Chapter 16
Riah
It was nice to let loose for a night. With Korie watching over me and my family and friends surrounding me, any thoughts of creepy text messages or stalkers outside of my window faded away.
Although I felt mostly relaxed, Korie kept a small piece of me on alert.
Not out of fear, but out of pure, raw desire.
The way she looked tonight. The way she constantly reassured me.
The way she could calm me with just a touch and ignite me again seconds later with a look.
The absolute feral possessiveness I felt over her when we were talking with my friends.
All of it was a messy cloud of confusion that I could barely see through.
The only clear thing is that I wanted her way more than I probably should have.
Way more than she probably wanted me. I still wasn’t entirely convinced that she wanted anything more from me than a professional and friendly relationship.
Either way, I needed a break from her intoxicating stare, so I decided to take a break up in my room for a few minutes.
I flopped down on my bed with a sigh. Something crunched and poked just under my neck. I lifted to my elbows and dug under my hanging curtain of curls. When my fingers brushed across a folded corner of paper, my heart stopped.
Shooting up to my feet, I pulled the small, folded note up with me. My chest shook with ragged breaths as I slowly pulled it open and found a short, typed message centered on the page.
You look beautiful tonight, Riah.
You are so perfect.
Are you ready to be mine?
Finally mine.
I’ll see you soon.
My head whipped around. I threw the closet and ensuite doors open, searching for whatever intruder had slipped past two security guards and all the cameras and alarms. I had a sickening feeling that none of us were safe. That this stalker had something planned.
I bolted out of my bedroom and down the stairs, my focus was funneled on finding Korie. She would know exactly what to do. As long as I was with her, I would be safe. Relief washed over me when I finally saw her, but the second my feet hit the last stair, darkness closed in around me.
A scream ripped through my throat when all of the lights in the house went out.
I froze in my spot, scared to take another step forward.
I felt all around me for anything I could use as a weapon, when a strong hold closed around me.
I opened my mouth to scream, but Korie’s soothing voice in my ear stuffed it back down into my chest.
“It’s okay. It’s just me,” she shushed me gently, rubbing her thumb over my stomach as she held me from behind. “It’s Korie. I’m right here.”
She released me and I immediately swung around, grabbing for her in the dark. Her tiny cell phone light shone in front of us and all my senses came rushing back to me. Hushed, panicked murmurs sounded across the room. More cell phone lights clicked on, casting dancing shadows over the walls.
My breath still heaved in my chest as Korie wrapped an arm around my shoulder and guided me to the couch, handing me over to my mom. I looked up, relieved to see everyone’s faces again, even if they were obscured in the dim light.
Korie crouched down in front of me, taking my face in her hands and guiding me to look at her.
“Do you have any candles we could light?” She asked.
I nodded, pointing to the armoire on the wall across from us.
“Good,” she smiled. “Good job. Can you go do that for me while I check everything out?”
“Wait,” I surged forward, only stopped by her grasp tightening. “Don’t go, please.”
“I have to go make sure everything is clear so everyone is safe. I won’t let anything bad happen.”
I let out a deep breath, squeezing my eyes shut as I nodded again.
“Very good.” She released my face and pushed to her feet, turning to Eddie and my dad. “The breaker is in the garage, can you two take a look while I check outside?”
They nodded and headed for the garage. Korie turned towards me again.
“I’ll be right back, okay? Get those candles lit for me.”
She disappeared out the front door and panic started to rise in me again. I knew she needed to make sure everything outside was safe, but I needed her with me. Next to me, my mom gently grabbed my elbow and guided me to my feet.
“Show me where those candles are, hon, we will set them out together.” Her sturdy, calm voice brought me down just enough to function. “Everyone try to relax. Edward and Eddie should have the lights back on shortly.”
I followed my mom over to the armoire and carefully took out all the emergency candles I had along with a few flashlights.
As she gathered the flashlights and left my side to distribute them amongst the guests, the vibration of my phone lodged in the side of my bra broke my fragile concentration.
I let the lighter fall from my hand as I fished the phone out.
Your little girlfriend is going to get exactly what she deserves.
I didn’t care how scared I was or who was out there trying to get me, I needed to get to Korie. I broke into a sprint towards the front door and slammed face-first into the wall that was my father.
“Where are you going, Riah? You need to stay here.”
He tried to take me into his arms, but I slipped past him. I didn’t care what happened to me, Korie could be out there hurt…or worse.
Right before I reached the door, the lights flickered on. The music flooded through the speakers. The whirring of the refrigerator started again. Then Korie walked back through the door, eyes glued to her phone.
I ran to her, doing everything I could internally to not throw myself in her arms.
“What happened? Did you find anything?” I settled for grabbing onto her forearm.
“Everything is okay.” She slid her arm back and took my hands in hers. “Let’s have everyone go home, I think there’s been enough excitement for the night.”
I agreed and recruited my mother to help me politely excuse the guests.
Without hesitation, they all gathered their things and said their goodbyes and well wishes before filing out the door.
Once they were gone, it was just me, Korie and my close family that remained.
Korie summoned us all to the couch to debrief.
“So, what happened?” Chrissy asked, gently rocking the baby in her arms.
I grabbed the note and my phone from my bra, opened the text message and set them both on the coffee table between us.
“I found this note when I went up to my room to freshen up,” I pointed to the paper. “And then this text came in when Mom and I were lighting the candles.”
Korie grabbed the note and phone. I squirmed as she read them both aloud. Gasps sounded around the circle and my stomach dropped, finally able to take in the severity of the situation. I wanted to resist thinking about how bad it really was, but there was no denying it now.
“What about the security system?” My dad asked. My stomach churned at the worry in his voice.
Korie stiffened. Her jaw tightened before clearing her throat.
“I checked it after I didn’t find anything outside. There was nothing. I checked the cameras before I came over, I didn’t see anything. Nobody on the feed coming in or out but us and Jesse.”
“Could it be him?” My mom gasped. “He did seem a little scary.”
Korie shook her head. “It did cross my mind, but he stayed by the door or outside of it the whole time he was here. Always does. I can’t see how he would make it past any of us up to Riah’s room without being noticed.”
“What about after he left? Could he have snuck inside?” I shivered at the thought.
“I checked the saved feed but…” Korie leaned back and swiped a hand over her face.
“It seems like the power outage affected the autosave function. Either that or this fucker is a world-class hacker. I have no footage from during the party, but I can guarantee it’s not him. He’s one of my most loyal.”
Bile rose in my throat. If this stalker could alter the cameras and shut my power down completely, there was no telling what else they would do. I didn’t know what they wanted from me, but they promised they were coming for me. I couldn’t keep my cool anymore.
I finally let the fear and anxiety take over me and I fell into Korie’s arms. As I let the tears spill over and the sobs shake my body, she held me. I could hear soothing murmurs from around the circle, but nothing was louder than the steady, safe beat of Korie’s heart.