He leaned close and spoke in a low, deep voice. "You working here?"
I gulped. "What?"
He made a show of looking around. "Here. You working this place?"
"What? No," I stammered. "I'm just on a walk, that's all."
He laughed long and loud, like a crazed killer wielding a machete. Lightning flashed, followed by the quick clap of thunder.
Whatever this was, it couldn’t be happening. I was like one zombie away from a real-life horror movie.
When the guy finally stopped laughing, he looked over to the woman and said in a loud sarcastic voice, "You hear that, Violet? She's just out on a walk." He looked back to me and said, "Nice day for a stroll, right?"
I swallowed hard and pushed a clump of soggy hair out of my eyes. Desperately, I blurted out, "I’m, uh, meeting someone, so I've gotta go."
He leaned closer. "Is that right?"
The woman, oblivious to the rain, was hanging halfway out of the vehicle now. She called over to the guy. "We should make her pay."
I glared over at her. "For what?"
She flicked her head toward the guy. "For walking onhisstreet. Dumb-ass."
I whirled toward the guy and said, "You don't own the street. Nobody does."
He gave me a wide grin that sent chills down my damp spine. "Sorry, but you're wrong, baby-doll."
I sucked in a deep breath and tried not to let my panic show. His vehicle, the way he was dressed, the things he was saying, it was pretty obvious what he was getting at. Somehow, I'd infringed on his territory, or at least, that's what hethoughtI was doing.
But I wasn't. I had to make him see that. I held up my hands. "Look, I was just heading home, honest. I live around here, okay?"
Again, he laughed. "No one like you lives around here."
No one like me? What did that mean?
The guy's gaze drifted down to my breasts. He nodded like he saw something he liked. "Yeah, you're the good stuff, aren't you?"
I didn't bother looking down. It didn't take a genius to understand what had captured his attention. My white blouse, skimpy as it was, was now soaked and clinging to me like a second skin.
Stupid work uniform.
Maybe Ishouldhave signed that petition. Who knows? Maybe I still would. But first, I needed a ride out of here, and fast. Without thinking, I blurted out, "Hey, can I borrow your phone?"
The guy laughed like I'd said something funny. "Why? Who you gonna call?"
"My boyfriend."
"Boyfriend, huh?"
Unsure what to do now, I started blathering like an idiot. "He lives around here. I mean, I live with him. And with it raining and all, I figure I should call and get a ride, you know?"
From the SUV, the woman called out, "You want a ride? He'll give you a ride, honey."
Oh, for God's sake. Tired of this whole twisted scene, I snapped, "I'll stick with Jake. Thanks."
At this, her expression froze. Her eyes shifted toward the guy, who'd just muttered a low curse. When I turned to look, he said, "Jake who?" He wasn't laughing anymore. "Bishop?"
Why lie? I nodded.
