Page 12 of Tangled in His Game

But as I throw another quick look over my shoulder, I spot him. My heart skips a beat. He keeps his head down, and I can’t see his face. He’s just a dark, threatening shadow.

Maybe he’s minding his own business and I’m totally overreacting, but I break into a run. My house quickly comes into view and I dash to the door. I’m all out of breath as I fish for my keys. My hand shakes a little as I unlock the door.

I glance behind me as the door clicks and I push it open. The hoodie guy is nowhere in sight, but I still storm inside and slam the door closed behind me. After locking it, I let out a relieved sigh and wipe the sheen of sweat off my forehead.

It doesn’t matter who the guy is anymore, or if he was really following me or not. I’m safe now. The buzzing of my phone makes me jump.

I check the screen. It’s just a message from my mom. She and Dad had to go visit my grandma, who had a bad fall this morning. At least everything’s okay, but it also means I’m home alone.

As I open the door to my room and toss my bag on the bed, my gaze falls on the window. It’s cracked open. I don’t remember leaving it that way, but it’s possible I forgot to close it before heading out.

I shut the window and go to the bathroom. After taking a long and nice hot shower, I feel a lot better. My muscles are no longer tense, and I don’t jump at every single little creak that I hear.

As I prepare myself some dinner in the kitchen, a draft of cold air hits me. I furrow my brow. Where did that come from?

I go to my parents’ bedroom and groan. Another open window. I pad through the dark room. An uneasy feeling raises the hairs on the back of my neck, but I ignore it and close the window.

I rush through the darkness back into the fully lit hallway. Maybe I should’ve turned on all the lights, but it feels stupid to be afraid of the dark, especially because nothing bad has ever happened to me in the dark. No matter what Sebastian did to me, it was usually in the light.

After eating and doing the dishes, I return to my room. I tilt my head as I spot my bag. Didn’t I leave it on my bed? Why is it now on the floor? Did I miss the bed when I tossed it? Maybe it fell down.

I sigh. Today was an exhausting, long day, and it made me overly sensitive and paranoid about everything. Ghosts don’t exist. I’m all alone here, and even if something has moved, it isn’t because of anything sinister.

It’s time to go to bed and forget about everything that happened, especially about what happened with Victor.

Oh hell.

But as I lie in bed, I can’t stop thinking about him. I bite down on my lip because I can’t get the image of him out of my head. He’s too damn hot for his own good. I groan and stare at the ceiling.

There’s pressure between my legs that I don’t know what to do with. I mean, I do. But it’s Victor. I don’t want to be attracted to him. He’s an asshole, and he doesn’t even deserve to be in my fantasies. It’s not like he’ll ever find out about it, but I need to have some standards, right?

I toss and turn, trying to think about anything other than Victor.

Don’t think about Victor.

Don’t think about Victor.

Don’t think about Victor’s hot ass.

Definitely don’t think about his full lips kissing...

Ugh!

I glance at my alarm clock. It’s already way too late. I need to get some sleep.

***

ABRUSH OF SOMETHINGagainst my cheek makes my eyes fly open. Moonlight enters the room just enough that I can see the figure looming over me.

I scream, my heart jumping into my throat. Grabbing my pillow, I hurl it at the figure and then I scramble across the bed to turn on the lights.

I’m blinded and dizzy as the lights come on, and I sink to the floor behind the bed. My heart pounds so loudly in my chest, which is so tight I can barely breathe.

But the room is empty.

There’s no one here. No shadow. No intruder.

I push the strands of my disheveled hair out of my face and slowly get to my shaky feet. My breath gets stuck in my chest as I pick up a vase off my shelf and slowly make my way around the bed.

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