Page 12 of Brutal Savage

I lower the music, registering the roaring of an engine.

Every hair on my body prickles across my skin as I slowly yank the earbuds out of my ears and stuff them into the pouch.

My pulse ricochets in my throat as I glance behind my shoulder, finding a black SUV slowly following me.

Fuck.

Could it be them?

It has to be.

If I run, they’ll just shoot me down. If I stay, maybe I can talk my way out of this.

A ball of nerves rides up my throat. I wish I had my gun on me. If it’s Jerry or one of his people, I want to be ready.

I won’t go down like a coward. I’ll fight him until my last breath.

Frozen on the road, I wait for the car to come to a full stop, my chest heavy as the passenger side window rolls down.

And when I see who’s inside, I realize it’s not Jerry or his people.

It’s him.

The man from the café.

A whoosh of a breath leaves my lungs, but the instant relief is only momentary.

“Ms. Hill.” He greets me in a soft, yet rough tone, and I hate the way I take in those cunning green eyes, murky and full of secrets.

“Are you stalking me?” I arch a brow and his mouth lifts a fraction.

“Just out for a drive. How’s your run?” His gaze laces down my body, and my breathing grows labored, every part of me aware of where his eyes have been.

“Fine. Until now. Anything I can do for you?”

Without a word, he opens the passenger side door. “Get in, Ms. Hill.”

Okay, so he’s clearly a lunatic too. Great… Why else would he want me to just jump into his car for no apparent reason?

“No, thanks.” My features upturn with annoyance.

“It wasn’t a request.” His eyes narrow in challenge.

I scoff and start jogging.

Sure, pissing off a supposed Mafia man is probably not the smartest of choices this morning, but here we are.

I register the growl as he sends the car rolling down the road to catch up with me, the door still open.

“You need to leave me alone.” I stop moving and send a hard stare his way. “This is getting borderline criminal.”

He chuckles, and I hate to admit the way my stomach dips when I hear it.

I brush off the feeling and continue glaring. “What’s so funny?”

“You.” That one word, rough and gravelly, sends a tremor down my body. “Now, be a good girl and get in so I can give you a ride back into town. You never know who you’ll find driving down this road.”

“I do now.”

---