Page 43 of Pretty Little Fears

Myknees and elbows scratch with the impact, cutting open and embedding small pebbles into my skin.Iswallow down the need to wince at the pain it causes.

Squeezingmy eyes shutIhold my breath, not trusting myself to not give away my hiding spot with my breathing alone.Thefootsteps come to a halt andIslowly open my eyes, aiming to peer out from under the car.Isee his shoes, black combat boots, as he stands at the entrance of the alleyway.

Itfeels like an eternity passes before he starts walking toward the car.Thecar thatIam currently hiding underneath.Fuck.I'mgoing to die.I’mgoing to die and it’s going to be in this dirty fucking alleyway.I’mgoing to end up as another missing student andIwon't get to finish out my dream of taking over dad’s restaurant.Mymom is going to be all alone and-

Mythoughts are cut off as a phone rings loudly.Ifreeze, thinking it’s mine andIjust gave away my hideout.

Fuck.

Fuck,I’mso fucking stupid.I'mdefinitely going to die.

“Ilost her.”Thesound of a gruff male voice says, stopping my thoughts in their tracks.Astheir footsteps retreat,Ilet in a much needed breath of air at the realization that it was their phone,not mine.

But, what does he mean?Whodid he lose?Me?

Afew minutes pass whileIwait for my heart rate to slow and the adrenaline rush to calm.Ineed to find a way home butIdon't want to leave the safety of my hiding spot.Idon't know if he's still out there, lurking and waiting.Thevibration in my hand pulls me from my spiraling thoughts as a message comes through.Lookingat my phone, relief floods through me.

Emmett: I’m here. Where are you?

He’shere?Whatdoes he mean he’s here?Inever said whereIwas, just thatIneeded help.Withshaky hands,Itext him back.

Me: I’m in an alleyway, underneath a car.

Emmett: Okay, stay there. I’m coming.

Whyis he not questioning anything?Howdoes he know whereIam?

Aminute passes by beforeIhear footsteps at the start of the alleyway.Twoshiny, black leather dress shoes tapping on the ground.Oncethey reach the car, they halt for a moment.

Myphone begins to ring,Emmett’sname flashing on the screen.Theytake a step back, and then their knees are bending.They’rechecking beneath the car.

Whatif dress shoes are combat boots’s accomplice?

Myheart starts pounding against my rib cage and my lungs struggle to suck in air.I’dnever thoughtI’dsay this, butIreally fucking hope that the person standing out there is my stalker.

Ahand wraps around the slightly hanging bumper and lifts it slowly, revealing their face and my own.Emmett’sglistening eyes meet mine and for a second, everything else in the world ceases to exist.Hislips curve into a smile, showing his straight teeth.

He’shere.Hefound me.Onlynow thatEmmettis here, doIfeel safe.

‘Comeout, baby.”Hesays softly.Icrawl out from under the car, knees burning and bleeding.Smallpebbles stick to my sweaty hands.OnceI’mstanding, he lowers the car’s bumper back down to the ground.

“Youcame,”Isay in disbelief.

“OfcourseIdid, you needed me.”Hisbrows furrow as if the statement confuses him and his voice is laced with a foreign warmth.Heswipes the sticky strands of hair away from my face.Oureyes lock and he swiftly moves his hand down the side of my body and around my waist.

Hepulls me in, wrapping his free hand around the opposite side of my body.Idon’t know how long we stayed there, embracing one another, but it wasn’t long enough.

Beingenveloped in his strong arms, the scent that’s uniquely him wafts all around me.Heshushes me with soothing words asItremble in his hold, the adrenaline starting to wear off.

Ilook up and see the promise of safety and affection reflected back at me in those deep, green eyes.It'sthen thatIrealize one thing.I'mofficially falling for him.

ForEmmettBlackwood.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

EMMETT

Therewasa shift last night betweenBlairandI.Shefelt it.Shefinally felt it,Iknow she did.ThereliefIsaw in her hazel eyes in being close to me.

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