Page 41 of Only The Strong

Leo shakes his head. “Nope. Still doesn’t narrow that down.”

Oh God, what have I gotten myself into? My cheeks flush. “Um. You and Mase were both with her at the clubhouse party that I went to.” Why am I still trying?

“Jessica is fine. Stop making Reese uncomfortable, Leo.” Mase finally interjects, laughing.

Leo chuckles and I can see why he apparently has a horde of short blondes, he has a boyish charm that reminds you of that bad boy in high school that your parents didn't want you to date. His confidence and smirk are going to get him in too deep one of these days. “I guess your type is blondes too?” I raise one eyebrow, refusing to let Leo’s charm shake me.

A roguish smile spread across his face and I know he's about to say something perverted. “Nah.” He shakes his head. “Daddy issues.”

Mason barks a laugh and almost chokes on the drink he just took, while I internally facepalm myself. I know he’s only a few years younger than Mason and I, but he makes me feel so old in the sense that I would not be able to keep up with this kid. His wit and confidence make him a perfect fit for The Devil’s Outlaws, especially with Finn… and even Callum.

After dinner Mase and Leo load the dishwasher. Mason always insists on cleaning up when I cook for him, and I guess Leo has some manners under all of his cocky smiles because he started to help without any thought. I’m sitting on the couch, watching them over the counter when my phone vibrates on the arm of the couch.

Unknown: Attachment: 1 Video

What is this? I look up at the boys. They’re laughing, Leo trying to whip Mason with a hand towel while Mason is rinsing dishes at the sink. Mason picks up his long leg to keep Leo at a distance. I look back down to my phone, swiping it unlocked to see what the video is. The message is from a number I don't recognize, I check to make sure the guys aren't watching me while I turn down my sound and click on the video.

The video is dark and I have to make sure my brightness is turned up. It looks like dark boots walking through grass, and then the camera pans up and a building and some light come into view. It looks like a window, the light shining over the top of the curtains and through a small gap in the middle like they weren’t closed all the way. The phone gets closer to the window and that's when my heart drops into my stomach. Allie is standing in front of a bed, in a sports bra and thong, pulling sweat pants up her short legs. She grabs a shirt off of the bed and that's when I notice my comforter. Before I can recover my breath, a long hunting knife with a wicked looking point waves in front of the window and camera, then the video abruptly cuts off. Panicked and angry, I text the number back.

Reese: What do you want? I already did what you wanted and broke up with Callum.

I place my phone down. My stalker recorded Allie changing in my room one of the nights she stayed with me. I’m trying to remember what she wore on which nights she stayed here so I can place him here on a certain night. My phone vibrates in my hands and I drop it to my lap like it's on fire when I see another message from the unknown number. In truth I didn't think I would get a response, all of our communication has been physical messages from him without a way for me to reply.

Unknown: There’s a package waiting for you by the dumpsters. Better hurry.

I drop my phone on the couch and walk into the kitchen and grab the bag of trash from the trash can in the small pantry. I’ve seen too many scary movies with body parts in boxes and the video of Allie has me thinking it has to do with her. Ignoring the guy's conversation, I walk straight to the back door and once I'm outside I sprint to the giant trash bins behind my building. I toss the bag in, half full and not even tied shut. I look around the dumpsters, not seeing anything in the dark. I shouldn't have left my phone, I could have used the flashlight.

“Reese, run!” Mason screams. My spine snaps straight at the sound and I see Mason running towards me while a black van that was parked next to the dumpsters speeds away; the tires squealing. Before I can move, Mason reaches me and pulls my hand to drag me back with him. We run back around the building and into my apartment. Mason pushes me into the hallway and to the floor while he barks at Leo to check the locks and set the alarm. I stand back up and slowly step out from behind the wall of the hallway and into the living room. Mason is scrolling on his phone, looking for a number I can only assume is Callum’s.

I’m not sure if there was really a package or if it was just a ruse, but I need to know for sure, nothing else matters right now. “Mason. He left a package.” My voice is weak, distant.

“What?” He looks up from his phone, his eyes are wild, his chest quickly rising and falling with his heavy breathing.

I step more into the living room and to the couch, picking up my phone. “My stalker sent me a video and said he left me a package by the dumpster.” I offer my phone to him. He looks to Leo, who is leaning against the wall in the dining room, peeking out of the curtains of the big window, and angles his head toward the back door that I ran out of earlier. Leo nods and walks towards the door, he disables my alarm and unlocks the door, but before he opens it he pulls a gun from the inside of his cut and pulls back the slide, cocking it. He opens the door and quietly walks out, closing the door behind him. While I’m staring at the spot Leo just left, stunned by what just almost happened and the sight of Leo pulling a gun from his vest, Mason takes my phone and walks to stand at the back door. He stares at my phone with a hard expression on his face and then taps a few things on the screen, he tosses it onto the couch next to me before he opens the door for Leo and then locks it again behind him, turning on the alarm once more.

“There wasn’t a package anywhere,” Leo says, slipping the gun into his waistband behind his back.

I shake my head, grabbing my phone to look at the message again. “There has to be.”

Mason walks over to me and rests his hands against my arms, leaning down to look into my eyes. “He said that to get you outside and take you, Reese. He knew we were both in here and wanted to get you outside and alone.” Mason’s eyes probe mine, probably wondering why I'm not crying in the corner from this near miss.

Just as I'm about to suggest Leo go look again, my phone vibrates in my hand. Mason and I both look down at my phone, and his hands tighten against my forearms at the name.

Unknown: 1 New Message

With a sigh, I slide my thumb across the message to open it, keeping the phone low so Mason can see it too.

Unknown: I won’t stop until you are mine and mine alone, and your time is running out, Reesey.

Holding back tears I look into Mason’s sincere blue-green eyes. “Take me to Callum.”

41

REESE

I stepoff of the back of Mason’s bike, pulling down my short jean shorts that had ridden up my thighs and smoothing out my brick red v-neck shirt. A deep bass thumps out of the clubhouse and I look around the gated compound. There aren't as many cars and bikes as there were at the last club party, but definitely quite a few. I turn to look at Mase as he walks up beside me, pulling his hood back up over his head. “Is there a party tonight?”

He looks down at me and shakes his head. “Not that I was aware of.”

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