Page 20 of Havoc

“Nope. I started seeing his patrol car outside my office when I left. It spooked me, so I started making sure I left with everyone else and didn’t pull any evening shifts. Something about walking out of the building after dark and his patrol car being virtually the only vehicle in sight really spooked me.”

Dae nodded, looking all kinds of alarmed. “That would freak me the hell out too. How long ago did the texting start?”

“A few months ago. They were so friendly at first that I started to think that maybe I had been mistaken about him being a creep. Then he started saying creepy things again.”

“How creepy did he get?” my friend asked, an expression of growing alarm on her face.

“He sent me a text while I was shopping and said that I was out of creamer and should get some more. At first, I just thought he was joking around in his creepy way. Then, when I got home and started putting my groceries away, I noticed that I was practically out of creamer.”

Dae’s eyes went big. “You know what that means, right? That creep was nosing around your apartment.”

“I don’t know that for sure. Everyone runs out of creamer regularly. It could’ve just been a good guess on his part. It doesn’t matter though, because I had the landlord change out the locks and added a couple of deadbolts of my own for good measure. No one is getting through that door now.”

“You’ve reported him though, right?” Dae asked.

I shook my head, “His messages aren’t threatening, and he’s not actually done anything. I don’t want my concerns to be brushed away like I’m some hysterical woman. Plus, he is a detective, if I’m wrong, I could get him into a lot of trouble.”

“I think you need to trust your senses. You need to get the hell outta here, Riley. Don’t let the asshole back you into a corner.”

“I’m not going to pretend that I’m not scared, because I totally am. But I’m not going to allow this asshole to tear me away from my home, my job, and my friends. I’m going to bide my time, de-escalate him for as long as possible, and figure a way out of this situation. Either that, or see if I can get real, cold, hard evidence on him.”

“Ballsy,” Dae said with an awed expression on her face. “I’m here for you. Whatever you need, I’ll do it.”

“Well, we’re still sharing our location through that app. So, you’ll know where I was if I go missing.”

Dae began panicking all over again. “Don’t say things like that. You’re not going to go missing.”

“All I can do is get on with my life and report anything that seems dangerous. Unfortunately, being a creeper is not illegal.”

Dae’s lips pressed into a thin line for a brief moment before she spoke. “If only he weren’t a cop, his behavior would look a lot more suspicious.”

We looked at each other as the reality of my situation hit home. I put my now-empty cup in the sink and told her, “I’ve got an early meeting with a client today, so I need to get ready and hit the road.”

I could tell Dae was deeply concerned. “Now I’m living here temporarily that’s safety in numbers, right? We need to keep our eyes and ears open, our doors locked, and from now on, we stick together.”

Dae was an amazing person for wanting us to stick together, but I thought that was too much. I walked over and gave her a hug. “Everything’s going to be alright. We don’t need to stick together every minute of the day.”

“Okay, if that’s what you think is best.” She gave a quick hug and said, “I’m gonna make sure all the windows are locked.” She dodged out of my grasp and ran off before I could respond. It was like she felt like she had to do something—anything—to keep me safe.

We parted ways, and I went to take a shower. As the warm water cascaded over my shoulders, I couldn’t help but think about Havoc and his club. Would they help a girl out? From the way Havoc talked about not being able to resist white knighting for a woman, I bet he would. My mind drifted. I started wondering what it would be like to have his strong arms around me when I was scared of his archnemesis.

I had to admit that I was nothing like that club girl he’d been flirting with. I’d been told that I was beautiful on occasion, but that club girl wasn’t just beautiful—she dressed all trashy, just like he probably liked. I imagined myself dressed a little spicier, maybe in black leather and lace. Would I catch his eye? Did he even like redheads?

I was shocked to find my hand between my legs, stroking myself to fantasies of the rough biker who couldn’t stand me. Then again, there had been a couple of moments when he’d warmed up to me. My mind began imagining what the tattoos beneath his clothing looked like, creating new and intricate designs as I went. The thought of seeing him without clothing was a huge turn-on. Before I knew it, I was coming so hard my knees almost gave way.

The minute my orgasm receded, guilt swamped me. I felt terrible about objectifying my new client. Granted, I wasn’t his doctor or therapist, so there were no rules that said I couldn’t get with him while we were working together, but it was still an ethically and morally gray area. And way beyond the personal boundary I’d set for myself with clients. And I was one step down the path to breaking it.

I quickly showered and got dressed. It took me a minute to dry and style my hair and put on my makeup. Then I went to my walk-in closet and pulled out a smart suit. I grabbed a set of shiny black loafers and got dressed ready to meet my client.

Stepping out into the sunshine, I took a deep breath of fresh air. Telling Dae about my little problem had been a decision born of necessity. I had to keep her safe. And knowledge was power.

Chapter 8

Havoc

Tonight marked my first real meeting with Riley. Our initial meeting had been a bust, but today was another day—or rather, another night. I checked my watch and saw that it was coming up on seven. Unless I missed my guess, Riley was the kind of woman who showed up on time.

She’d told me to think over my goals. Unfortunately, all I’d been able to think about was her and her lovely, long red hair. It was a beautiful—a cascade of coppery goodness. Her green eyes were stunning. And there was the barest smattering of freckles across her face. I swore, she was the most fucking gorgeous woman I’d ever laid eyes on.

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