Page 22 of Creep

It was too late now. I couldn’t get back to the bar in hopes of talking to him or seeing him. That sounded too desperate, even for me.

I drove home on autopilot, not really seeing the road in front of me. I was surprised when I finally pulled up to the parking garage of my apartment building. I let the car sit there, the engine idling for a bit before I turned it off. The world seemed to quiet all at once, and I was left sitting there with my thoughts.

What was wrong with me?

Why was I feeling like this?

No longer wanting to just sit there in self-pity, I exited the car and headed toward my apartment building. I paused just when I got to the entrance and took in a deep, tired sigh. I could feel the hair on the nape of my neck standing once more, a familiar feeling that had accompanied me in the past weeks, and I was just so… exhausted.

I was just so mentally exhausted right now, I didn’t have the energy to do anything anymore about this “supposed” stalker.

I didn’t fucking care. Not tonight, at least, when it felt like all of my energy had been drained out of me.

Hecould watch me all he wanted. The sick fucker could do whatever the fuck he wanted tonight as long as he stayed out of my apartment building and just let me go to sleep tonight in peace.

After all, what could I do at this point?

I walked through the entrance of my apartment, not looking back or giving him the satisfaction of turning around to see if I could even catch a glimpse of the man.

8

MAEL

I quietly movedthrough the parking lot just across the street from Lia’s building, between the parked cars. She had just walked into her apartment, and I would join her there soon, but not yet.

Right now, I had something more…pressingto get to.

The fuckers didn’t even know I was here.

I shook my head in disgust. Were these the kind of men Briggs had employed under him? Were they supposed to be some of the best in the world?

They hadn’t even realized I had been with them these past weeks. At first, I wanted to know why they were watching my girl. Curiosity curbed my need to kill every fucker sent by Briggs in sight. But there were still no signs of why Briggs wanted Lia tailed, and I was running out of patience. Now I was just fucking pissed they were trying to encroach on myterritory.

They sat in their car, the windows open, and the scent of cigarette smoke wafted out into the darkened night sky.

The seat belt placement told me they weren’t buckled in. That would make my job easier.

They never saw me coming.

I reached my hand through the window and unlocked the doors.

“What the fuck?—”

The fucker’s words were cut off when I opened the door and pulled him out. He fell to the ground, face-first. I didn’t wait. I pulled him up by the collar of his neck, presenting his ugly mug to me, right before I rounded on him with a right hook. He groaned. I let go of him just as the second fucker came up to me, his gun out.

I grabbed the hand holding the gun and twisted until his grip loosened enough that I could take the gun away. Like taking candy from a fucking baby.

I unloaded the gun, dropped all the parts in the car, and turned to the fucker. He pulled his fist back. I moved out of the way and watched as he stumbled when he caught nothing but air. I kicked the back of his knees, letting him drop to the ground as I rounded on him from behind. I wrapped my hands around his neck and twisted, getting that satisfying crunch as his bones broke, and the fucker slumped forward. I let go of him just as the first one recovered. He took in his dead partner and then the surrounding space around him. It was dark and silent in the night. There was no one around to help him.

I saw the decision in his eyes before he made it. He pushed to the left, but I was on him before he could make the escape.

He struggled in my hold, but it was no use. I pushed him to the ground and pressed my knees to the back of his neck. The sound of his choked breath was like a fucking symphony to my ears. It wasalmostas good as hearing Lia’s moans the other night as I made her come with my mouth.

I shook away the thought. Now wasn’t the time to let thoughts of my girl distract me.

I eased my weight a bit. “Why did Briggs send you to watch her?” I asked.

“W-Who?”

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