Page 35 of Tempted By Sin

The alleyway is dark, just like every other night. But for some reason, I don’t feelhim. His presence isn’t suffocating me like it normally does, and his scent isn’t lingering in the air. My brows crease into a frown as I spin on my heels, hoping to see him hidden in the shadows, but I’m left with nothing but disappointment when a street cat darts across the ground, seeking shelter in an empty crate beside a small dumpster.

Where is he? Not that I should care given he’s a stalker who kidnapped me not that long ago. But for some reason, I feel… less safe without him around.

A heavy sigh falls from my lips as I turn to continue walking, only I’m stopped in my tracks at the sight of a figure approaching me, their hands shoved deeply into the pockets of their jacket.

My heart hammers in my chest. Any normal person would continue walking and maybe offer a smile to the stranger. Danger would not be high on their radar, especially if it’s not something they’ve encountered before.

I, however, have alarm bells sounding in my ears at the sight of this person. Maybe it’s their quick ended footsteps, hunched shoulders, or the way their head continues to gaze over their shoulder, as if they’re checking no one else is around. Either way, this person screams dangerous to me, and I have nowhere to go.

The man is now a few feet away from me. I scream at my legs to turn and run, but they refuse to listen to my commands, betraying me. Flashes of the night I was kidnapped race through my mind, reminding me of how powerless I was in that moment. And the same thing is going to happen again.

Why are you so weak, Pae?

Now he’s in front of me, the tip of a knife pressed against the base of my throat. I gag as stale cigarettes assault my senses, and he wraps his hand around the back of my neck, holding me in place.

“Give me all of your fucking money right now.”

His voice is gravelly, and his breath is putrid. And despite the fear coursing through my veins, all I can do is stare at the man, blinking rapidly as I try to catch up to the gravity of the situation I’m in.Again.

“I-I don’t—”

“Now!” he yells in my face, speckles of saliva landing on my cheek and chin.

My body vibrates as I stare at the man, his face half covered by darkness. I can still make out the light gray stubble on his cheeks and crooked yellow teeth. The windbreaker brushing against my arm has seen better days and the dark blue jeans he wears are covered in dirt and stains.

I scream at my body to put up a fight, to not let another man assume power over me. Being helpless is the last thing I want, but when my body shuts down, refusing to respond to my demands, there isn’t much I can do.

I swallow hard, my throat dry. “Okay. Just… don’t hurt me, please.”

Before I can reach into my handbag, the man is wrenched backward, and the knife clatters to the ground. A rush of relief washes over me at the absence of the man trying to mug me, but it’s soon replaced with confusion when I hear him grunting and pleading for his life, followed by a fury of skin meeting skin.

My eyes adjust to the scene before me, and my heart almost leaps out of my chest at the sight of the man gripping the mugger by the collar of his shirt.

Ace. He’s here.

“Who the fuck are you?” Ace roars, his voice so deep it vibrates deep in my bones.

The mugger cowers beneath Ace where he cowers on the ground, his hands attempting to cover his face. “No-no one. I was—”

“If you don’t get the fuck out of my sight in three seconds, you’re going to wish you were dead instead of touching what’s mine.”

In the blink of an eye, the man scrambles to his feet and runs back the way he came, the knife forgotten about on the ground beside me.

I stare at Ace as he rises, his height intimidating as he stands in front of me. Despite his harsh exterior and the tattoos littering his right arm and knuckles, his eyes intense as they watch me, I know I’m safe with him.

“Are you okay?” Ace runs his knuckles over the curve of my cheek, the thick ring on his finger cold against my skin. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

I shake my head. “I-I’m okay.”

“Good,” Ace says, his hand dropping to his side. “I’m sorry I’m late. I had something else I had to attend to first.”

I blink at him. I want to ask what he was doing, but I’m not sure he would tell me if I did. Either way, I’m grateful he’s here. If he hadn’t stopped that guy… who knows what could’ve happened?

“I sh-should probably go.” My voice is barely above a whisper, shock still lingering in my system.

“Wait.” Ace wraps his hand around my wrist. His skin is warm against mine, and his touch gentle. “You shouldn’t be going home alone, not if you were just attacked.”

“But my fiancé…” I swallow hard, the words dying on my tongue. The thought of going home to Liam right now after he told me I shouldn’t be driving myself to and from work is a recipe for him to tell me,I told you so. “He’s probably wondering where I am.”

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