CHAPTER 22
Sparks
A few weeks have passed since our foray into the wilderness of Pennsylvania.
Astrid’s wrist was only sprained, not broken, so that healed really quickly.
My stab wound took a decent while longer to heal, but I made damn sure that didn’t hold me back from getting the meal I was craving.
I also got the cheeseburger and tater tots.
Derek has increased security around the compound, furious at the Luca betrayal.
Honestly, he had nothing to worry about.
While other criminal organizations treat their muscle like shit, Derek and I have always prided ourselves on giving our men respect and above-market-rate compensation, including dental.
My abduction struck a nerve within my loyal crew, and they found a few other wolves in sheep’s clothing on their own.
Some of the men organized a round-the-clock security detail to follow me whenever I leave the compound.
They even wait outside when I go to Astrid’s.
While I’m sure some of the volunteers are just excited for the overtime pay approved by Oliver, most value it as being a part of an honor guard.
It’s a bit much at times, but I appreciate their fidelity.
However, despite our increased efforts, my stalker still finds ways to interact with me.
A “Get Well Soon” card was left in the club addressed to Charlotte.
Nobody saw who dropped it off. An unknown number calls me in the middle of the night.
They never say anything, there’s only the sound of him breathing.
When I got too freaked out to answer anymore, the number would send texts instead.
Always just a few words. Sleep well. Good morning.
Lovely weather today. I tried changing my number but got a text less than an hour later. Keep in touch.
Gifts still appear in my saddlebags. I had to clean them out since all of my things kept going missing. Ponytails, sunglasses, pens. Nothing was sacred.
I stopped leaving the compound, even stopped going to the Lightning Bolt.
My world consisted of my apartment, the common area, and the gym.
But Derek and Astrid say that I need vitamin D, so Astrid’s dragging me out on a date.
She says we’re going to the fair. I say we have corn dogs at home. She says I’m going anyway.
And that’s why I’m outside, driving my bike toward the carnival.
Everything is fine as I coast through the parking garage, but as soon as I get on the road, I feel a strange wobble.
I carefully pull my motorcycle off to the side of the road.
Damn it, flat tire. Because of the crazy thief, I took my tire repair kit out, so my bike is shit out of luck.
I send a quick text to my protection detail asking them to bring a spare tire.
I stupidly left before they were ready, thinking they would catch up without an issue.
“Everything okay?” A standard four-door sedan pulls up next to me.
“I’m fine.” I wave off the good Samaritan. “I’ve already texted a friend. They’ll be here in just a minute.”
“Are you sure? I could give you a lift.”
“I’m sure, thanks.” I look up. The man inside the car looks familiar. Late twenties, black hair, hazel eyes, strong build. I tilt my head. “Do I know you?”
“I don’t think so.” He pauses. “Wait, jazz girl?”
“Oh my goodness,” I chuckle. “Are you my dance partner from the gala?”
“The very same.” He gives a mock bow from within his car. “I didn’t recognize you in street clothes.”
“Sorry, evening gowns and motorcycles don’t mix.”
He eyes my outfit. It’s my standard garb – leather jacket, cropped black tank, shorts.
“I think you look amazing.” It feels sincere.
“Thanks.” I blush.
With that, my security detail pulls up and the two of them get to work replacing my tire.
“Thanks for stopping.” I wave. “Hope to bump into you again sometime.”
He nods lightheartedly and drives off. Before too long, my tire is fixed and I am back on the road, detail in tow this time. Together, the three of us navigate through the busy Boston traffic until we make our way to the front entrance. Astrid runs over and nearly tackles me with her hug.
“You made it!” Her blonde ponytail bobs as she jumps excitedly. “This is going to be so much fun. Hi Noah, hi Trevor.”
She waves at my security detail, and they give her a subtle nod before blending into the crowd.
Her teal skirt swishes as she twirls, skipping toward the ticket booth.
A matching ribbon is tied around her ponytail.
I nervously glance at the mass of people before following her in. This is going to be fun, right?
I don’t remember the last time I went to a carnival.
Crowds cheering, lights flashing, attractions catching your eye every few feet.
I hold onto Astrid’s hand as she drags me deeper.
We do everything. She screams as she clings to me on the roller coaster while I whoop and holler.
Powdered sugar tickles her nose as we sample a funnel cake.
We save half for Noah and Trevor. Even though they’re working, they can still enjoy the festival too.
The line to the Ferris wheel is short, so we ride it twice.
Once to fully take in the grandeur of the city, a second for me to take in the beauty of the woman sitting next to me.
And by that I mean we make out the whole time.
After she wins me a plushie at one of the boardwalk games, we stumble onto the mirror maze. The ramshackle hut doesn’t look like much, but you can briefly see panes of glass lining the walls from floor to ceiling, creating intricate reflections and illusions.
“I bet you one corndog that I could beat you in the mirror maze,” Astrid boasts.
“Oh really?” I nudge her arm. “I am fantastic at mazes.”
“Watch me.” She sticks out her tongue.
The attendant gives each of us a pair of cotton gloves so we don’t smudge the glass when we touch it.
Astrid goes first, slinking through the curtain into the entrance behind.
A timer on the wall claims she makes it to the exit in three minutes and twenty-one seconds.
I scoff and puff out my chest. This will be easy.
“Three, two, one, go!” The attendant cheers as I duck behind the curtain.
Immediately, I am faced with my reflection multiplied endlessly in the glass. Everywhere I look, a version of me is staring back. My heart skips a beat as I am forced to engage with my reflection after avoiding it for so long. Look away, focus on the maze.
I stumble through a hallway before smacking my head on a pane of glass. I stagger back a step, faltering as I try to discern the way through. My hands wave in front of me, tapping the walls. I veer left as I feel an opening in that direction.
A glass wall disrupts my path as mirrored panes block either side of me.
Damn, dead end. I’ve been ignoring the images in the mirror so intently that I’m spooked when something in the reflections catches my eye.
Another figure navigates the mirrors alongside me.
Odd, I thought only one person was allowed in at a time.
His leather gloves trail along the glass, but he walks with a calm assurance as though he knows the path by heart.
Wait, leather gloves. The attendant gave me these ridiculous white, cotton gloves.
I didn’t know we could bring our own. I turn around, trying to find the exit of this stupid passage, but my breath catches when I see the rest of his reflection.
A bandana is tied around the lower half of his face, while the rest is obscured by a ballcap.
My ballcap.
Shit.
I dart down the hallway, feeling for an exit. Where is it? Where is it? My hands find a gap to the right, then to the left. I follow the walls blindly before slamming into a mirror. Motherfucker!
Frazzled, I whirl back around. Do I go left? Right? I don’t remember which way I came from. Images of the man surround me. No matter where I turn, his slow pursuance follows me. He doesn’t rush, instead he walks in a steady cadence, confident in his relentless shadow.
His assurance unsettles me, causing me to panic further. I try to move faster, banging into more mirrors. I don’t know where I’m going. I don’t know where I’ve been. His reflection is getting larger and larger and―
We collide. I ram into his muscular chest, reeling from the sudden impact. I would have fallen, but he wraps an arm around my back, pulling me close to him. A gentle hand glides across my temple, softly tucking my hair behind my ear. I scream.
Startled, he loosens his hold and I fall to the floor, scooting away from him until my back hits the glass.
“What do you want with me?” I cry. The lights flicker from my fear. “Leave me alone!”
He doesn’t say anything, just stares with his brown eyes. I hear a commotion from the front.
“You can’t go in there!” The attendant shouts. A thud, and then he is quiet.
I stare at the man in front of me. He slowly reaches into pocket and pulls out a photo, handing it to me.
My hands tremble as I take it from him. The subject of the photo is me, as to be expected.
It’s framed tightly, focused on my bright smile.
I’m laughing, deboarding the roller coaster earlier today.
It’s cropped so tightly you can’t even see Astrid.
“I missed you” is scrawled in permanent marker on the back.
I look up from the photo, and he is gone, vanished from the mirrored reflections.
The only evidence I have that he even existed at all is the photo in my shaking hands.
A flash of teal darts through the mirrors, and Astrid is kneeling at my side. The lights still as I release the breath caught in my lungs, feeling safe with her there.
“What’s wrong?” She examines me quickly, paling at the photo in my hands. “He left that for you?”
“Worse.” I shake my head. “He handed it to me.”
“We need to go.”