, I knew the fucking layout of her apartment from when Shyne looked her up for me.
She didn’t have any proper blinds, and I didn’t fucking like the fact any asshole could see right through. I rested my head back on the seat and closed my eyes for a moment, running my hand over my jaw, knowing I was using a hell of a lot of self-control not to go to her right now.
I opened my eyes and looked at the apartment complex once more, sat up straighter as I saw a man open the front door and walk inside. It could have been a resident, but the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. My gut told me this wasn’t right, so without thinking, I got out of the car and headed to where Poppy was.
I had to make sure she was okay.
Chapter Nine
Poppy
Ileaned back against the front door, my eyes closed, and reached out without looking to put the deadbolt in place. I rested my head back on the dented, paint-chipped metal, and just breathed.
In.
Out.
In.
