Since I took on an extra project for overtime, the office is empty outside of yours truly. Even Alek has gone home for the day, although he did shoot me a hungry look before stalking out. The memory sends a shiver lancing down my spine because I know exactly what’s for dinner tonight.
Me.
I’m in such a good mood, my brain buzzing with it, that even the sight of Evelyn’s name popping up on my phone doesn’t dim my happiness.
Eve: I really need 100 bucks
Eve: Please, Kevin owes someone some money and it would help us out.
I scoff.
Me: I don’t have it
Eve: Where are you?
Me: Still at work.
Me: I’m busy right now. We can talk later, okay?
Evelyn has been texting me a sob story about needing money for three days now, getting increasingly mad each time I refuse her. And yet, this is the first time she’s shown any interest in my whereabouts or how I’m doing. Some of my good mood fizzles and, although I try to remain chipper, it’s getting harder and harder to focus on my project now.
Rolling back from my desk a half hour later, I run a hand through my hair and sigh wearily. I’ve been at Alek’s house for a month and a half now, and the time away from Evelyn has made me realize how every harsh, callous word was breaking me down bit-by-bit. Since I’ve been away, I’ve slowly started to feel likemeagain.
Maybe Alek is right; maybe some people don’t want to change.
Grabbing my keys, I pull out my phone one more time.
Me: Clocking out soon. Want me to bring anything home?
Alek: All I want is that sexy ass
Me: It’s all yours, big guy
His flirty text sends a bolt of giddiness through me, making me promptly forget all about Evelyn as I push the front door open. As I lock it, a long, ominous roll of thunder rumbles overhead, making goosebumps form on the back of my neck. I shiver, ducking my head as rain begins to lash against the asphalt. In my periphery, I notice that the one lone street lamp is dim, the flickering light casting eerie shadows. None of this deters from the elation accompanying the thought of spending another night with Alek. I’m torn between rushing home so I can fling myself into his arms or going back inside to take a picture of said ass just so I can be cheeky.
Alek pretends to go all grumbly and stern, but his eyes light up whenever my playful side comes out. My big guy loves it when I’m brat—
“Is this the punk that’s been giving you trouble?”
A cold, menacing voice brings my naughty thoughts to a screeching halt. I spin around, coming face-to-face with a hulking, scary motherfucker in a black tank top. Despite his casual pose, his entire body isvibrating with tension as his hardened eyes bore into me. He clenches and unclenches his fist, the subtle movement flexing the rather intimidating muscles around his biceps. I gulp, wondering if he wore the tank top just to show them off because it feels like a subtle threat.
“Can I help you?” I ask, unable to mask the slight shake in my voice.
A guttural laugh has me twisting to the side, unease snaking down my spine when I spot Stoney’s gap-toothed sneer.
“What do you want?” I rasp. My gut instincts are screaming at me to dosomething.Every part of my body is on high alert, telling me I need to adios the hell out of here.
Stoney makes a tsking sound. “All you had to do was stay in your fucking lane, but you just couldn’t do that, could you?”
My feet shuffle backwards, my back nearly pressed up against the glass door behind me. Based on the way they inch forward, a cruel victory dancing across their eyes, they’ve got me corralled exactly where they want me. There’s no way in hell I could ever be fast enough to get the door unlocked before they would pounce on me, and with them flanking each side, slipping around them isn’t a viable option either.
They know it.
I know it.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I blurt the question out, my keys shaking in my sweat-slicked palms.
Stoney cracks his knuckles, eachpopmaking me flinch. “You couldn’t just keep your mouth shut and keep giving your mama the money we need? You had to get all self-righteous and smart…”
