Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
• Nineteen •
“Were you watching me?”
Briar
Standing at the window of my apartment, I stared down at the black Jeep parked so it was facing the building. I was sure he knew exactly which windows were mine, so I stood back in the shadows with the lights off. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I was looking at him. God knew that man’s ego was already the size of Mount Rushmore.
We hadn’t spoken in the car on the drive here. But now, I had a million questions. Simple ones, like: How was I going to get my car fixed tomorrow? When could I get groceries? How long did he plan on sleeping in his Jeep outside my apartment? What had he meant when he said he cared? Okay, that one was the main one that kept running through my head.
I’d thought he was stalking me for King, but now … I didn’t think he was. In fact, I wondered if King even knew he was here.
Thankfully, Dovie had been in bed when I got home. She was most nights, but every once in a while, she’d be on the sofa, locked into some TV series or reading a book. I had almost told Pepper about her. I wanted to believe I could trust Pepper, but in the end, I knew I couldn’t. I was the only person I trusted with Dovie’s safety. Pepper had trusted me though. Most people wouldn’t have agreed to help get me a fake identity for a fifteen-year-old without knowing the details. Dovie was a minor. I could have kidnapped her for all Pepper knew.
I dropped the strand of hair I’d been twirling around my finger and turned to walk over to my bed. It was almost three, and I needed some sleep. I just hoped I could shut my brain off long enough to get some.
A car door closing had me spinning back around and rushing back to the window. I could see Storm walking over to the building. Scanning the parking lot, I looked for a sign of anyone else, but I didn’t see movement. Was he coming up here? Glancing back at my door, I knew Dovie would hear him if he came inside. He wouldn’t know to be quiet, and what if she came out of her room instead of hiding? If she thought I was in trouble, she’d try to help me.
If he was headed this way, I had to stop him.
Hurrying down the hall, I unbolted the door, moved the chain, and then unlocked the doorknob before I could open it and step outside into the hallway. Looking both ways, I saw no one. I didn’t let the door close behind me because it would automatically lock. I hadn’t taken the time to get the keys, afraid of Storm banging on my door at any moment.
But he wasn’t here. Maybe he’d gone inside to the gym to pee? Was it even unlocked at this time? I didn’t know what to do. If he did show up and knock on the door, Dovie would wake up. I could always tell her to hide, but what if Storm noticed something that clued him in that I wasn’t alone?
I continued to stand there in the dark hallway, alone, waiting. There was no sound on this floor. Wherever Storm had gone, it wasn’t here. I should go back inside and lock back up. It had been enough time that if he was coming, he’d have already been here.
The slam of a door startled me, and I jumped, letting the door behind me slip, then click shut. Shit! I grabbed the handle and turned, already knowing it was going to be locked. I’d have to knock until I woke Dovie up and likely wake my neighbors in the process. Just perfect.
“Briar?” Storm’s voice was both a relief and an annoyance.
I was stuck outside my apartment because of him. The slamming door had to have been the stairwell closing. Of course he couldn’t take the elevator. That would be too quiet.
“What?!” I hissed under my breath, turning to glare at him.
“Why are you in the hallway?” he asked, his eyes slowly trailing down my body, making me very conscious of what I was wearing. Something I hadn’t thought of when I came running out into the hall.
“Because of you!” I said through clenched teeth.
His eyes were currently on my chest, and, dammit, I could feel my nipples harden.
“Me?” he asked, lifting his gaze back to my face.
The heated look in his eyes scattered my brain for a moment, and I forgot what we were talking about.
“Briar?” he said again, and I tried to clear my head.
He had asked me something. What was it?
Oh, the hallway. Yes. That had been the question.
“You …” I paused, not wanting to stammer over my words or sound breathless. “You came inside. I thought you were coming up here, and I didn’t want you waking my neighbors, knocking on the door.”