Page 38 of Vicious Little Darling

“I take it you had a date go horribly wrong.” The judgment in her gaze is unsettling—as if it’s all my fault.

But maybe it is?

“It was something like that…” I can’t find the words, unsure of how she’d take me mostly willfully fucking my stalker—until he started trying to strangle me. Why do I feel sharp pangs of pain knowing that he tried to hurt me? Well. He didn’t just want to hurt me. He wanted to kill me. The ache I feel shatters my soul into thousands of pieces, and I shut my eyes as my head grows light. I'm so pathetic…

“It’s okay,” Rose finally lets out a sigh. “Let’s just get you set down, so I can start working on that hand.”

She pulls out a rickety kitchen chair, and guides me to it, forcing me to sit down. “I’m sure the guy is long gone now. Hopefully, you know his name.”

I blink a couple of times, and then shake my head. “I don’t know him at all. I’m being stalked.” I don’t know why I give her that information, after already reminding myself that she—nor the police—are going to buy any bit of my story.

“Hmm,” she hums, staring down at my hand. “Wouldn’t happen to be that creep I saw hanging around outside the apartments the other night, would it?”

Relief fills my chest. “It might be. I noticed that my apartment had been broken into, but… I don’t know.” I avoid telling the whole truth and tell myself I’ll do the same with the cops.

“They’ll want to do a rape kit,” Rose says. Ther-word jolts my senses.

I wasn’t raped though… Or was I?Fuck, my head is a wreck. I feel lost in the moment, and out of pure desperation, I get to my feet. “I need to get my phone.”

“No, you can wait on the cops.”

“No,I need to call someone now.” I stand up, and push past her, slinging the door open. My heart thumps in my chest as I make my way down the hallway to my own apartment. The door is wide open.

Rose curses under her breath as she stumbles after me, but I ignore her and step inside, trying to ignore the way it makes my stomach do somersaults. I go to my bedroom, half expecting him to come out of nowhere. It’s stupid to be back in here without the cops, but the cool breeze coming from the open window helps me relax a little more.

I pick up my cellphone, and hurry back out to where Rose is standing in the entryway.

“Sorry, I just… I really need to call someone.”

“Uh huh,” Rose mutters, shaking her head and leading me by the elbow back to her apartment. “If you’re gonna live in this big city, you’re gonna have to have more sense about you.”

I grit my teeth as her comment adds insult to injury. IknowI’ve been stupid, and that exact thought is the reason I cancel the call to Josh. He’llforceme to stay with him. I need someone else…Megan?I check the time, shaking my head. Embarrassment floods my system.Isthere anyone I can call? I swallow hard as I scroll to Xander’s contact, sent to me in an email from Josh, which contained all employees’ numbers.

Can I trust him with this information?It feels stupid. But again... Idon’twant Josh to have some sort of reason to be any more protective and controlling than normal. I hit the call button and put the phone to my ear.

On the third ring, it connects.

“Hello?” Xander’s voice comes over the line, sounding groggy and out of focus. I open my mouth to say something, realizing how well wedon’tknow each other. I suddenly feel like I’m going to be a nuisance. “Ember?” My own name jolts me. “Hello?”

“Um, sorry,” I mutter. “It was an accident… I didn’t mean to call… I… Um…” My face floods with heat.

“Is everything okay?” he immediately asks, concern tinged in his groggy tone. “You sound shaken up.”

“Something… Um… Something happened.”

“Do I need to come get you?” His voice sounds much clearer, as if he’s waking up more and more.

I hesitate, eyeing Rose, who seems completely unenthused. “Um, the police will be here soon…”

“The police?” He sounds shocked. “What the hell happened, Ember? Are you okay? What do you need from me?”

“I don’t know,” I breathe out. “I’m so sorry for calling. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’ll see you at work—”

“No, just tell me what you need, and I’ll be there. I promise.” His tone is so calming and comforting, smoothing out my frayed nerves.

“I don’t know, I have to see what the cops want to do…” My voice trails off just as a loud knock resounds on Rose’s door. “I have to go. I’m sorry.” I hang up immediately and set my phone down on the table.

“Get ready for a worthless shit show,” Rose warns me in a low tone as she goes to the door, frowning just before swinging it open and pasting a smile on. “Good evening, officers.” She gestures for them to come in. There are two of them.

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