CHAPTER 5 #2
“Fuck!” I grunted as my body hit the hard concrete floor. My head snapped back to Sylvester and his men, and I quickly got to my feet, mindlessly apologizing to the person I had just knocked into.
Turning back I watched Sylvester look in the opposite direction of me and my heart thudded as I turned forward to run.
“Uh, I— sor— God!” I groaned, trying to step around him but he stepped in front of me with every step I took.
With panic rising inside of me, I looked back and saw the men charging in my direction. Shit .
Grabbing said man’s arm, I walked backward and pulled him with me. When my back hit the wall I grabbed his face between both of my hands, smashing my lips onto his.
Slowly, his hands gripped my hips as his entire body shielded mine. As soon as our lips touched, jolts of electricity shot throughout my entire body.
I pulled his face closer to mine and his tongue lightly brushed my bottom lip. Slightly parting my lips, I allowed his tongue to slide into my mouth, slowly brushing against mine. His hands trailed up to my waist as he pulled my body closer to his and warmth erupted between us.
The heat between my thighs grew dangerously fast; my legs going numb underneath his touch and familiar scent.
Feeling completely lost in his touch, my fingers slowly ran up the nape of his neck and into his hair. Steadily, pulled away, completely mesmerized by the way this man kissed.
Instinctively, my head snapped to the direction of the men and they were gone. I got onto my toes and looked over the stranger’s shoulder. Gone .
I turned to walk but he grabbed my arm. “What was that?”
“What?” I asked, looking around, still feeling on edge. They’re still gone but I have a feeling it won’t be for too long.
“You bumped into me then kissed me.”
“Oh. Yeah. Sorry,” I quickly apologized looking down the alleyway opposite us.
“Look at me,” he almost insisted but his voice. “Look at me when I’m speaking,” he said, grabbing my face in his hands with a gentle force. Mr. Stalker.
“Oh—sorry,” I shook my head. “I really am sorry, I wasn’t thinking.
These men were chasing me and I looked back, for like a second, and then I panicked and since you’re so big I just—I didn’t—no, sorry, I have to go,” I finally said, stepping past him but froze at the sight of the Sylvester and his men standing a few feet in front of me.
Swallowing the lump of fear down my throat, I took a few steps back and my back hit Mr. Stalkers chest. “These men?” he asked and I breathlessly nodded. Oh no.
This is it. I—Nirah Joy Valentino—am going to get kidnapped. They’re going to kidnap me. Or worse. Torture me. What if they kill me—oh, God. This is how the amazing Nirah Joy goes out. It’s been fun…
“There’s my little athlete,” Sylvester grinned—mockingly—while stepping out from between the two men. “Miss me, you little whore?” he asked with another step that pulsed fear through me. He clutched his gun in his waistband, and my mouth wet dry. “Don’t try anything funny,” he warned.
My heart pounded in my ears as I fought back my fear. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me surrender.
“Go into the building.” My body froze when the stranger behind me spoke
“If I move. They move,” I said, still looking at Sylvester.
“Go into the building, Nirah,” he repeated himself and I exhaled a shaky breath. My eyes burned as I took a step forward. Sylvester tried to match my step but stopped mid step. His body tensed as he looked down to my waist. Goosebumps trailed up my spine as Sylvester’s sinister eyes met mine.
Rushing into the hotel building with two glass doors, I shut the door behind me as I turned to them. Walking backwards, I watched the two men converse.
Putting both hands behind his back, the stranger took a step forward and Sylvester a step back. The stranger nodded his head towards the building and steam practically shot out of Sylvester’s ears.
I turned my back on them, clutching my cellphone in my hand. I stared down at my bright screen, before dialing the number I’ve dreaded for years. Nereus . As soon as the call connected with a click, my heart sunk.
“Nirah? ”
“What the fuck have you gotten us into, Nereus?” I snapped, and momentary silence expanded between us.
“Nirah I can explain, okay?”
“You can explain!” I barked into my cellphone with my fist clenched at my side. “Nereus, you couldn’t explain anything the last time so please, humor me.”
A heavy sigh fell from his mouth. “Look, I’m sorry—”
“ Sorry is what you fucking should be!” I shot back in frustration.
“I’m practically running for my life and all you have to say is sorry ?
” I asked in disbelief. “These men came to my house, looking for me! They chased me for miles and pulled weapons out on me and you’re sorry!
” I scoffed, running my hand through my hair.
“I’ll make it right.”
“Oh, you’ll make it right?” I mocked, too angry to let him even speak. “You’ve been making it right since we were fucking sixteen, dammit!”
Tears brimmed in my eyes but I refused to let them fall.
“You say you’re trying to fix things but you’re not. Why should you? It’s not like I’m being hunted, tormented and stalked by your dirty cop! I mean why should you care when you’re sun bathing with girlfriend number four—God, what is wrong with you—” my voice cracked.
“Sylvester?”
“Yes! Sylvester! I’ve been dealing with him for a year and a half and I can’t anymore—Nereus I’m tired,” I choked out, throwing my head back.
“I can’t do this anymore so just know…” I paused, feeling my heart ache.
It was as though I could hear each crack that attacked my heart.
“I’m done running. If Sylvester catches up to me again it’ll be my last day breathing because I’m too fucking selfless to give up your location, and I really wish I got the selfish gene. ”
“Please, don’t say that.”
An unsettling amount of bitterness coated my words. “I’m done running. If Sylvester kills me then so be it. But just know that you killed me the day you got involved with him. I’m done, Nereus.”
“Let me deal with Sylvester, I promise I’ll fix it,” he pleaded goosebumps spread across my skin as more tears brimmed in my eyes.
My voice cracked. “Fix it or loose me.”
Immediately ending the call, I clutched my phone in both hands as my chin trembled. I took a deep breath in, slowly exhaling as I blinked away my tears.
“They’re gone.”
Whipping around, I saw the stranger with his hands behind his back as his green eyes stared at me intently. I swallowed hard, looking behind him.
“Thanks,” I murmured before walking towards the door that he was standing in front of. “And I’m sorry for earlier. Running into you and the kiss.”
“Where are you going?” he dismissed my apology, and I shrugged my shoulders.
“Somewhere. Anywhere that’s not here,” I opened the door. It was as though I had opened myself up to the cruel and ugly world. As though this would be it for me. But I hadn’t come this far to give up, so I let it in. I accepted my reality.
“You have money for a cab?” he asked and I stopped with a strong grip on the door hand. Do I?
“Yeah.”
“You’re lying,” he said, turning to face me entirely. “Let me pay for your—”
“No,” I interrupted him. “I’ll walk to the nearest ATM. I have my card, just not cash so it’s okay,” I shook my head. “Thank you and I’m sorry,” I rushed out before he could stop me. I made my way across the road, hurrying down the sidewalk.
Dragging my feet across the crosswalk, my head snapped left as a loud honk sliced through the air. Fuck.
Apologizing to the driver, I rushed onto the sidewalk and came across an ATM. After drawing some money, I made my way to the first clothing store I came across and thereafter, I headed over to a motel to book in for the night. I just need to clear my head.
Whilst walking, dark clouds coated the sky, absorbing every last bit of sunlight. Goosebumps rose on my bare legs as the chilly air tickled my skin.
With reluctance, I entered the motel. It’s just one night, Nirah. This place doesn’t have to be The Ritz-Carlton.
It felt as though the stuffy hallway with peeling wallpaper had been getting narrower the longer I walked. I finally reached my bedroom door—with a rusty gold number 205—and unlocked it.
I stepped into my motel room and locked the door behind me. I dropped everything on the bed, and fell onto the bed, laying on my back. My breathing accelerated and I squeezed my hands into fists at my side. Don’t . Cry . You have to get back to the house. We do not run. You , do not run.
I brought the pads of my fingertips of my neck, fisting my hand against my chest.
There was yelling in the room next to mine and some people were running up and down in the hallway outside my door. I was going back to the house tomorrow. I had too.