Chapter 10
Colson
Ugh. It’s cold tonight. I pull into my parking spot after a longer-than-usual night at Segreto. We had two birthday groups, which kept things exciting and busy, but I’m getting home an hour later than usual.
Before I exit my car, I text Rudy that I’m home, turn on my stun gun, and take a deep, cleansing breath.
This is my new routine since the hedgehog showed up.
It hasn’t stopped. I get pictures taped to my door, left on my windshield at Segreto, and stuffed under my door at least once a week.
But I never see anyone and no one contacts me.
Whoever is doing this is enjoying fucking with me.
I’m not as scared as I probably should be, but that’s because I’m not some damsel in distress. I know a decent amount of tae kwon do and I have the stun gun for more aggressive defense. I glance around the parking lot before getting out of the car and walking briskly to my door.
My foot has just hit the bottom step when I’m yanked back by my hair with a force that sends my bag, my phone, and sadly, my stun gun to the ground as I’m dragged backward.
Oh hell no.
Kicking my legs out, I grab the hand twisted in my hair and try to free myself, but it’s not working, so I focus on creating as much dead weight as I can, and it works. The intruder loses his grip and I scramble away, but he’s fast and grabs me around the waist, tackling me to the hard concrete.
I roll onto my back, ready to claw his eyes out, but he’s wearing a mask and my attempts to get it off are fruitless.
His hand comes down hard on my cheek, leaving a stinging pain in its wake and making my vision blur for a second.
He starts to drag me towards a waiting van, and I know damn well that if I want out of this situation, I cannot let him get me in the van.
“Fuck off,” I growl, slamming my knee into his balls.
He groans, but barely loosens his grip. Panic surges through me as I try to break free. If I can just make it back to the sidewalk and get my stun gun…
“What the fuck is going on?” A man’s voice breaks the silence. “Shit. I’m calling the cops.”
My assailant wraps his hand around my neck, focusing his dark eyes on me.
Eyes filled with hatred.
“This isn’t over,” he growls before getting to his feet and running for his van. His tires screech as he tears off into the night.
The man who interrupted rushes over to me and helps me off the ground. “Are you okay, man? Do you need an ambulance?”
I shake my head, stunned by what just happened but thankful. “Thanks for stepping up.”
“Yeah, of course. What the fuck. Was he trying to kidnap you?”
Nodding, I brush my hair off my face. “I think he’s been stalking me.”
“You gotta call the cops.”
“What are they gonna do? It was a white van in a city full of them, a man with a mask that I can’t identify. Did you get a license plate? I didn’t.”
The man frowns, shaking his head. “Do you have a friend you can call? Somewhere safe you can go, at least for tonight?” His brow creases. “Dude, that’s a nasty bruise on your cheek.”
My face is throbbing, so I can’t wait to see how bad it looks. “I’ll be okay now. Thanks again.”
The man watches me as I gather my things from the sidewalk. While I walk up my stairs, I think about my options. I’m not safe here, but where can I go? Rudy has, like, four roommates and I’m not friendly enough with anyone else.
I get to my apartment and stop in my tracks. Taped to it is a picture of me from just a couple of hours ago inside Segreto, a big red X drawn across my face. My heart races as I swallow past the lump in my throat.
What am I gonna do?
Specter.
The name blooms in my mind and spreads through me.
Oh fuck. This could be bad, but could it be worse than what I’m already dealing with?
If Specter wanted to hurt me, he could’ve done it by now.
He hasn’t been at the club since the night he gave me the roses.
He stayed away. He respected my boundaries.
Fuck. He might be my only option.
I dig through my tote bag and find his card buried in the bottom next to a pack of gum. My fingers tremble as I read it, and I make a quick decision. There’s no way I’m going into my apartment and staying here alone.
After pulling the picture off my door, I hurry back downstairs to my car, practically sprinting in case my stalker is still lurking.
Before I know it, I’ve typed Specter’s address into my phone’s navigation and I’m on my way.
This is either the stupidest or the smartest thing I’ve ever done. Only time will tell.
His house is in Crestvale, about a twenty-minute drive, and that surprises me.
He doesn’t seem like a guy who would live in an upscale suburb, but what do I really know about him?
I’m about to trust him with my life, so I have to hope my instincts about him are correct. He could be worse than any stalker.
The navigation leads me down a road where the homes are spread out and set back behind massive wrought iron gates until I stop in front of one that I can’t really see from the street.
There’s a code panel on the gate, and I suppose I could hit the intercom, but I choose to call Specter directly instead.
My fingers are still shaking as I grab my cell and punch in his number. It rings a few times and my mind spirals. What if he’s with someone? What if he doesn’t even remember me? What if—
“Who’s this?” he answers.
My stomach flutters from the sound of his voice. “Specter, it’s Cashmere.” Dammit, my voice is trembling.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um…” My voice cracks before I can finish speaking.
“Fuck. Where are you?”
“Outside your gate.”
“What? You’re here at my house?”
“Yes. Sorry, I don’t know why—”
“Come through the gate and follow the circular drive around to the front. I’ll be right there.”
“Okay.”
He hangs up as the gate buzzes and draws open, and I follow his instructions, driving past thick trees until a stunning mansion is revealed.
It looks like something straight out of old Europe.
I’ve heard about the homes here but never seen one up close.
What does he do for a living to live in a place like this?
Before I’ve even parked, the front door flies open and he’s there, marching towards me.
He’s wearing sweatpants and a plain T-shirt, with bare feet even in the cold, and the image is startling.
He’s always dressed in sleek clothes, his hair tamed and his demeanor buttoned up, but right now, he looks… normal.
Specter opens my car door, and when I step out, his eyes burn with rage. “What the fuck happened to your face?” He reaches out to touch me, but I flinch and he pulls his hand back. “Who did this?”
“I-I don’t know. He attacked me in the parking lot of my apartment building and he tried to get me in a van. He hit me.”
Specter’s jaw ticks, and if I ever wondered what pure unbridled fury looks like, it’s his face right now. “He was at your home?”
I nod. “I didn’t know where else to go. I didn’t feel safe, and Rudy doesn’t have room. I should’ve called first. I’m sorry. I just—”
“Stop,” he says softly. “I told you to come to me if you needed help.”
My throat tightens, clogged with the emotions I’ve been choking down since I was attacked. “I have a stalker, Specter, and it’s not a regular one. This isn’t some obsessed fan or client. He knows me.”
“How long?”
“Since the night I saw you in my parking lot.”
His jaw twitches. “I fucking knew it. Why didn’t you say something?”
“It was the first time, and you were there. That was confusing.” A shiver runs down my spine.
Specter seems to notice. “Let’s get inside.”
I follow him, allowing him to guide me with his hand on my lower back. I don’t know him, but his presence and protective energy are immediately soothing.
“We’ll go through the kitchen so you don’t have to meet the guys.”
“The guys?”
“You think I live in this big-ass house alone?”
“I wondered.”
He smiles softly. “Come on.”
Inside, he takes my wrist and leads me down a dim hallway into a kitchen. All the lights are turned off, so I can’t see much as he guides me to a stairwell. It’s dark here too, like it’s mostly unused, and I can hear muffled voices from behind us.
When we exit, we’re in a foyer surrounded by many closed doors. “Mine is down here.”
I follow him, glancing around a bit. It’s too dark for me to see many details, but I can tell the finishes are high end. Specter opens his bedroom door and gestures for me to enter.
I do, surprised by the spacious room on the other side.
To my right is an area that looks like a makeshift kitchenette, and next to it, a small round table with two chairs.
Deeper in the room is a small love seat at the end of an enormous bed.
On the wall in front of it is a massive fireplace with a TV mounted above it.
Other than that, it’s decorated minimally but it’s comfortable.
I toe my shoes off and set my bag on the floor next to them, suddenly awkward. I’m in Specter’s bedroom, and I have no idea what the fuck I’m doing.
“Do you have an idea of who it is?” Specter asks, getting right to business.
I shake my head. “No. He was wearing a mask.”
“Driving?”
“A white van. Pretty nondescript.”
“Fuck.” He rubs his forehead. “I’ll find him.” Specter closes the distance between us until I have to tilt my head back to maintain eye contact. “I’ll find him, then I’ll tear his guts out and use them to hang him.”
“That’s oddly specific.”
He lifts my chin, tilting my face to see the bruise. “You need some ice.” Using his thumb, he brushes something off my other cheek. “I’m gonna fucking kill this bastard and enjoy every second of it.”
“You mean that literally, don’t you?”
He nods, his eyes darkening. “I mean everything I say literally.”
“Good to know.”
“You’re staying here until it’s dealt with. Do you need things from your place?”
“Now, wait a minute. I need to think about—”
“There’s nothing to think about, gorgeous. If you think I’m letting you out of my sight, you’re very wrong.”
My independent streak rears up, ready to defend my autonomy, but it dies down quick enough. I don’t want to go back to my place alone. That’s why I’m here, right? For protection. My stalker got too close and the next time he might not be so easy to get away from.
“Fine, but you don’t own me, and I won’t sleep with you just to get your protection.”
“Good. You will sleep with me eventually, but only because you want to.”
“We’ll see about that.” His arrogance is disarming. He’s hot, and he knows it, but so am I. “Where will I sleep?”
“In my bed. It’s big enough.”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“You tell me, beautiful. You came here.”
“I meant in bed.”
“Because I’m not a creep. I’m not a rapist either.” His eyes heat. “I want you, Cashmere, bad. But I want you to want me back. I want you to see how good I could be for you. I want your obsession, like you have mine.”
“I thought it wore off. You haven’t been to the club.”
“I overstepped and made you uncomfortable. Trust me, it fucking kills me staying away.”
“You haven’t followed me at all?”
He shakes his head. “No, but I wish I had.”
Me too.
“Let me show you how to use the shower. Do you want some tea?”
“Tea?”
“It’s too late for coffee.”
Right. He doesn’t know that tea is my favorite comfort drink. “Um, yes, I like tea. Do you have chai, by chance?”
“Probably. Sugar?”
“Honey?”
He nods, motioning for me to follow him to the room to my left.
Inside is a spacious bathroom with a tub, a standing shower, and a two-sink vanity.
He starts the water, pushing several buttons so all the jets and the rainfall showerhead turn on.
Just a slight upgrade from my cracked and peeling tile, barely bigger than a coat closet shower at home.
Specter opens a cupboard and pulls out a fluffy towel, then digs through the cabinet below the vanity, returning with an unopened toothbrush.
“After your shower, we’ll order some toiletries and clothes for you.”
“Order?”
He winks. “You made the right decision. I’ll keep you safe.”
I nod, whispering, “Thank you.” There isn’t much else I can say. All the fight in me was left in the parking lot defending against my attacker.
Before he leaves, his eyes roam from my face to my feet and he scowls. “Your knee is scraped too.”
I glance down, hardly noticing. “It’s fine. I’ll need concealer to cover the bruise though.”
Specter studies my face, and I notice the tension in his jaw again. He’s pissed, which can only work to my benefit. We’ll figure out who did this to me, then may the heavens help them. Specter is out for blood, and weirdly, it’s kind of hot.