Page 44 of Sinful Promise

It might just be a feeling, and nothing more. After all, a guyliterallytried to kidnap me. I’m entitled to feel a little bit paranoid.

But the feeling always intensifies when I’m alone, and it’s really starting to freak me out.

While I carry a can of mace with me, and I could easily use my keys as a weapon, I can’t help but worry that it won’t be enough to fight this guy off. He’s easily twice my size, and I’m sure he could snap my bones without exerting much effort.

I wouldn’t stand a chance against him, and that scares the absolute crap out of me.

All I can hope for is that the threat of Dimitri being part of the Koslov Bratva and my father being a retired cop is enough to keep him away for the time being.

I don’t dare tell Zara about any of this, because I know she would never let me leave the penthouse. It’s a miracle she’s even allowing me to go to class by myself. I would have thought I’d have one of Dimitri’s lackeys following me between classes like Nina had with Yakov, but so far, I’m still free to roam about the city by myself.

At the time, I was grateful for the freedom, but the more days that pass, the more intense the feeling grows that someone is watching me, and I wish I had some hulking great man glued to my side just in case.

I’m walking back to the penthouse after my last class of the day when the hair on the back of my neck stands up, and my skin breaks out in goosebumps.

I stop dead in my tracks and glance over my shoulder.

It’s four o’clock on a Friday afternoon, so the streets of New York are packed with tourists and corporate junkies. If anyone was following me, they could easily disappear into the crowd, which only makes my heart rate spike.

Surely, I’m safe surrounded by so many people?

Then again, if someone were to just snatch me and put me into a car, would anyone even notice? Or care?

I’m getting more and more paranoid by the day.

= I shrug off my backpack and root around in the front pocket for my mace, just to be on the safe side.

What’s freaking me out more is that this isn’t the first time this happened today. I was heading to the library to study with Jana, and I could have sworn I saw someone duck into the bushes.

I almost laughed, considering how completely ridiculous it all is. I feel like I’m the main character in some cheesy horror movie.

The day before that, it was when I was sitting underneath my favorite tree, eating my lunch like I do most days. There’s plenty of people who hang around that area at lunchtime, particularly in the summer, so I brushed the feeling off.

But now, I’m feeling eyes on me wherever I go.

And to make matters worse, if someoneisfollowing me, I’m making it all too easy for them, considering my routine is pretty much the same every day.

Maybe I need to switch things up and try to shake him off…

Trying to ignore my racing heart, I continue walking along the street with my can of mace in hand. I’ve also stopped listening to music when I walk so I can be more aware of my surroundings.

And if anythingdoeshappen to me, both Zara and Dimitri can track my phone, so hopefully, they’ll be able to find me.

“Don’t think like that, Emily,” I scold myself as I quicken my pace.

My phone buzzes with a message, and I can only assume it’s from my sister asking me what time I’ll be homeagain. Even though she can track my movements, Zara still insists on having me message in case someone stole my phone.

And if I take longer than five minutes to reply, she calls me. And if I don’t answer straight away, I might as well be dead.

When my phone buzzes with an incoming call, I bite back a groan of annoyance and pull it out of my pocket.

But the caller ID on my phone isn’t Zara. It’s my dad.

I sigh as I slide my thumb across the screen. “Hey, Dad!”

I cringe at how fake my enthusiasm sounds, but I’m hoping my father doesn’t notice.

“Hey, sweetheart. How are you feeling?”

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