Page 10 of Quinlan

Something is wrong. So wrong.

My eyes narrow at the man in a dark suit and slumped shoulders who heads my way. His head is bowed while he talks on his phone. He’s not watching me.

The woman with a high, auburn ponytail comes up behind him. She jogs on the sidewalk, sidestepping us both, disappearing behind me. She isn’t it, either.

There’s no monster at my back, otherwise the people at my front would’ve warned me.

Right?

Right.

A look behind my back and I breathe easier. The street is empty, besides the woman who sprints, disappearing in the distance.

I’m fine.It’s a good neighborhood. A few more blocks and I’ll be home.

Five more minutes go on like this. Of me hyping myself. Convincing myself I’m perfectly safe here.

And failing.

It should’ve helped by now. My wild imagination should’ve calmed its fucking tits. This isn’t like me, this hugging my middle. This hurried pace.

Nothing ever scares me anymore. I’m a strong, independent woman. I’ve been living on my own and providing for myself for the last three years. Have recently signed a major contract with a renowned company.

Me.Idid it.

No one gets to scare me. No one has the right to back me into a corner.

Other than Rex. But he’s harmless. He’s a wounded beast, my older half-brother. His mom died when he was a teenager, then our—

I shake my head. Another moment that I think about my younger brother, and I’ll cry.

No time for that. The present moment, that’s what I need to focus on. On this horrible, ominous feeling of being watched. Of being the sole focus of a stranger’s undivided, bone-chilling attention.

A soft tapping sound of shoes walking the pavement reaches behind me.

Oh, shit. Now IknowI’m not crazy.

Whoever it is, they’re done hiding. They’re here.

Screw them.

Screw them for messing with my perfectly perfect day. Screw them for fucking with me. Rex is the only one who’s allowed to do that. He’s family. He has mitigating circumstances. Like our dead brother and how I failed to save him eighteen years ago.

The person behind me isn’t Rex.

He’s a rude, stalking asshole, and I’m going to tell him exactly that.

I come to a full stop. Put my hands on my hips. Roll my shoulders back.

On the outside, I might look tired and overworked. My soul isn’t exhausted, though. It’s ready to fight. Ready tell whoever this is they can go suck a cock.

I’m not a victim.

Not waiting a second longer, I spin on my heel. I’m already glowering at whoever I might find there, stalking me. Ready to kick them in the nuts in case they get too close.

I will, I most absolutely—

What the hell?

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