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I was already on high alert. I could have sworn someone was following me, but it was too dark to make out who it was. My mind instantly conjured up images of Frank or even my father. The man moved so quietly that I didn’t even hear him getting so close to me. Not until he was already on me.
I’m vaguely aware of footsteps headed my way, and I spin around, trying to jerk my arm out of my assailant’s grip. I can’t focus on anything except getting free. The world is caving in around me, the sky folding in on itself as my throat closes up in panic. I feel like I’m breathing through a straw, tears clogging my throat and threatening to stream down my face.
“Griffin!” another man yells as he runs up to us.
The person holding my arm growls. Like, legit growls.
My skin prickles with awareness and I glance up at the guy who is holding me. I inhale sharply when I recognize him as theman from this morning. The fear recedes slightly, though I can’t explain why. My stomach twists as my heart lurches in my chest.
“Griffin, let her go. You’re scaring her,” the man who ran to my rescue says.
That means that the man holding me is Griffin. Two more guys come running in our direction. One is wearing a firefighter's uniform and the other is a paramedic. We are close to the station and I'm guessing that they heard me screaming.
At least I’ll be safe in this place. It seems like people would come running if I just yelled loud enough.
I try to take comfort in that thought as I tug on my arm again, but it remains firmly in Griffin’s hold. He’s staring at me with such intensity, and I don’t know how to feel.What the hell is happening to me?
“Griffin,” the other guy snaps. Finally, Griffin’s hold on me loosens.
“Sorry about that,” he says and I glance at him warily.
He's staring at me, looking almost feral. I shift away from him and his eyes flash in warning. I'm on edge, every hair on my body sticking up while my nerves sizzle and pop. Am I scared? Turned on?Both?
“What happened?” the firefighter asks as he comes to a stop, joining our little group.
“He grabbed me,” I snap, surprising myself at the force of my voice. The adrenaline is coursing through my veins and making me shaky.
“She was scared. I just meant to stop her and see if she was alright,” Griffin says, his voice tight.
“Are you alright, miss?” the paramedic asks.
He steps toward me, probably intending to check me over for wounds, but Griffin growls. Again. We all look at him as he moves closer to me.
The safe, warm feeling from earlier fades.The guy is obviously insane.
I take another step back, glancing over to my apartment building.
So close, but I doubt I could outrun any of them.
“Griffin?” the firefighter asks. The men all stare at Griffin the Growly, and I use their distraction to inch my way backward and out of the circle forming around us.
They all seem to be having some kind of intense, silent conversation and I decide to go for it. I spin on my heel and bolt for my apartment building. I manage to get inside and slam the door closed behind me before I jog up the stairs and hurry into the safety of my apartment.
I lock the door and back up, staring at it, fully expecting it to burst open and for Griffin or someone worse to burst in.
I take in the flimsy piece of wood that is my front door and I start to feel like even with the door locked, I’m still not safe here. Sure, I’m on the second floor, but there’s a fire escape and the building isn’t all that secure. Anyone could walk in. If they did get into my place, there’s nowhere for me to go. I basically live in a closet. I would be trapped so quickly.
A knock sounds at the door and I flinch.
“Hey, it’s Ryker. I, uh, I just wanted to make sure that you’re okay. I’m sorry about Griffin. He really didn’t mean to scare you.”
I chew on my lip, debating if I should answer the door or not. In the end, I trust my gut and reach for the doorknob. After all, he came to my rescue out there. I doubt he’s here to hurt me now.
I crack the door and see that he’s alone.
"It's just me," he says like he can read my mind. "I wanted to make sure that you were safe and okay."
“I’m fine. Just a little jumpy.”
