Page 34 of Rhet

“Greg, the gate isn’t opening, and I have to get in. I have to leave.”

He looks at me like I’m nuts. “Here, take this umbrella.”

He pushes it in my direction.

“No, it’s okay, besides, you may need it for another customer.”

He frowns and looks out again. “It’s pouring.” He shoves the umbrella in my hands.

“Thank you.”

I jump out and take Rhet’s commercial coffee and my handbag with me. How in God’s name can rain be this cold? Opening the umbrella, I start to walk to the side entry of the gate where a small entrance resides.

I say a prayer hoping it’s unlocked. I squeal in relief as I push it open. Greg reverses and drives off. I step inside and the gate bangs closed behind me. Of all the days for me to wear heels, I chose today. The wind blows, sending sprinkles of water on my face. I fix my gaze on the gray gravel driveway with mini rivulets running through it.

I can do this. With a deep inhale, I begin my walk to the house. The driveway has tall green Juniper trees on either side. I come across another guard booth, but no one’s there.

How far is this damn house? I can’t even see the roof on the horizon. Is this bloody house on the moon or some shit?

A thought comes rushing to me. If there’s a guard booth and the guard isn’t there, who’s protecting the house?

A growl sounds a few feet behind me. Closing my eyes, I send a prayer to any god that may hear me.

Holding onto the umbrella tightly, I look back. Two chocolate brown Dobermans stand behind me, both poised to attack. One growls, the other is silent, with murderous intent and hate boiling in his eyes.

“This is how I die,” I whisper.

Slowly, I creep back, water splashes at my heel. Satan’s guard dogs begin a slow advance. I do the most stupid thing possible, placing the black umbrella in front of me and try to push them away.

“Shh, get away from me. Be gone. Leave me alone.” Fat rain droplets hit my face, making me sputter water from my lips as I speak.

One of the demon dogs snatches the canopy part of the umbrella and they both begin to shred it to pieces. All I can think to do is run, and I do—with the coffee close to my chest and cold rain pouring on my head.

“Help! Somebody help me, please!” I scream.

The chomping of teeth and swift air of the missed bite near my ass sends a chill through me. I run out of one of my heels and begin to sprint up the driveway. Usain Bolt who? More like thunderbolt Zeeta.

“Help me. I don’t wanna die this way. I’m too young for this shit,” I scream, hearing my blood rush in my ears.

RHET

Standing in the mirror fixing my tie, I talk to Dax.

“The fuck is going on with this circle. Cole and Tarek have girlfriends and now Jasper?” I fix my ear buds to hear Dax better.

His dark chuckle reaches my ear. “You sound jealous. You need a woman, Rhet?”

“Nah, I have a million problems, but pussy has never been one of them.”

“I hear you,” Dax replies.

I look out my bedroom window. The rain pours down. Where the fuck is she?

“How is your new PA?” Dax asks.

“Maybe she’s drowning in her sarcasm,” I reply. The rain is pounding hard against the window, and the trees are swaying.

“Is this one sassy then? A female Julian?”

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