Page 37 of Cyber Revenge

Always zip-tied. Always beaten to shit. Always dumped near my fence like a warning. By the third morning, I stopped wondering if it was random.

Someone was protecting me.

And I could only guess who. No, not a guess,I know who, I just don’t want to admit it.

I don’t check my phone. Can’t. Every time I unlock it, the notifications make me sick. It feels like the whole world wants to crawl into my house and gut me in real time.

But late one night, I couldn’t take it anymore.

I crack the door open, hoodie on, hood up, fingers clenched around a kitchen knife I don’t know how to use.

The wind is heavy, thick with moisture and leftover fear. I step onto the porch, eyes scanning the yard.

And that’s when I see him.

A man in a black mask stands over someone, one of the creeps, his body moving fast, brutal, efficient.

He lands a blow to the guy’s jaw that makes awetnoise. Something cracked. Something gave.

I don’t scream.

I don’t run.

I step forward.

“Hey!” I shout, voice shaking. “Who the fuck are you?!”

He turns slowly. Stands to full height. Broad shoulders. Tactical mask pulled low. Gloves soaked.

I take another step, blade shaking in my grip.

“I said who…”

In two strides, he’s in front of me.

Before I can blink, he has me pinned to the siding. One gloved hand on my throat, not choking, but holding me still. Body pressing mine into the cold vinyl. Heat rolls off him in waves.

“Get back inside, killstreak,” he growls.

My breath catches. Deep voice. Rough and low. Familiar in a way that makes my knees weak.

“I…”

He leans in.

And then…He sniffs me.

His mask presses to my throat, breath hot, inhaling the scent of my skin like it’s something he’s been craving. His fingers twitch around my throat.

“Stay inside, little killer. I’m handling the people who think they can treat you like an item,” he whispers. “Keep everything locked.”

Then he shoves me gently, not hard, through the open door.

I stumble back, heart racing, pulse screaming in my ears.

But by the time I turn around…

He’s gone.

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