Page 91 of Allure

Only because I wouldn’t let him in.

It's nothing personal. I can't let anyone get too close. If they learn my worst secret… if that ever gets out… my life will be ruined. Not just my love life. My life.

Desperate times, desperate measures.

I would do what I did one hundred times out of one hundred.

But that doesn’t mean I want my life to be over because of it. I mean, I did what I did so that I could have a life of my own in the first place. Being locked up for the rest of my life just isn’t in the cards.

The one I want to be locked up is that damn mugger. Hmm. Did Declan tell his father or Detective Rivera about the truck we spotted? It isn't much of a lead to go on, but we also don't know all of the facts that they've learned so far throughout their investigation, so maybe a tidbit will be more useful than it appears.

Dawn’s wandered down the hall, but I pull out my phone and call Detective Rivera and leave him a message. Yes, I could’ve texted Declan to see if he spoke with anyone on the police force about it, but I’m a coward.

As has become a habit, I scan the news. Nothing new about the mugger. That makes me feel good. Somewhat. He's still out there, and I hate that. It frustrates the hell out of me. How is he able to do all of this without getting caught?

He’s picking his victims carefully. I mean, if he went after Sempai Evelina, he would be in serious trouble.

“Are you ready to go?” Dawn asks, coming up to me. “I think we’re good, honestly.”

“We can go,” I say. “I’m sorry this was a waste of time.”

“Spending time with a friend is never wasted time,” she says. “Besides, I’m beat. I want to head to bed.”

We leave and make it back home without any incident. I can’t help scanning the roads for any trucks, especially Toyotas, but the only Tundra I see is one driven by a woman.

The next day, Friday, I immediately check the news. It’s the first thing I do most mornings, which maybe isn’t the best for my psyche, especially now.

And there is news.

There has been an attack. It wasn’t at a store but at a woman’s house. She had been approached by a man with a gun who nabbed her purse. Another mugging. The same guy? But that woman’s name is really familiar. They don’t always release the name of the people attacked, but they did this time.

I asked Sensei for a copy of the list of the women who signed up for the self-defense class, and I log onto my computer to double-check.

My stomach churns so badly that I have to cover my mouth.

I’m right. She had been from the class.

Had that truck driver been the mugger? Had he trailed her home? Why wait to go after her? Maybe she had been greeted at the door by her husband. I'm pretty sure she told me she was married with two kids. Ashley Medhurst. She talked about wanting to take advantage of the free days, that she had been wanting to do something to try to lose weight because her youngest was two, but she still hadn't reached her pregnancy weight.

Had he targeted her because she had a few extra pounds? Figured she was one of the weaker women to attend?

I don’t know, but this is fucking personal now.

I will not stand for this.

The police are doing what they can, but it’s not enough. They need help.

Yeah, but how can I help? What do I really think I can do?

Dawn rolls over. “Are you going to get up?” she asks sleepily.

“Yes,” I say. “I… Go back to sleep. You don’t have to get up yet.”

She mumbles something.

I climb out of bed. My heart is pounding, and I swear I feel like I need to punch something. I need a punching bag. A sparring partner.

What I don't need is to be reckless. That will only get me hurt or killed. The mugger would be a killer then, so maybe he would get the death penalty, but that's a small consolation because he would still have to be caught to be tried in the first place.

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