Page 53 of Sexting Mr. CEO

I read the text a few times, trying to make sense of it. It just doesn’t feel like Luke. It feels strange, even his wording sounds off. I try to call him, but he rejects it.

Luke: We’ll be talking in person any second now.

Sera: Why won’t you answer the phone? Are you mad I didn’t tell you the truth about TechGuard right away?

Luke: A little, but that’s not why I won’t answer. I want to talk with you in person.

Sera: Then come out here.

Luke: If you’re certain, that’s what you want.

I stare at the bar, keeping my engine running, ready to drive away at the first sign of trouble. This situation is giving me seriously bad vibes, and I’m not sure what’s happening. I grew up in a dangerous neighborhood, around desperate people, and there’s something about Luke’s messages that are giving me similar feelings.

As crazy as it seems, I’m thinking that somehow, somebody switched Luke’s number in my phone. This person doesn’t text like Luke?—

I scream when my passenger-side window is smashed, turning away and covering my face. Before I can think about driving away, somebody has leaned into the shattered window andreached all the way across, poking something cold and metal against my head.

“Get out of the car. Slowly.”

“Please,” I whisper. “Damien?”

“You’re even cleverer than I thought. Come on now, sweet pea. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Trembling, I opened the car door and climbed out. I remember what Luke said about Damien being desperate and manic. I need to act fast in case he does something he might come to regret… but it’ll be too late for me.

He walks around the car, keeping the gun trained on me. He’s definitely the guy who spilled coffee all over my laptop. His hand trembles as he gestures with the firearm. “To the bar. Now.”

Nothing good will happen if I do what he says. I need to stall. This may be a quiet neighborhood, but I saw a car go by a few minutes ago. If I get lucky, maybe another car will notice us. Damien isn't exactly being subtle with the gun he’s waving around.

“How did you switch the number?” I say, trying to get him talking.

He smiles thinly. “This goes deeper than you can imagine. This goes to the root of your entire existence, girl.”

“Did you break into my…” No, that’s not it. Oh, fuck. “You threatened Ellie, didn’t you? When I visited her, I went to the bathroom. I left my phone with her. Right before I left, she looked… terrified. You threatened an innocent woman who hascancer.”

He walks right up to me, prodding me with the gun, causing a fresh wave of terror to drench my entire being. “I’d change your tone if I were you.”

“But I’m right.”

“Luke owes me. His entire company owes me. I’m the man behind it all. I’m the kingpin. I’m the big dog.” He barks in my freaking face. It’d be funny if it wasn’t so terrifying. “Now –walk.”

With no other choice, I move slowly across the street, holding my hands high above my head, praying someone will notice me. I take small, slow steps, then stop, panting as if I’m on the verge of a panic attack. It’s easy to fake it… or I’m not totally faking it.

“Walk, bitch, or I’ll shoot you right here.”

“Puh-please,” I say, almost choking on the word. “Please, just let me?—”

“Walk.Oh, fuck…”

That’s when I hear it, the sound of tires approaching. I want to cry out in relief, but I can’t claim victory. I need them to stop, I need them to care enough to save a life. Thankfully, I still have my hands up in the air.

All I’m hoping for is a distraction to run away, but when I turn to look, I’m pleasantly surprised by what I see. A man with a big, bushy mustache pokes his head out of his pickup, holding none other than a shotgun. He looks like can handle the gun well. It is Florida, after all.

“What do we have here?” the man yells.

“Mind your business, old man,” Damien yells. “Or I shoot the bitch.”

“You shoot her, I shoot you, mister.”

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