Chapter 31
LENNON
It’s almost nine when I roll back into town. Vincent threatened to come back with me or even call Dash. Of all the nerve…
I had to tell him that Dash and I are nothing but a memory.
He wasn’t too happy to hear about my broken heart, so he promised not to involve him unless he doesn’t hear from me later tonight.
Then, I guess, all bets are off, and the all-business Vincent Rossi will tattle on me to my ex-boyfriend.
But at least he didn’t threaten to call my dad or the police… yet.
Tyler Motorsports comes into view and the only things illuminating the building is the streetlights around it and the sign out front. I find myself circling the block a few times before cutting off my headlights and parking my car down the road behind where the track is.
The soft glow from the dashboard illuminates the interior just enough for me to see the picture of me and London on my sun visor. I trace her in the picture with my finger and whisper what I know she’d say if she knew what I was doing right now. “Mirror, mirror. My heart to shield.”
I turn off the engine and exit my GTO, shutting the driver’s door as softly as I can while clutching my keys. Then, on silent footsteps, I make my way to the back door of the garage and unlock it before punching in my alarm code.
I hope no one has the security system set up to alert them when it’s been disarmed. Especially my dad. The last thing I need is someone showing up to investigate and scare off my stalker when I’m finally about to confront him.
I move through the garage until I’m almost at my race car and the hair stands on the back of my neck. Suddenly, the fluorescent lights are flipped on overhead, and I squint from the stark contrast until my eyes adjust.
“Did you lose something, princess?” a voice sounds behind me and my stomach turns.
I turn and find Dillan standing there with a tire iron in his hand.
“It’s you,” I whisper as I turn to face him while gripping my keys in my hand so they form a makeshift set of brass knuckles.
“What’s me?” he asks, clearly amused.
“You’re the stalker,” I say matter-of-factly.
He laughs. “Stalker? I think you must’ve hit your head awfully hard in the accident to think I’m a stalker. I know I might come on a little strong sometimes, but Lennon would tell you I’m completely harmless.”
My heart pounds in my chest. What kind of game is he playing right now? My stalker told me to show up here, that he would be waiting on me with my race car. And voila…here he is.
I glance at the tire iron in his hands, and he follows my gaze.
“I had a friend who has a flat just outside of town and I needed to grab this on my way to help them. As I was about to leave, I heard something in here and turned back to see what it was,” he tries to explain.
But it sounds like a convenient lie to me.
One meant to lure me in like a moth to a flame.
He starts to move closer when I don’t laugh.
I slide back, clearly surprising him. He holds up both hands almost like he’s surrendering to something, but it just makes him look like he’s coming at me with a tire iron, so I swing my fist and connect with his face, effectively knocking him out cold.
My chest heaves with my heavy breathing.
I can’t believe it was Dillan, but a thought occurs to me…
the stalker called me princess, and he did just now too.
He has before tonight as well. But it certainly wasn’t how I expected it to go down.
Seems way too easy, but maybe I got the jump on him before he could do the same to me.
The problem now is I don’t know what to do.
Do I call the police? My dad? Vinny?
I start to pace trying to decide my next move and find myself beside the driver’s side of my race car. Something silver in the seat catches my eye, so I move closer to investigate and when I realize what it is…my blood runs cold. It’s London’s diamond necklace from Hendrix.
I’m reaching for it as the lights go out again, causing me to jerk upright. But I can’t see anything in the dark space. Anyone could be here and be hiding who knows where. I curse under my breath for being such a fool and letting my guard down.
It’s clear he was only pretending to be knocked out. He’s the master of these games after all. Shame on me. I’ve never been one step ahead. I’m figuring things out a few minutes too late. And this time may just be my final and fatal mistake.
I stand still but my gaze searches in the dark as I squint to see. The garage is silent. I take this moment to reach in and retrieve London’s necklace before shoving it in my jeans pocket. Which is when I feel it.
Someone’s presence behind me in the dark. I don’t dare move; I can’t even if I wanted to.
Suddenly a thin silver chain appears in front of my face, and I recognize it as my own necklace.
The very same one that was stolen from me in the wreck along with London’s.
Which means this is it. I’ll turn around and find Dillan standing there with a devilish smile and it might just be the last thing I ever see.
He’s got me now…right where he wants me.
I close my eyes for a moment and call up my sister’s face, and my parents’. I think of Hendrix. And my heart physically hurts as I think of Dash and how much this will hurt him even if we’re done with each other. It was never due to a lack of love between us.
He fastens the necklace around my neck and brushes my hair to the side with one hand and kisses my neck. Chills erupt over my body.
“Welcome back, Lennon.”
His voice sounds through the garage and the breath stills in my lungs. There’s no way. It can’t be him. It just can’t. I trusted him. I feel the tears of betrayal run down my cheeks.
But as I turn and face him, my eyes confirm what my ears heard.
“Jackson.”