Page 7 of Origins
“Why are you out here?” His deep, melodious voice drifted after me like a caress. I took the risk to glance back again, and almost fell into the gravel.
He had gotten off of his bike, and was strolling after me as he pushed it beside him.
…was this for real?
I could probably outrun him, if I had to. It was an expensive-looking bike and he, despite his attractiveness, looked poor. I doubted that he’d be stupid enough to leave the bike behind just to chase me.
There was always the possibility that I was wrong. Perhaps he was a good Samaritan—albeit an insistent one. If he was going to kidnap me, wouldn’t he have done so already?
I slowed down slightly as I gave him a wary look. He couldn’t be planning on following me, could he?
He grinned, realizing that he had regained my attention. “I’m just curious. We don’t get strangers in this part of town. There’s nothing out this way except private residences and trees.”
Oh my God! Wasn’t that the same as him saying that no one would ever find my mutilated body?
I had to do something. I discreetly felt in my purse until I held the tiny can of pepper spray in my hand. I was ready. If this guy tried anything, he would never know what hit him.
“You didn’t answer, angel face. Where are you headed?” He was still following me, and managed to get even more persistent with every passing moment. “I can walk you there, just to make sure you are safe. It’s not good for a beautiful lady to be alone.”
I stopped walking entirely now—I certainly couldn’t show up at Damen’s with this interloper in tow. “I’m seriously fine,” I tried to reassure him in my nicest voice. “You don’t need to bother with me. Besides, I don’t even know who you are.”
“It’s not a bother!” he flashed another blinding smile. “And I guess I should introduce myself. It’s a good thing to be wary of strangers. My name is Titus Ducharme. You might have heard of me—I own Jinshu Security.”
Never heard of it. I pursed my lips as I listened to him continue with his life story. If anything, I was even more suspicious of him now. I highly doubted that this man was the owner of anything resembling a respectable corporation.
Titus—if that was even his real name—didn’t seem to notice. “So you see, I’m perfectly legit. You can even ask my assistant. But I can’t tell you how much it pleases me to see a young woman that asks questions. You have a good head on your shoulders, and it would be remiss of me to not see you to your destination.”
I raised a brow skeptically, unable to come up with a response.He thought I was smart because I asked a question?
“Let me garner a guess and say that you are headed…,” he glanced up and pointed in the direction that I had been walking when he pulled up, “…that way. What a coincidence! I am going that way as well, so this works perfectly. I will escort you.”
Didn’t this man ever give up?
It was time for some drastic action. He had at least a foot-and-a-half on me and a hundred-plus pounds of muscle. I had no chance in hand-to-hand combat. What else could a weak woman like me do in this kind of situation?
“Titus—”
He grinned warmly as I said his name, as if he loved hearing the sound. The action made me feel guilty for what I was about to do.
Maybe I’d give him one more chance.
“I’m seriously fine.” I gave him my most severe glare, in case he was just a persistent dude with no clue. “You can leave now, please.”
He sighed as he rubbed the back of his head, clearly uncomfortable. “I don’t think that you understand. These streets… I can’t just leave you here alone. I really should—”
Titus didn’t even see it coming. The second he refused to leave, I pulled out the weapon and aimed the pepper spray right at his eyes.
Once I had downed the attractive stalker, I ignored his screaming as I took off like a bat out of hell.
I had only this chance. And according to the maps, I was close to my destination. Between my speed, and Titus’ temporary incapacitation, there was no possible way for him to catch up to me before I was somewhat safe.
Even if Damen would sacrifice me, it was better than the alternative.
The sounds of the pained curses grew farther away, but I didn’t stop until I had rushed up the winding driveway to my final destination.
The mysterious address brought me to a massive Victorian home that appeared to be way past its prime. It stood in the middle of dense woods, and the lot itself was overrun with foliage. Everything about the place was worn and decrepit—even the wrought iron fence that surrounded the visible property and the dirt driveway that circled toward the back of the home.
But outside of the ghastly picture, there was something else here too. Something that I couldn’t see, yet could sense hovering along the edges of my awareness. I couldn’t tell what it was, but there was no denying that the presence was not of this world.
