CHAPTER 6
Nirah
SO MANY THINGS had tried to stop me in life, but one thing I would never let stop me? The weather.
I slipped into a brown, leopard dress that hugged my thighs perfectly. I paired it with my sleek black knee-high boots and let my hair down, tucking my face framing pieces behind my ear.
I stopped outside of a coffee shop and headed inside. Checking a notification on my cell phone, my heart ached in my chest. Nereus . I stared down at the notification, too afraid to open it.
Brushing off yesterday’s events and his text message, I straightened my shoulders and continued toward the countertop.
I stopped in my tracks, seeing Mr. Stalker say goodbye to two men in equally fancy suits.
His eyes landed on me after they had left, and I didn’t miss the flicker of interest behind them.
His voice was deep, laced with humor. “I thought I was supposed to be the stalker?”
I barely batted an eye at his words.
“And your style is…” he trailed off as his eyes slowly ran from my boots up to my eyes. “ Unique .”
My brows drew together defensively. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“It’s fifty-five degrees out.”
Looking myself up and down, then around to others in the cafe who were all covered up—including him—I shrugged a shoulder at him.
“I guess I don’t necessarily get cold.” Liar . I’ll just suffer through any weather for a cute outfit.
“And by the way,” he dramatically paused. “You didn’t have to come all this way to see me, you know.”
“That’s because I didn’t,” I faked a smile, pushed past him, and stepped up to the counter.
“Hi, can I get a latte, please?” I asked, but my words completely flew over her head.
I followed her gaze, and obviously, she was staring at him —who was staring at me .
“Can you leave? You’re interrupting my already awful customer service. ”
He slipped one hand into the pocket of his pants. “Doesn’t feel so great being on the receiving end now, does it?”
“You’re an ass. You deserve it,” I shot back, and he tipped his head.
“You have a very dirty little mouth, Nirah Joy .”
A heavy breath fell from my lips as I rolled my eyes. I turned back to the counter, placing my order, and she handed me my receipt.
I took it and walked over to the first table in front of me, leaning my ass against it. I checked my order and as I was about to grab my phone, a large wall stopped in front of me— of course, it wasn’t a wall. Though, I like to think that he is. Big, sturdy, and tall.
“From my hotel building to this cafe… that’s about a twenty minute drive. You don’t have a car and didn’t have money for a cab. Did you walk?”
“Yep,” I nodded, keeping my eyes glued to my receipt. I am not making eye contact.
“Where did you spend the night?”
“A motel,” I vaguely answered, seeing his chest rise with a deep breath in.
“Look at me when I’m speaking to you,” he demanded, and I bit onto the inside of my cheek, still looking down. “Nirah,” he warned, his voice darker and far less patient.
“Look,” I sighed, finally meeting his eyes.
“I get that you helped me, but stop trying to act like you’re interested in this shit I’m in.
I’m fine, so please just—” I got cut off by the little bell above the door ringing.
Mr. Stalker— Mr. Jackass ? Nah . Mr. Stalker dropped his coffee on the table and pulled me up by my arm before pushing me up against the wall.
My eyes shot open as he put both hands on either side of my head. “What are you doing?” I breathlessly asked, but he didn’t answer. “Oh God, it’s your turn to kiss me , isn’t it?” I asked in horror. “Okay, just do it,” I fearfully squeezed my eyes shut, puckering my lips.
“Be quiet.”
I opened my right eye, then my left. “Don’t tell me what to do,” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I am not a morning person, and I haven’t had my coffee yet, so if you don’t back up right now—”
“Shut up or I will kiss you,” he interrupted me, and I immediately shut my mouth.
“Cause that’s what the boss wants,” Sylvester irritably groaned, and my body tensed.
“If he gives us crap about that little whore you can’t catch I’m kicking your fucking ass,” another voice grumbled as they got closer. Oh God, oh God.
My legs felt numb and I dropped my hands to my sides. My eyelids grew heavy and suddenly it was as if I was in a cage with the walls closing in on me.
“A woman matching her description was wandering around here not too long ago so we need to move,” Sylvester ordered and the other man scoffed.
“When I get my fucking hands on her, I’ll ruin her.”
“You’ll wait your goddamn turn, I’m going first,” Sylvester arrogantly chuckled.
Mr. Stalker’s body tensed in front of me and I stared straight into his chest, trying to focus on my breathing.
The barista called out my order number and my eyes shot up to his. He subtly shook his head and soon after I heard the door open and close. Peaking my head over his shoulder, I watched them cross the road and relief washed over me.
A weight was lifted off my shoulders and I gently pushed Mr. Stalker’s arm down.
I took slow, careful steps towards the door and grabbed onto the door handle but stopped, looking out. There was a black SUV parked behind a black sports car, followed by a white truck. I stepped back but bumped into something hard.
“Ow,” I groaned, turning around and he looked down at me with a blank expression.
“Personal space? Ever heard of it?” I quipped and he raised a brow at me.
I took a small step closer to the door as I leaned forward, looking outside at the SUV.
“Sylvester’s men?” I heard him ask from behind and I nodded.
“Yeah. I think—” I cut myself off as I turned my head, finding his face directly next to mine. Our faces merely inches apart.
“Go on,” he encouraged me. He was bending forward as well, leaning over my shoulder.
“I have a strong feeling I’ll commit suicide because of you before they could even touch me,” I sighed and he looked confused and almost hurt .
“That’s mean.”
“That was the point,” I retorted, pushing his chest back as we both stood up straight. “Okay,” I nodded to myself. “I got this. I’ll just make a run for it. Easy.”
“That’s stupid,” he deadpanned and grabbed my upper arm. He pulled me outside and my heart rate picked up.
“What are you doing?” I asked and he opened the door to the sleek black Audi.
“Get in.”
“I’m not getting into your car with you,” I scoffed, looking out for Sylvester and his men.
“Do you have a better idea?” Well, no. Not really.
“Fine. Let me drive.”
“ No . Now, get in.”
“Well, then I guess I’m not going anywhere with you,” I crossed my arms over my chest, turning my back on him.
He kept his tone flat. “Then deal with Sylvester on your own.”
“Fine.” I dropped my arms to my side, whipping my head back to look at him. “I didn’t get my coffee anyway, so I might as well.”
I turned on my heels, ready to leave but after an annoyed groan he reached forward, grabbed my arm spun me around. He slammed the car keys into my palm and a grin of victory danced on my lips. “If you kill me, my ghost is haunting you,” he threatened and I couldn’t help my excitement.
I strutted over to the drivers side, sliding onto the soft leather seats. The interior looked fresh—clean. The air smelled like him as it wrapped around me like a hug.
I locked the doors and we both buckled up. Right as I twisted the key in the ignition, the engine came to life with a satisfying roar. I glanced up at the rear view mirror, spotting Sylvester charging towards the car with his fuming little henchmen.
“You can hold my hand if you get scared,” I teased, putting my elbow onto the center console with my fingers spread, wiggling them. He simply glanced at my hand, then at me. “No? Okay,” I said before using that hand to put the car in drive.
I sped out of the parking space and seconds later Sylvester’s SUV appeared in the rear view mirror. My eyes darted between the road and the rear view mirror as I watched them almost catch up to us.
Stepping on the gas pedal, my eyes shot down to the speedometer. 3… 4… I took a sharp right then left.
Adrenaline pumped through my veins and short after, he showed up in my rear view once again and my hands tightened around the steering wheel.
“You’ve done this before, haven’t you” he suddenly asked from beside me and my peripheral vision caught his eyes lingering on my thighs as I shifted gears.
“Yeah, how’d you know?” I faked a gasp. 5… 6…
“Lucky guess.”
I smiled at his answer, glancing up at the rear view. Taking another left we got onto the highway and I stepped onto the gas pedal. “How much do you love this car?” I asked, looking at him for a second.
“Go for it,” he encouraged me and an ear to ear grinned danced on my lips.
His stare burned into the side of my face and I couldn’t help the tingling sensation that shot through my stomach.
The car sped down the highway as I swerved between cars, desperate to not only escape Sylvester, but not to kill us both.
I finally lost Sylvester and took a few more turns as a precautionary measure. I parked the car at an empty parking lot and turned off the ignition. They’re gone, breathe.
“In heels?” His voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I turned to look at him. “ Impressive .”
“It’s not my first rodeo,” I shook my head and the corners of his lips lifted into a grin. I had clearly piqued his interest. “Woah,” I playfully put both hands out in front of me. “Before you fall head over heels in love with me, you should probably know that I’m an ex-con.”
He looked taken aback and I pressed my lips into a thin line.
“Deal breaker, huh?” I mused.
He fully grinned this time and my stomach did a million somersaults. Heat rushed to my face and I couldn’t help but admire how beautiful his smile was.
He turned his body towards me. “Please enlighten me on what my little vixen had done,” he said with so much interest and amusement.