I shook my head, concentrating on the road ahead. I just needed to get her home safely. The monster who lived deep down inside me was dying to come up and take over, but I couldn’t let him. I couldn’t allow him to take over.
Not yet anyway.
My heart raced as I turned the corner to her street; my foot on the gas pedal lifted a little so I could prolong the time I had with her in the confined space.
I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to carry on and take her to a place she didn’t know about.
But now wasn’t the right time. So I halted outside her apartment and cleared my throat.
Kloey gasped, her body sprinting upright. “Oh my god.” Her hand held her chest, her head swinging around to see where she was. She laughed, the sound high pitched and off. “I fell asleep.”
My lips twisted to keep the sarcastic comment I wanted to voice inside. I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, trying to keep my focus out of the windshield, but as she cleared her throat, I snapped my gaze to the rearview mirror.
Our stare met, her eyes going from confused, to shocked, and then a quick flash of fear.
“Do I know you?” she asked, her voice wobbling.
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her I’d been watching her for weeks. That it had been me who had been out back of the burger joint a week ago. To admonish her for being so careless all of the time.
But I did none of that. I just continued to look at her, not willing to give her peace of mind. I wanted her on edge.
“I…” She frowned and shuffled toward the back door. “Erm…” She rifled through her bag and threw some cash at me. “Thanks.”
I smirked as she jumped out of the car, moving as fast as she could, but I stayed put, my gaze focused entirely on her.
Her heels clicked on the sidewalk as she practically ran to her door, but she couldn’t help but look back at me.
Her shoulders pulled back, her chest heaving.
She knew who I was.
She may not have known completely, but she could feel it—sense it.
And that was all I needed to know I could make my move. It was time to fully reveal who I was. Time to take the next step with her. Time to stop playing games and claim her, just like she wanted me to.
Chapter Ten
Kloey
I kept my head down as I walked to work, on a mission to get to another double shift. I’d been working them several times a week. It didn’t matter how many times I requested fewer double shifts, I always seemed to be put on more. The money was nice, but my schoolwork was suffering, and I couldn’t let that happen. It wasn’t part of the plan—a plan I’d had since I was nine years old.
Emily had come back yesterday morning and we’d spent the day together, but the cab ride home from the night before wasn’t far from my mind.
At the time, I hadn’t been paying attention, but the more I thought about it, the more I recognized the cab driver.
But it was as I was walking past the gym that I realized I hadn’t even told him my address.
I halted on the sidewalk, my body jerking as someone walked into the back of me. I stumbled to the side, my palm slapping against the cool glass of the gym window.
How did he know where I lived? And where did I know him from? It wasn’t just his face that felt familiar, but just...being around him.
The door to the gym opened so I snapped my head up, on high alert.
And there he was again, staring right at me.
He blinked, looking as surprised as I was.
“You…” I lifted my shaky hand and pushed myself upright. “It’s you.” He stepped forward. “Stay back.” It came out as nothing more than a whisper, my body not sure if it meant the words.
“Kloey,” he murmured, his voice deep and gravelly.
I shook my head so hard it hurt. He was the man in the darkness that had drawn me to him. The longer he stared at me, the closer I wanted to go to him.
But I couldn’t. My brain was screaming that he was a danger, so I ran. I ran so fast my legs ached, I ran so fast I knew he wouldn’t be able to catch me, no matter how much my body wanted him to.
Chapter Eleven
Nixon
I wasn’t sure how long I’d been waiting out back for her, but I knew she’d come out at some stage.
I had to explain it to her even though I didn’t fully understand it myself.
I didn’t know why I was pulled to her, but I knew the tether was getting shorter and shorter. I couldn’t stay away any longer. I just...couldn’t
So I waited until the back door opened and she appeared. We were in the same place we’d been the first time I’d found out her name.
I watched as she ambled over to the huge trash can and threw the bag inside, her shoulders pulled back as if she was ready for anything.
“I know you’re there,” she whispered as if she was afraid to talk too loud. She kept her back to me. “Why?”
“Why what?” I asked, staying in the shadows.
I heard her slow inhale of breath. “Why are you following me?”
My hands clenched, my feet begging me to move forward. “How long have you known?” I asked instead of answering her question.
She spun around on the spot, the section of light coming from the back door illuminating half of her face. “How long have you been following me?” She raised her brow.
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask her
