Page 104 of Giving In

“Pick up, pick up, pick up….”

“Hey, beautiful. Are you done with–”

“Nathan! Nathan, you have to help me. You have to call the police. I was–I was…”

Another, louder bang pulls a scream out of me.

“‘Me? What’s wrong? Where are you?”

“I’m at the café,” I sob. “Th–this guy he came in and... and... please call the police. I’m locked in the back room but he’s trying to get in... Nathan, please call the police.”

There’s another bang and this one actually puts a dent in the door.

“The police are on their way,” I shout at the door. “Leave now!”

“Jamie,”Nathan’s low voice suddenly grounds me. “Don’t talk to him. You talk to me. You got me? Donottalk to him.”

“Yes...yeah. Okay.”

“Describe him to me. I’ll describe him to the police if he tries to leave.”

“He–he’s small, dark long hair, black eyes. White. He’s got a tattoo on his left bicep.”

“What tattoo?”

“The W–” I stop myself. Nathan probably has no idea who the Wolves are. “It’s the moon cycle.”

There’s a brief pause.

“Nathan?”

“Donotmove. I’m on my way.”

I don’t have time to reply, he’s already hung up. Is he calling the police? What is going on?

I take steps back from the door, my eyes never leaving the first dent he’s made. My back hits the back wall and my legs totally give up. I slide against the wall until I hit the floor, pull my legs to my chest, wrap my arms around them and drop my head on my arms.

I keep repeating to myself that the police are on their way, that this is all going to be over soon, but the banging becomes one with my heartbeat and I can’t stop the tears. This guy came to finish the job Volkov started three years ago and even if I make it out alive tonight, my nightmare will be far from over.

What feels like an eternity later, the banging stops and I hear some struggling outside. I get up and get closer to the door. I hear a fight, but I have no idea what is going on exactly. Voices, grunts, struggle, it all mixes together and suddenly nothing.

A few knocks on the door make me jump but it’s nothing like the banging.

“Jamie, it’s me, open the door.” Nathan’s voice is like that of an angel.

It releases a wave of relief over my whole body and I rush to unlock the door from the inside.

As soon as I open, he rushes inside and grabs my shoulders. Our height difference is such that he has to bend down to level his face with mine.

“Are you okay? Let me see your face.”

“I’m okay...I’m fine…” I cry as I say this, but they’re tears of relief.

“Your neck,” he says as he inspects my body and he freezes when he notices the state of my top and bra.

He takes a step back, his jaw clenches as he runs a hand through his hair.

“Fucking...motherfucker…” He pulls his sleeves up to his elbow, exposing his ripped arms and walks back out of the room.

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