Page 13 of Haunt Me

She’s addicting—a drug I can’t resist.

I’m never going to get enough of her and that—scares me to my core. Sliding into my car, I rest my head against the seat, attempting to calm my racing thoughts. The intense desire I feel manifests physically, my cockthrobbing, constrained by my pants. I fight the urge to turn back and claim her, reminding myself I don’t want to rush it. I want to hear her beg for me—to have her crave me as much as I crave her.

The sudden ringing of my phone interrupts my thoughts. It’s Joe, and I can’t help but wonder what he wants to complain about this time. “What’s up, Joe?” I answer as I try to adjust the hardness in my jeans. “Yes, Pierce, um, I think you need to come and take a look at something,” he says, his voice filled with concern. I know that when Joe sounds worried, something serious has happened. “On my way,” I reply curtly, tossing the phone onto the passenger seat and speeding off towards the factory. As I drive, an uneasy feeling settles in my gut, warning me that whatever awaits me at the factory won’t be pleasant.

Pulling up to the factory gates, I can’t help but feel a tinge of apprehension. The lack of guards and the gaping open gates raise alarm bells in my mind. Something feels off about this. I cautiously make my way towards the warehouse, parking my car at the back to avoid drawing attention. A shiny Bentley parked at an abandoned factory will raise obvious suspicions.

As I walked towards the massive metal doors, the only sound that reached my ears was the satisfying crunch of rocks beneath my feet. Pushing the doors open, I see Joe standing there with all the other workers—their stillness resembling statues.

“Joe, what the hell is…” I barely had time to utter those words before a searing pain shot through my head, and darkness consumed me.

As my eyes flutter open, a dull ache pulsates at the back of my head, accompanied by the unsettling sensation of warm fluid trickling down my neck and soaking into my shirt. My eyes dart around the room but there was nobody in sight except for Joe, his body restrained in a chair, blood staining his face. As I come to my senses, I become aware of my surroundings—I’m in a dimly lit room, strapped to a chair with my hands tied behind my back.

“Joe, what the hell happened? What’s going on?” I frantically shouted, tugging on the rope around my wrists. Joe raises his head, his eyes locking onto mine with intensity. “We fucked up... again,” he admits, his voice filled with regret. “One of our own betrayed us and stole supplies meant for these people, and now theydemand answers.” Disbelief and anger surge through me, coursing through my veins like a raging torrent.

My vision turns crimson as I shake my head in frustration. “Who, Joe?” I demand, my voice laced with a mix of fury and desperation. He lowers his gaze, avoiding my eyes. “I don’t know, Pierce. He was a new recruit. No one knows his whereabouts.” A bitter laugh escapes my lips, devoid of humor.

“Of course. Did you informthem, or shall we face the consequences ofyourincompetence?” Before he can respond, a tall figure clad in black enters the room. His slicked-back hair gleams under the dim light, heavy with the scent of—no doubt—his mother’s baby oil.

“Ah, Mr. Pierce, I presume,” he says, his voice laced with authority. “As you might have noticed—we have a problem on our hands.” The overpowering scent of cigar smoke and alcohol fills the air, causing me to wrinkle my nose in distaste. The memories of my father’s chain-smoking flood my mind, a stark reminder of the hardships we endured.

“And what exactly do you expect us to do about it? As far as I’m concerned, this is not our problem. Our partner has already informed you that the theftoccurred without our knowledge,” I retort, my words laced with defiance. His laughter fills the room, revealing a mouth adorned with yellowed teeth and traces of gold. The urge to strike him in his disgusting face intensifies, his repugnant presence fueling my aggression.

“Well, you see, here’s where you are wrong. You need to come up with a solution or heads are gonna start rolling, Mr. Pierce.” As a sinister smile stretched across my face, I locked eyes with the despicable man in front of me. The room was filled with an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of our hushed conversation. Leaning in closer, I could feel the tension thickening in the air.

“Be my guest,” I whispered, my voice laced with a chilling confidence. The man stared at me, his expression wavering between fear and determination. Slowly, he straightened his posture and gestured to his henchmen. In an instant, they closed in on Joe, myself, and my loyal workers. I knew what was about to unfold.

Let’s see if this dick-head is a man of his word. He better pray that I don’t get out of these ropes.

With a mixture of anger and disbelief, I turned to Joe, my eyes burning with intensity. The words escaped my lips with a venomous spat, “Tell me, Joe, how is it possible to be robbed not once, but twice, in less than two months?” Blood splattered across my hands and arms. Safe to say, the situation had not gone according to plan for cigar face, as he lay lifeless in a pool of his own blood. I glanced up at Joe, my gaze filled with a fiery determination.

Finally, he spoke, his voice filled with resignation, “I’ll fix it, kid.” With those words, he turned and left. He better fix this. I don’t have time to track down another idiot that decided it would be wise to fuck me over. I have more important things to worry about right now.

I barely make it back to the apartment. They did a number on me back at the warehouse, but I’m the one who walked away with my heart still beating. When I reached the front door, I realized it was locked.

Great.

My dear housemate is probably out and balls-deep in someone right now.

A mischievous smirk played on my lips as a thought entered my throbbing mind. I wonder if diner girl wouldn’t mind playing nurse for me.

Chapter9

Starlet

Lying in bed, Ican’t sleep—the darkness engulfs me, matching the chaos inside my mind. A man who’s been stalking me invaded my space and, worst of all, invaded my innocence—and I allowed it. I feel so stupid, the weight of my naivety pressing down on me. No one has ever seen me naked, never mind touched me the way he did. It was wrong but I’m not gonna deny that it felt amazing—because it did.

His warm mouth and skilled tongue ignited a fire within me. The way he devoured me made me want more, but that’s never going to happen—I’m not going to allow anything like that to ever happen again. Iswear to God, if he comes anywhere near me again, I’m going to call the police.

The shrill sound of my phone ringing interrupts my thoughts, echoing through the empty rooms. I left it in the living room when Chloe was here before Mr. Creep took advantage of me. Pulling myself off the bed, my feet meeting the cold floor, I make my way to where I still hear my phone ringing and I see Chloe’s name flashing on the screen.

That’s odd. Why would she call this late?

“Hey, Chlo, is everything alright?” I ask as I make my way to the kitchen to make some hot chocolate, the sweet aroma enveloping the room, offering momentary comfort.

"Hey, Star.. um, you remember that guy that took you home that night we went clubbing?”Concern laces her voice and I hum in agreement, waiting for her to continue, my fingers trembling slightly as I grip the mug tightly.

“Well, he’s missing. It’s all over the news.”Shock and panic overtake me and I run to the TV and turn it on the news, the blaring sound filling the room. Andshe’s right—his pretty face on the screen with the word ‘Missing’ in bold capitals above his picture.

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