Chapter 34 #2
As soon as the door closes behind her, he turns to face me. I don’t know why or what we even find funny, but after holding strange eye contact for a few seconds, we both burst into laughter.
“Okay,” I say, still chuckling. “Let’s put on some Christmas music and start cleaning. No reason to put it off.”
As soon as the clock strikes seven, I’ll have Austin here to get me, and we’ll get to spend Christmas Eve together.
“Let’s do it.”
Forty-five minutes later, the entire dining room is cleaned from top to bottom. Arlo reaches into the sink to pull the drain plug. “I’m glad we sent her home.”
“God, me too. This place has been dead.”
She would have been just as bored as us, and for what? She’s earned the right to go home. She doesn’t need to be stuck here all evening for no reason.
“I had a feeling it would be,” Arlo says, and I nod my agreement.
“I’m gonna stack the chairs and then mop.” I take a quick peek at my phone.
Austin
On my way, but slow going because of the snow. Left early enough that I should still be on time.
It’s 6:50 now, so he should be here within the next ten minutes or so. “You can head out if you want. I’ll finish up mopping, and we’ll be good to go.”
Arlo brushes a hand through his hair. “You sure?”
“Yeah, totally fine. Let me know when you make it home, though.”
He nods, then hesitates for a second. I open my mouth to ask what’s going on when he pulls me into a hug. Something warm and happy unfurls in my chest at the gesture, and I hug him back without thought.
When he pulls back, he’s grinning. “Have a good night and have fun with Austin.”
“You’re a menace.”
Taking off his robe, he shoots me a smile. “You love me.”
Yeah, actually, I’m finding that I really do. “I do, indeed. Be safe on your way home.”
He pulls his coat on, then gives me a little wave as he walks out.
I grab the mop bucket and drop a tablet in the bottom, then turn the water on, leaning against the wall while I wait for it to fill up.
When it’s done, I pick it up and step back into the dining area. I’m halfway through mopping when the door dings behind me. A smile blooms across my face. “You’re early. I wasn’t expecting you for another few minutes.”
“You were expecting me? Isn’t that sweet.”
Ice fills my veins, freezing me where I stand, mop clenched in my hand, body tense. I close my eyes for a second, then two, before opening them and turning around. “What are you doing here?”
Damien raises a perfectly groomed eyebrow, his lips twisted into a scowl. “I think the real question, love, is what are you doing here?”
Panic tries to take over as I stare into his icy blue eyes, but I won’t let it. I’ve trained for this. I can fight him off. I can protect myself. Besides, Austin is coming. “I work here.”
He laughs—cold and cruel. How the fuck did I ever think this man loved me? “I know that, love. Did you think you could hide from me?”
I swallow hard. “I’m not hiding.”
Damien takes a step toward me, and my pulse hammers in my throat as I resist the urge to step back.
Be aware of your surroundings. Be loud. Take up space.
Jasper’s words echo in my head as Damien takes another step, then another. With each one he takes, my heart beats harder and faster. He’s close. Too close.
“Back up.” The words are meek even to my own ears.
Damien ignores me, taking another step in my direction. He’s not close enough to grab me, but he’s getting there. “Back the fuck up!”
This time I shout the words, and for a split second, he pauses. The sickening smile that spreads across his face has dread coursing through my veins. “Austin really fucked up all my training, huh? That’s okay, love. I can beat it back into you.”
Austin. Austin is coming.
“How did you find me?” I just need to keep him talking. Keep him distracted long enough for Austin to show up.
He laughs. It’s bitter and terrifying. “I’ve known where you are the entire time, Luca. I had your phone tapped. How do you think I knew you were talking to Austin? It was pure luck you didn’t delete those messages. I wouldn’t have had proof otherwise.”
My throat convulses. If he’s known I’ve been here from the start, then… “Were you in the woods?”
He turns his nose up, sneering at me. “You think I’m going to hang around in some hillbilly’s woods to track you down? No. I have other means.”
“The man who was here asking questions,” I say. Not a question. A statement.
His lips curl into a sickeningly sweet smile. “He’s been watching out for you. A favor from an old friend.”
My stomach sours. He’s been watching me the whole time? Why did he wait until now to confront me? Why didn’t he do something sooner?
Damien takes a step toward me while I’m distracted. I open my mouth to scream again, but before I can, he’s in my space.
He’s too close. Too fucking close.
Sweep his leg. Sweep his fucking leg, Luca.
My body doesn’t listen. It freezes instead. But only for a second. My fingers tighten on the mop handle, and my muscles coil and bunch as I swing it through the air. It hits Damien in the face with a sickening crack that makes his head snap to the side, and my stomach damn near revolts.
I swallow back a gag, eyes widening when he slowly turns to look at me. He’s bleeding. There’s a trail of blood dripping from his nose onto his lip.
Oh God. Oh fuck. I made him bleed.
I’m gonna pay for that.
I shake my head against my thoughts. No. Austin is coming. He’s almost here. He has to be.
Damien rips the mop out of my hand, throwing it across the room. It hits the wall, then clatters to the floor. It distracts me just enough. Just fucking enough.
My head snaps back with Damien’s first hit. Blood spills from my nose over my lips, and tears burn my eyes, but I’m not going to cry. He’s not going to win. Not this fucking time.
I turn to run, to get the fuck away from him. My phone’s in my pocket. If I can get outside, I can run. I can call Austin. I know this town. I can find somewhere to hide. I turn to run, but before I can even make it a single step, there’s a blow to my back that sends me crashing into the floor.
Adrenaline fuels me, and I push to my feet, stumbling as I try to run. A smooth hand grips the back of my neck, pulling me backward and spinning me around.
“He doesn’t get to have you, love. You’re mine.”
His hands are tight. Tight, tight, tight. No air. There’s no air.
My eyesight goes dim, and spots dance and swirl in my peripheral vision.
Lift your arms, Luca. Get him off. Get him off. Get him off. You know how to do this.
“I’ll fucking kill you, Luca. I will fucking kill you.”
Just hold on. Austin’s coming.