Page 67 of Right Number, Wrong Man
25
HAILEY
The metal doorslams shut behind me and my blood pressure spikes. Andrea was right. I forgot how lonely it gets out here late at night. A single, flickering light on the wall does little to illuminate the deserted parking lot and the driveway leading out onto a quiet road.
From where I’m standing, the short walk to my car looks like a parkour course through a murder lot. I fumble the car key from my bag, slotting it between my fingers like a weapon. For the first time, I wish I had a gun as Colt suggested.
My phone buzzes in my bag and I jump. Cursing, I take it out.
Jax
Terror becomes you. Some women look best in diamonds and pearls, but you wear fear like jewels. It makes you glowbrighter than the stars in the night sky.
The hairs on my arms rise with the feeling of being watched, but I can’t see anyone in the dark. The fuck does he mean by that?
A rattle sounds from behind me and I spin around.
“Goddamn it!” I gasp, holding my chest.
A rat. It’s just a dumb rat running over a dumpster.
Laughing, I stuff the phone into my bag again, striding toward my car. I’m getting too paranoid with that weird Justin guy and the strange text from Jax. Pressing the key fob, I reach for the car door and?—
A gloved hand covers my mouth. I scream, but the soft leather against my lips muffles the sound. My nerves light up like fireworks as something cold slides against my throat and I freeze.
I instantly know what it is.
There’s a knife against my neck.
I drop the key and my bag. The scent of citrus with a woody note hits my nose and my head spins as I inhale deeper.
I know it’shimbefore he speaks. I know it even though his voice is too deep and growly to be natural, modified by some device.
“It ain’t polite to ignore my texts,” Jax drawls. “I don’t like you struttin’ around town without me, but I bet you love makin’ me chase after you, my pretty little prey.” He taps the flat side of the knife under my chin.
Adrenaline surges in my veins and desire coils in my center, wetness already building between my legs. He’s as hot in real life as he is over text. No, scratch that. This is actually hotter. I know it shouldn’t be, but it is.
“Are you gonna scream if I take my hand off your mouth?” he asks.
I shake my head and Jax’s palm slides from my lips, but the knife stays. His hand finds my stomach, pullingme back against a muscled, broad body. He grinds his crotch against my ass and I gasp.
He’s hard.
“What are you doing here?” I ask breathlessly.
“Told you I had a surprise, didn’t I? Tonight, you’ll learn what happens to naughty brats who disobey their Daddy.”
“You’re crazy!” I wheeze, trying to sound upset, but I can’t pull it off.
Jax trails the tip of the blade over my throat and my chest. “Yeah, I’m crazy foryou.”
“How did you know where I am?”
“Wasn’t that hard to find a gorgeous brunette called Hailey working at the movies in Sunridge Hollow, WA. It’s a small town. Just had to ask around and tell folks I’m an old friend of yours. Then I waited outside your house and when you drove off, I followed in a taxi.”
Jaxstalkedme. How could I miss being followed? I was so wrapped up in my thoughts, I didn’t pay attention.
Objectively, cornering me with a knife in a dark parking lot is a million different shades of fucked up. Subjectively though, my lizard brain purrs at his touch and my ego bursts with confidence. The man wanted me so badly he came all the way to stalk me.
