CHAPTER 3

Angelina's POV

"Angelina, wake up. You'll be late!"

I groaned in my sleep when my mother called me from downstairs. Ignoring her, I pulled the pillow over my ears to mute her voice.

I heard her call my name twice more before she finally screamed, "Angelina Patrick! If you don't get your ass down here, I'll personally come up and drag you by your ears!"

My eyes shot open at her angry tone. When my mother called us by our full names, it meant she was done being the sweet parent and was about to turn into the dangerous one.

Letting out an irritated groan, I dragged myself out of bed and headed for the shower. After a quick, hot rinse, I threw on a simple white dress and headed down the stairs. I always preferred wearing simple outfits. I didn't have a glamorous figure to show off, so I rarely overthought my wardrobe. Still, I had glanced in the mirror and smiled before leaving my room. It looked good on me. After applying a tiny hint of makeup, I went downstairs.

The moment I entered the kitchen, the sweet aroma of pancakes filled my nostrils, making my stomach growl in hunger.

"Good morning, Mom!" I greeted her, pressing a kiss to her cheek before taking a seat.

"Good morning, honey," she smiled. "Lexi will be here soon. I won't be able to pick you up today, so don't forget to ask her for a ride home."

"Actually, Mom, I'll be home late tonight. Mr. Peterson needs me to stay and cover Linda's shift at the café because she can't make it, and they have some sort of private party booked."

She thought about it for a moment and nodded. "Okay. Just don't be too late," she reminded me.

I smiled and quickly finished my breakfast. I was just swallowing my last bite when Lexi's message popped up on my phone: I am here.

"Mom, Lexi's here. I have to go. Bye, love you!"

"Bye, honey. Stay safe!"

I closed the front door behind me and walked out, grinning at my best friend. As usual, she looked amazing.

"Good morning," I greeted as I slid into the passenger seat.

She didn't reply right away. Instead, she was staring intently out the window at the opposite side of the street. I waved a hand in front of her face to snap her out of her daze.

She blinked, finally turning to smile at me. "Hey, Angelina. You ready to go?"

"Yeah, I am. But what's up with you? You look worried," I asked.

"Look over there," she pointed toward the far side of the road. "Isn't that the same car you were talking about yesterday?"

My face instantly paled.

It was. The exact same black car I had seen yesterday was parked in the exact same spot. My heartbeat quickened, and I quickly forced my eyes away from the tinted windows. "Forget about it, Lexi. It might just be a coincidence. Maybe it's someone else's car."

She nodded slowly and put the car in drive.

I tried to calm my racing nerves during the ride to school, but my mind refused to cooperate. I kept glancing at the side mirror to see if the black car was tailing us. The unsettling feeling of being stalked was making me physically nauseous. I had never liked attention; I was always the silent, reserved type. Having eyes constantly tracking my every move made me want to run for the hills. I just had to hope that whoever it was would soon realize I was incredibly boring and simply get tired of following me.

"We've been parked for five minutes, and you're still sitting here looking like the world is about to end," Lexi sighed, rolling her eyes.

I blinked, finally realizing we were in the school parking lot and she was waiting impatiently for me to get out. "Sorry. I just zoned out," I mumbled apologetically.

"Angel, if something is bothering you, I'm here for you. Anytime. You know that, right?" Lexi asked, her voice softening with concern.

I forced a smile. "Yeah, babe. I know that very well. But nothing is bothering me, really. Thank you."

We grabbed our bags and headed toward our morning classes.

The school day dragged on as usual until it was finally time for my last, and favorite, class: Music. I had always loved playing the guitar. It cleared my mind and helped me completely zone out of the real world for a while.

When I entered the music room, the benches were already full. The only vacant seat left was next to...

Oh, shit.

It was next to Thomas.

I had harbored a massive crush on Thomas since the beginning of high school. With his striking blue eyes and dazzling smile, nearly every girl in school drooled over him—myself included. But I was far too shy to ever make a move. Apart from Lexi, nobody knew how I felt.

As the teacher walked into the room, I hurried over and sat down next to him. He was entirely focused on texting someone on his phone and didn't even notice me. I awkwardly cleared my throat and offered a small smile. He briefly looked up, gave a polite nod, and immediately went back to texting.

Did he just wave me off?

"Class, today we aren't going to learn a new piece of sheet music. Instead, I want you to try and find a new tune entirely on your own," the teacher announced. "Just close your eyes. Let your mind and your heart work together to guide your hands."

I followed his instructions, closing my eyes and letting my fingers rest against the guitar strings. But as soon as I let my mind drift, a vivid image of the black car flashed behind my eyelids.

It was weird, but in that quiet moment, I felt a strange sense of longing toward the vehicle. Was it just morbid curiosity about the person hiding behind those tinted windows? Whatever it was, the feeling wasn't entirely scary; it felt oddly comforting.

The teacher was right. Playing the soft, improvised tune my mind led me to made me feel incredibly calm and happy.

When I finally opened my eyes, I froze. Thomas was staring at me intensely.

I instantly blushed.

He offered a warm smile. "Hey. I'm sorry if I'm making you embarrassed, but you were playing flawlessly just now. It was so peaceful. I couldn't help but stop and listen."

My face burned ten times hotter. "Uh—thanks. I just... followed my heart."

He gave me a breathtaking smile and continued to hold my gaze.

Thankfully, the bell rang, saving me from completely melting into a puddle. I practically sprinted out of the classroom, desperate for fresh air before I died of embarrassment.

I was standing on the curb waiting for a cab when I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. I turned around and froze. Thomas was standing there, smiling down at me.

I blushed all over again. There is nothing to blush about, Angel. He's literally just smiling, I mentally scolded myself.

"Yeah?" I squeaked, trying my hardest not to sound desperate.

"You forgot this," he chuckled, handing over my notebook.

"Oh! Thanks." I snatched it from him and shoved it into my bag. I expected him to walk away, but he stayed put, shifting his weight nervously. I raised an eyebrow, silently waiting for him to speak.

"Well, Angelina, I was wondering..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "You know I've missed a couple of classes lately. I was just wondering if you could maybe help me catch up? We could grab a coffee, and then head over to my place to study," he asked, looking genuinely nervous.

I was stunned.

Did Thomas just ask me out?

Before I could form a coherent sentence, a small boy came running down the sidewalk. He skidded to a halt in front of me and shoved a folded piece of paper into my hand.

I looked at the crumpled paper, then down at the kid. "Who gave you this?" I asked, completely confused.

The boy just shook his head and ran off without a word.

I slowly unfolded the paper. Scrawled in dark ink were the words:

You have thirty seconds to tell that prick to fuck off. Because if you don't, I will do it myself, and he will surely regret it. Now be a good girl and tell him to get lost. Okay, love?

I gulped hard, staring at the terrifying note. My heartbeat skyrocketed, and my palms instantly grew clammy. I frantically scanned the crowded street, searching for the guy who had written it, but there was no one suspicious in sight. Whoever sent this note was hiding close by, watching my every single move.

"Is there a problem, Angelina? Is everything okay?" Thomas asked, looking concerned.

"Yeah! Everything's fine, Thomas, thank you," I practically shouted, my words tumbling out in a rush. "I'm so sorry, but I really don't have time today. I have to get to work. But I'll make it up to you! How about I come over tomorrow and help you with the music?"

"Whoa, slow down there," he laughed gently. "Don't rush. I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had to work. Tomorrow is perfectly fine. We can go grab that coffee first and—"

"Yes, yes. We'll go wherever you want. I really have to run now. Bye!" I cut him off, sprinting down the block without waiting for his reply.

I frantically flagged down a passing cab and gave the driver the address for the café. I was beyond terrified. I had blown off Thomas just to avoid a violent scene breaking out in the middle of the street. The person who wrote that note was deadly serious; they would have absolutely beaten the shit out of Thomas if I hadn't backed away.

The paper was still crushed tightly in my sweaty fist, and my heart hammered violently against my ribs. I couldn't stop staring at the dark ink.

Love.

That single word scared me more than anything else.

The lingering feeling of being watched was driving me to the brink of insanity. This wasn't some lame prank pulled by a high school boy. This was a threatening, possessive note written by someone dangerous—someone who demanded to be taken seriously. A cold shiver racked my spine. I decided right then and there that I was going to show the note to Lexi first thing tomorrow morning.

----

Mr. Peterson was right; the café was incredibly busy that night. A sweet older couple had booked the venue for their anniversary party. Even after so many years together, they looked at each other like two teenagers hopelessly in love. I actually enjoyed serving them, secretly watching as they stole loving glances and held hands across the table.

I had never witnessed that kind of deep affection in my own family. It had always just been my mom, Alex, and me. I silently hoped that one day, when I got married, my husband would love me like that. Just like this old couple, I hoped my love would grow old and safe in the arms of the man I loved.

My shift ended much later than I had anticipated. After saying a tired goodbye to Mr. Peterson and the remaining staff, I walked out the back door and headed toward the parking lot. Halfway there, my brain finally caught up with my exhausted body.

Oh, crap.

Lexi had driven me this morning. My car was still broken down. Oh, God. I have to walk to the main road and call a cab.

Not wanting to waste any more time in the dark alleyway, I quickly pulled out my phone and ordered a ride. As I stood waiting near the end of the street, I noticed two men loitering under a flickering streetlight. They had their unblinking gazes fixed dead on me.

I tried to ignore their heavy stares, casually scrolling on my phone. After a couple of excruciating minutes, I casually glanced back over my shoulder. They hadn't moved an inch, and they were still glaring right at me. A deep, primal fear began creeping through my senses. I stuffed my phone into my pocket and started walking briskly in the opposite direction.

When I reached the corner, I risked another glance back. My eyes widened in sheer panic.

They were following me.

My breath hitched, and I broke into a fast power walk down the desolate street. It was past eleven at night, and the sidewalks were completely empty.

I glanced behind me again, and a loud gasp ripped from my throat. Three more men had emerged from the shadows to join the first two. They were all marching straight toward me.

By the time I reached the end of the block, my fast walk had turned into a desperate sprint. Just as I was about to dart around a sharp corner, a large, calloused hand clamped forcefully over my mouth.

Before I could even scream, I was violently jerked backward into a pitch-black alleyway.

My eyes stretched wide with terror as I thrashed wildly against the man's iron grip. As my eyes adjusted to the gloom, my breathing hitched. The man holding me was the same guy I had seen staring at me under the streetlight.

My life was in immediate danger.

They were going to kidnap me. Or worse—rape me and leave me for dead.

Oh, God, I am going to die.

Adrenaline surged through my veins. Operating purely on panicked instinct, I sank my teeth into the hand covering my mouth and screamed as loud as I could.

The man swore viciously and immediately punched me square in the face.

The force of the blow sent me flying backward, and I crashed hard onto the filthy concrete. I groaned in agony as the sharp, metallic taste of blood instantly flooded my mouth.

The man stormed over, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking my head back so I was forced to look at his ugly, sneering face. "You stupid bitch! How dare you scream?" he snarled, making me whimper in pain. "The job was just to grab you and hand you over. But now..."

He smiled wickedly, revealing crooked teeth. "Because you wanted to pull a little stunt, the boys and I might just add a little adventure to your journey."

The other men chuckled darkly in agreement. The man holding me laughed along with them, his eyes trailing down my body. Without warning, he smashed his disgusting mouth against mine.

Hot bile immediately rose in my throat. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to thrash away, but another man stepped forward. He grabbed my arms and dragged me upward, slamming my back violently against the brick wall. I was pinned. I couldn't move a single muscle.

When I continued to kick and fight back, one of them drove a heavy fist deep into my stomach.

I coughed, sputtering blood over my chin as I cried out in blinding pain. Another man kicked the back of my knees, and I collapsed onto the hard ground. It felt like my life was ending right there in that filthy alley. The physical pain was simply too much to handle.

The man who had kissed me stood over my crumpled body, a sharp switchblade gleaming in his hand. My eyes widened in sheer horror. It's over. I could do nothing but stare at the deadly weapon.

"My, my. It's such a damn shame that a pretty little girl like you has to lie on the dirty ground covered in cuts and bruises," he mocked, shaking his head as if he found my pathetic state hilarious. "Now, where is your dear savior? Isn't he going to swoop in and save his precious girl?" he laughed wickedly, his eyes burning with pure hatred.

He grabbed both of my wrists,