Page 16 of Darkness

By the time the cleaning is finished, it’s almost nine before I close the shop. Normal closing time is seven, but it was such a busy day and there is a lot of mess to clean up. It was stupid of me to send Katy home early.

Disarming the alarm, I drop everything on the floor and go straight over to the window. Why? For one reason only, to see if I can see his apartment from my window. Counting the floors, I’m going to say the whole eighth floor will be his apartment. There’s nothing. Not even one light is turned on, but the club isstill open, so he might be in his office, or on a date, or with his girlfriend, or wife.

Oh my God, I never once thought about him being in a relationship with someone. I need to stop thinking about Mr. Cain and his tattoos, and his eyes.“Shut Up Autumn-Rose,”I shout to myself.

Walking towards my bedroom I need a shower. Cooling off seems like a good idea at the moment. A clear mind once I’m out of the shower, some dinner and binge watching some stupid reality TV show is just what the doctor ordered.

Grabbing a pair of shorts and tank top, I throw them on the bed, and make my way to the shower, and without meaning to I look out the window, once again. My living room and bedroom both face his apartment. But it could be the back of it, and I’d never see him walking around.

I need to get laid.

Stopping mid track when I hear a loud noise coming from outside of my door, I quickly grab the baseball bat, and run over to the door to look through the peephole.

There is no way he can find me. I covered all my tracks. I’m sure I did. If I’m right, he should think I’m in Canada, and have no reason to think I’m here. Yet, I know the fucking crazy man has connections, and with how obsessed he had gotten with me, there is nothing he wouldn’t do to get me back. I have to laugh at my own words. I was never his from the start. He lived in this fantasy world which I was never a part of and never will be.

I don’t see anything, but loud bang hits the wall, making me jump. I grab my cell to see if I can see anything on the camera I have out there. I have four cameras, keeping me safe. I have two on the door, then two on the windows. Now I know there is no way he can get into my apartment as it’s on the eighth floor, but I wasn’t going to risk it.

I’ll never risk it again. I slide against the wall and sit on the dark wooden floor, leaning my head on the bat handle. Turns out It’s only the couple who live two doors down from me, slamming each other against the wall as they make out.

Taking in a deep breath, I close my eyes as the tears build up. When am I going to be able to live a normal life?

“You looked beautiful on the ice.” The sick feeling in my stomach returns when I hear the bastard’s voice. “But you always look beautiful.”

“Leave me alone-”

“Now we both know I can’t do that. We’re meant to be together, you’re just making me work hard.” He takes a step closer to me, but I take one back, and he grabs my arm hard, pulling me in closer to him. “You’ll always be mine, remember that.” He slams his lips into mine, and I try to push him away, but he’s three times the size of me. How can I fight him? How can I get rid of him?

He’s getting bolder with what he’s doing now, too. Getting into my apartment, even though I’ve changed the locks, he still gets in. This morning there was a gift on the kitchen counter from him, but I never opened it. Anything from him I never open. They go straight into the bin.

“One day I’m going to get what I want, and you’ll feel it too. How we’re meant to be together. We fit.” His hand moves up my thigh to the gap between my legs.

Opening my eyes, I don’t want to waste any of my time thinking about him, ever again. I glance over to the only place I can see. Mr. Cain’s apartment, as much as I feel the danger around him, there is something pulling me to him. I feel as if he can protect me from everything and, more importantly, anyone.

A chilly breeze moves through the apartment, and I rub my hands over my arms, I get up and I slowly walk over to the window once again, placing the baseball bat on the couch.

Are you my villain in disguise?

Can you protect me from the past if it came down to it?

Eight

Cain

I hearthe elevator door open behind me, already knowing it’s Lincoln. I don’t bother getting up. I’ve been sitting here for a few hours now, only watching one person. The girl who’s been on my mind more than I’d like to admit since I’ve met her.

There is this pull towards her which I can’t explain, but whatever it is, it’s starting to take over my day.

Lincoln sits next to me on the couch. “You sitting in the dark, so she can’t see you watching her?” Lincoln looks over to where I am, but I don’t say anything to him because he already knows the answer. “How long have you been sitting here?”

“What’s the time?” I ask.

I didn’t want to touch my cell because she would know I was here, as she’s been looking up at my window a few times. She knows where I live.

“Just after midnight.”

“Three hours.” Grabbing my glass off the table, I drink the rest of my whiskey, waiting for Lincoln to continue with his questions.

“And? What have you found out?”

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