Page 54 of Cut Me Down

Damien:

Tell me to fuck you again, little wolf, and I’ll storm in there and ravage you in front of everyone.

I can’t stop the smirk that spreads on my face, so I immediately plaster my palm to my mouth to mask it.

Damien:

Is that smile an invitation?

Damn it.

“Let me see!” She yanks my phone from me, almost sending it flying through the restaurant. “Holy…yep. Definitely ask if he has friends. Now I’m really glad I ordered the onion rings.” We laugh and I pull whatever stubbornness I still have to put my phone down. Resuming my conversation with Ser. It’s not long before the waitress brings our food and drinks. As soon as she walks away, Ser gets up to ‘use’ the bathroom.

We’re walking back to the apartment, and while we had a really good time, something doesn’t feel right. The weather still feels great, Serena’s stumbling because she got so drunk, and the streets aren’t busy, but I have an eerie feeling. Goosebumps raise up and down my arms, and I keep getting a cold chill over my neck. The paranoia commanding me to look up and down the streets as we walk.

I haven’t felt this paranoid since walking into my apartment six nights ago. That same dark cloud overshadowing the apparently soothing weather. I’ve always had a good sense of danger, and it hasn’t steered me wrong before. Whether I listen to it or not is entirely another issue, but I can’t ignore it this time.

Someone is watching us, and I have a feeling it’s not Damien. He’s definitely not beyond stalking, but I've never had the feeling he was following me with malice. I’ve actually never had this negative, gnawing feeling when it concerns him. My brain is messing with me again. Allowing my paranoia to conjure up unlikely scenarios. At least, that’s what I hope. Convincing myself that I don’t hear shuffled steps behind us, because every time I turn to look, there’s no one there.

The possibility that Damien is following us is much higher than some random man. The thought that it could be him, lessens the taut feeling in my chest, and I can physically feel myself relax. Just to be sure, I pull out my phone to text him.

Me:

Are you following us?

I look around one more time, my attention automatically drawn to the shuffling sound again, and I swear I see someone rush into an alley down the street the moment I turn around, and that makes me halt. As if this mysterious man had reached out and held my shoulders still. I’m not hallucinating. The potential of this man actually posing a threat rattles my nerves, and the feeling tingles in my chest.

He was tall. Skinny, but tall. It looked as if he had a hood pulled up over his head, and the way he ducked was very quick, like he was trying to avoid being seen. I may not be used to Damien quite yet, but the figure I saw looked and moved nothing like him. This guy’s movements were sloppy and too slow to move like Damien does.

Trying to rationalize the situation, I think of all of the possible reasons that man could be walking behind us. It’s ridiculous to automatically assume that this stranger would want to hurt us, but is it? He could have been heading for that alley anyway. He could be walking to a different bar or restaurant, and it could have absolutely nothing to do with us.

That thought is quickly cast aside when I see his head ease its way back into view from the alley, only to quickly duck back in the moment he notices I’m looking.

“What are you looking at?” Ser turns and looks with me. Her movements are also slow and sloppy from how drunk she is.

“I think someone’s following us.” She gently nudges my shoulder, obviously not taking me seriously, and I look at her with a pleading gaze. She thinks I’m joking or being overly cautious.

“Lucky bitch. Hey! Stalker boy! She wants to get fucked!” She yells out teasingly, and I grab her arm. Frantically, I attempt to pull her away and keep walking.

“Ser, stop! I don’t think it’s Damien.” The vibration from my phone startles me, causing me to yelp and jump. I look down at my phone and see him calling me. I quickly answer. “Damien?” My voice trembles.

“I'm on my way.” I hear a door slam through the phone, and I wait to see if I notice the same noise near us, but it never comes.

“I was secretly hoping that was you…”

“It’s about to be. Stay on Third, don’t cut down Williamson Road. I'll have a better visual of you.” His commanding voice makes the trembles in my limbs turn to shivers. Is he mad at me? Is he upset that I went out and ended up in a bad situation? My eyes dart around, trying to find the street signs, and sure enough, that’s the corner we’re on.

“Okay.” I comply without question, not wanting to anger him any further.

“Keep walking, but don't do anything to let him think something is wrong. I'm almost there. You and Serena get into the apartment and fucking stay there.” I hear him hang up, and I grab Serena’s hand. Lacing my fingers through hers and holding on to her tightly.

“Keep walking Ser.” I grab her arm and practically drag her down the street. The lazy movements from her legs don’t help us get back any quicker, but perhaps that will look normal enough until Damien gets here.

Chapter twenty

Damien

The moment I saw her text I stormed out of The Basement. She wouldn’t have texted me that unless she really thought someone was tailing her. If she truly thought it was me, she would’ve yelled at me from down the street for ruining her time with her friend. Her text alone alerted me to the real danger she’s in.

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