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Charley and the prospect behind the bar are at my side in seconds. Their arms are around me, their hands on my biceps as they shake me, shouting things I don’t even comprehend. I’m so terrified that I can’t even think.
He’shere.
Opening my eyes, I look straight toward the window and realize there’s nothing there. Blinking, I snap my lips closed and inhale a deep breath, letting it out slowly. The two men stand in front of me, their eyes wide, their expressions frenzied.
They are confused, and I realize I just fucked up… big time. There is no way I’m going to get out of not telling these guys something. The way they’re watching me, they know it’s something.
“I thought I saw someone watching me,” I say breathlessly.
They don’t move. It’s clear that while they believe I did see someone watching me, they do not believe it’s justthat. Taking a step backward, I start to move away from them, but they don’t let me.
Charley reaches out and wraps his fingers around my forearm. “You’re gonna need to give us more than that, babe. I know you’re running from something, that everything is on the DL with you, but I need to know what exactly is happening. I got a business to run here.”
“It’s nothing illegal,” I blurt out.
He hums, but he’s not letting it go. As much as I want to tell him to fuck off and mind his business, this is a great job, and the tips were out of this world. There is no way I can walk away from any of this.
“I have a stalker,” I admit.
It’s the only part of the story that I will admit to them right now. And I feel an immense amount of guilt that it’s more than I ever told Kiplyn or Agony. Charley’s hand drops from my forearm, his head tilting to the right.
“But it’s a stalker you know,” he states.
Nodding my head, I let out a heavy sigh. “It’s someone I know,” I confess.
Charley jerks his chin toward the prospect, whose name I really need to get, then he flicks his attention back to meet mine. “I won’t ask any more questions, but babe, you see him, you fucking let us know, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I exhale. “It was probably just my eyes playing a trick on me,” I mutter before I turn and go back to work.
We don’t speak about it again. Charley turns on some music and turns it up as we work. It doesn’t take too long, maybe an hour, to get the place back into order for opening tomorrow. Grabbing my purse and my shoes, I head toward the back door, where my car is parked when the prospect grabs my arm.
“Name’s Justin,” he offers, even though he’s already introduced himself to me, but I’m glad for the refresher because I’ve seriously been so busy I forgot. “Figured I’d give you the reminder since we’ll be working together, but also because I’m going to be walking you to your car tonight.”
“I appreciate that,” I whisper.
He places his hand at the small of my back, and my whole body freezes. My spine straightens, and I don’t know what to do. I’m confused, not because his hand is on my back, but because of what that means and that no man has touched me there since Agony.
And I miss Agony’s touch.
This is awkward, wrong, almost painful.
Justin hasn’t done anything wrong. He’s not creepy or anything. He’s just not Agony.
“I’ll also follow you to your place. Make sure you get in safe.”
Gosh, what a nice guy. Sliding my tongue along my bottom lip, I look at him. “Thanks,” I whisper. “I appreciate that.”
Once I’m in my car, I start the engine and wonder if I’m taking advantage of him.I shouldn’t let Justin follow me home, but I’m scared enough that I’m willing to let him protect me. Guilt crawls up my throat and threatens to choke me.
I hate this, and I hate myself right now. How could I have told Justin and Charley anything and refuse to tell the people I actually love in my life a single word about it? Once I’m parked in front of my shithole apartment complex, I hurry to my door. Holding my hand up, I wave to Justin before slipping inside.
After closing the apartment door, I flip the dead bolt and step into the small living room, tossing my high heels to the floor as I move through the small space and into the smaller bedroom. It’s silent, aside from the television of my neighbor that shares my wall.
I strip out of my work clothes and leave them in a pile in the middle of my room, then head to the small bathroom to shower. The only good things about this place are that the water is hot and the water pressure is amazing.
I might stay forever just for those two things.
Once I’m showered, I throw on a pair of shorts and a tank top before crawling into bed and pulling the sheet and blanket over my head. I have to be back at work in nine hours, and for the first time in a long time, I feel safe.
