Page 64 of Wickedly Played
After I finish my business, I’m finishing up retouching my makeup when one of the stalls opens behind me.
“Serena,” a male’s voice calls out.
My heart flutters in my chest from fear. “This is the ladies’ room,” I casually throw out.
Why is there a man in here?
“You’re so beautiful,” he says, causing me to shiver.
The hair on the back of my neck stands straight up. “Thank you. Have we met before?”
He is in his mid-forties, with a beer belly, scraggly hair, and a foul odor emanating from him. “We have.”
I turn around to look at him face-to-face. “I’m sorry. I don’t remember meeting you.”
The man is standing directly in front of me, making it difficult for me to breathe without inhaling his scent. “We had a beautiful night together. I have watched all of your cam shows. I know you have been touching yourself while thinking about me.”
“Sir, I’m going to ask you to please leave,” I demand. My hand tries to reach for the bathroom door. The man in front of me reaches out to grab my wrist. His fingers are cold and clammy.
“What is it that Max has that I don’t?”
“Pardon?” Alarm bells are ringing in my ears. How does he know my bodyguard’s name? Plus, how would he know we were hooking up?
Holy shit.
“Have you been the one sending stuff to my house?” Is it possible that I’m standing directly in front of my stalker? After all of these months, this man is the one who has been breaking into my house and sending me those disgusting letters?Is this the killer of Meredith?
He lets out a chilling chuckle. “No, that was not me. I wouldn’t do something so stupid with Max there. What does he have that I don’t have?” The man grabs my chin to hold it to look at him. His thumb catches the inside of my cheek like a fishhook. That’s when I taste something bitter on my tongue. I try to gag, but he pulls his hook of his thumb harder.
“Just know he will ruin your life like he ruined her life. It is only a matter of time before he does.”
“What are you talking about?”
He slaps me across the face, causing my head to fall back. “He hasn’t told you anything? Ask him about his old girlfriend.”
Another slap has me reeling. “Matter of fact, ask him what he does while you’re sleeping.”
There is a loud bang on the door, and I hear the door handle jiggle. “Unlock this door! If you don’t unlock it, I’m getting the manager!” It is a female’s voice on the other side of the door.
My heart is beating rapidly. I feel my breath getting caught in my throat, choking me. I feel scared. I feel actually terrified right now.
The man in front of me winks at me and then opens the door casually as if he didn’t just throw me into a spiral. I’m standing in front of the sink with my chest heaving. I can’t get enough air into my body.
My mind swims withwhat ifs.I can’t help it. That is when I start to feel my eyes pinching a little on the corners. My eyes feel droopy, and then everything goes black as I pass out.
Chapter Twenty-Six
MAX
My eyes have been fixed on the ladies’ bathroom door since the woman who has me tied up in knots left to go inside. Stella has been relatively quiet as we wait for Serena to come back. I keep feeling the weight of her staring at me for whatever reason.
“What?” I snap.
The pretty woman holds her hand up at me. “I didn’t say anything.”
“You’ve been looking over at me and then back at your phone. What is going on?” Knowing that Stella knew I slept with Serena wasn’t a big deal. The biggest concern is what will happen if my brother finds out.
My attributes to the family consisted of the amount of blood I shed. My value to the family was only in bullets and how many times I could get away with murder. The military training helped my skills, of course. Adam hated that I received special treatment from our family because of this. I didn’t give a fuck. He should have tried harder to do better. He brought in more money because of the security firm- meaning he had legit money coming in. The money I have coming in isn’t legitimate and couldn’t be traced back through taxes. Adam has always been theone who has tried to fuck with me somehow. I know he’s going to have something to say about Serena.
