Chapter Two – The Killer Stalks Me

Sydney 

“Not again! I don’t f*cking believe you!” gritted out Mr. Douglas, glaring behind me at my saviour. 

A tattooed, muscular arm snaked around my shoulder possessively. His rough fingers brushing against my delicate pale skin, causing a tremor down my body. Did he feel it too? Goosebumps erupted all over my bare skin at his electrifying touch! I wanted to die of embarrassment. What the hell! Why did I react so strongly to the killer? Maybe because I had zero romantic experience with the male species. With four bodyguards tailing me everywhere, what more could I expect?

“Obey the rules or get out, Douglas. The girl is off limits.” His stern voice made my heart flutter with fear. 

Mr. Douglas muttered curses at him. “I’ll get even with you, as*hole! Watch out!” After throwing a disgusted glance at me, he strode out of the place. 

I released the breath I was holding and slowly turned around to face my savior. All I intended to do was thank him quickly and run for my life. 

However, the moment I met his whiskey-hued eyes, I drowned in their depths. With the sunglasses and jacket discarded, he looked like a sinful dream. There were tattoos all over his arms and neck, giving him a dark, dangerous aura. He was everything a woman like me should stay away from. 

But the way his eyes bored into mine, my breath hitched, and I grappled for words.

“What brings you here at this hour?” His arrogant, condescending tone had me clenching my teeth. Did he think I was underage? He might be older, but that didn’t make him superior. 

I shoved his arm off my shoulder and glared at him with disgust. 

“It’s none of your business.” I stepped backward in case he grabbed me and locked me up in his dungeon. 

He grabbed my elbow in a tight grasp, and my head reeled. “It is my business, you ungrateful girl!” 

“I’m thankful to you for saving me. But that doesn’t give you the right to judge. Let me go.” I tried to yank my arm free of his hold, but without success. His iron-like grip only tightened further, and I knew it would leave a mark on my pale skin. 

“No. I can’t leave you alone until you answer me. Who are you with?” His eyes glittered with determination and no amount of struggling made him release me. 

“I’m not answerable to you.” I struggled more, but he pulled me into his arms, caging me there. 

“Have you run away from home?” He narrowed his gaze, while a gasp of horror escaped my lips.

How did he know? Was I so obvious? “N-no. Why would I? Leave me alone, please. I’ll go home.” 

He released me abruptly, and I staggered backwards. The muscles in his arm flexed as he crossed them against his expansive chest and studied me with his head tilted to the side. It seemed he could read my soul, and I didn’t like it. I wanted to flee the inspection. 

Did he set me free? With a hesitant look in his direction, I whirled and ran for my life. I didn’t know where I was heading, but I had to get away from him. His presence was making me claustrophobic, while the judgmental look in his eyes made me feel like a criminal. 

The blasting music had stopped, and the place was closing for the night. I looked at the sea of people heading towards the exit. What a waste of time! I didn’t get a sip of drink or a morsel of food in my stomach. 

I rushed blindly after the crowd, eager to get away. My head reeled from the lack of food and sleep. It was inevitable! I wasn’t used to this reckless schedule. Yes, I had stayed up in my room all night, but only to study or watch a movie. 

Now, the scene was too confusing. With an inebriated, weird crowd all around, I was on tenterhooks. Strangely, no one approached me, but gave me weird looks as if I were a scary creature. They glanced at me and then behind me and ran for their lives! 

Who was behind me? Should I look? My heart pounded in fear as I dashed as fast as I could. Halfway down to the door, I turned my head to check. 

It was the tattooed killer with his three minions again! 

I stopped to glare at him. “Why are you following me?” 

In a second, he was beside me. “I’m dropping you home, Princess.” 

A tremor went up my body at the way he pronounced the nickname for me.  

Princess!

I liked it. 

His words registered in my head, and I panicked. No, I had to dissuade him somehow or he would know I had escaped from my house. It was a relief I hadn’t given away my identity to him yet. 

“No. Umm, I mean, I have my car.” I gave him a nervous smile while he watched me closely. “Thanks for your offer.” 

He still watched me quietly, and I ran towards the door, eager to get away from him. I could feel his gaze boring a hole in the back of my head. But I didn’t turn to check. He was a killer for all I knew, and the faster I got away from him, the better it would be for me. 

I raced out to the parking area towards my car. I could hear footsteps behind me. Was the tattooed killer still following me? 

Before I could proceed further, two burly men overtook me and blocked my way. “Where are you going, kitten?” slurred one, struggling to stand straight. 

“Grab her, Robbie. We’ll take her back to the frat house with us,” slurred the other. 

I panicked and whirled around to race back to the nightclub. Tears of helplessness streamed down my face as I ran for my life. The men followed me, laughing at my predicament. 

“Don’t be scared, kitten. We’ll take good care of you,” teased one. 

“Yes, you’ll beg for more,” chuckled the other. 

“Leave me alone. Get lost,” I screamed in my state of panic. Where were the bouncers now? Couldn’t they stop these two? 

“She’s shy!” said one.

“I like them shy and curvy,” said the other, smacking his lips. 

I felt nauseated by them and raced towards the door. It was unguarded, and I yanked it open to go inside and hide. But maybe it was the worst night of my life. I turned my head to look at them, but collided with a hard pillar in my haste. 

Strangely, two arms went around me, and I gasped. 

“Easy, princess!” said the wall, making me freeze. Shit! The wall was none other than the tattooed killer! Yet he was better than those two men after me. 

“Please, make them go away!” My voice was a mere squeak, yet he heard me shoving me behind him. 

He glared at the two with clenched fists, waiting for them to come closer. They strode in and paled at the sight of him.  

“Shit, boss! We were just leaving!” said one of them, trembling with fear. 

“Sorry, boss,” said the other one, staggering backward, ready to pee in his pants with fear. 

“Be ready to leave forever. You’re sacked. Mike, deal with them!” yelled my saviour. 

So, did the two men work for him? Then he would be a bigger criminal, right? 

Mike led them away, but I trembled more instead of feeling relieved. What would he do now? 

I came forward after ensuring they had left. “Umm, thanks. I was going to my car when they stopped me.” I flashed him a fake smile while he continued to stare at me. Should I leave? He still hadn’t spoken a word further, and I whirled around and ran out. 

This time, I ran all the way to my car. I had to get out of this place and head to a garage to get my car painted. It was the only way to ward off my family. 

Thankfully, I reached my car in one piece and started the ignition. After five minutes, I was back on the road, heading towards San Diego. My body ached from the torturous ordeal of the day, but I had miles to go before I could sleep. 

Yet I didn’t regret my decision to run away from home. I would rather die than marry Rafael Ortiz. 

In a few hours, my family would be up. They would go crazy once they discovered my stunt. The cops would hunt for me everywhere. I had to renovate my car, give it a makeover right away. But how? None of the garages were open, and it was suicide to head to the ones that were. After my nightmarish experience at the nightclub, I didn’t dare get out of the car. 

My glance fell on the rear-view mirror, and I frowned at the black jeep behind me. It had been there since the moment I left Carlsbad behind. Was it following me? 

I picked up speed, yet it tailed me wherever I went. My heart constricted with fear. As if my family weren’t enough. Now I had a creeper stalker as well. Where would I go? 

The Jeep picked up speed to close the distance between us, and I gasped, noticing the man behind the steering wheel. It was none other than the tattooed killer! 

What did he want? Why was he stalking me?