Page 23 of Broken

Molly and Tandy both groaned.

"No, don't leave us," Tandy said. "We were starting to have fun."

"The two of you are insane," I giggled. "I've had enough wine that I'm probably going to fall over once I stand up."

"Do you need a ride?"

"No, I'm not too far from here. But we will do brunch soon," I said, standing and waving my phone. "Text me!"

"We will," Tandy smiled.

"Most certainly," Molly added.

I waved them goodbye, laughing as I did so. Looking around as I made my way out of the gymnasium, I noted that most everyone was sloshed. High school parents were lit, apparently. Their kids were probably out partying and wouldn't notice if mommy and daddy came in too drunk to function.

The night air had definitely turned colder as it brushed along my skin, and I suddenly wished I'd thought to buy something to go over the dress. An email notification came through on my phone as I walked along the sidewalk. Cars drove by and the lights began to dance and bounce along the street, causing the asphalt to glitter. The motel was just around the next corner; the sign shining as though it were a beacon.

"Hello Ms. Nova M. Hemmens." I began to read along. "We are excited to welcome you and your family to the Legacy Apartment's community!"

I was so excited that I began to jump up and down. I could feel my face becoming flushed with heat.

A home.

Finally.

I could have my own room again.

Tears of happiness threatened to dance in my eyes as I read the email over and over again. It was causing anticipation to race through my body, I couldn't wait to tell the twins. So much so, that I never noticed the man that had been following me since I left the school. Didn't notice when he was mere inches from me and then slamming me into a wall.

Before I could scream, he covered my mouth with his hand and whispered, "Hello again, Little Thief."

Falling back against the brick wall of the motel caused the wind to push out of my body and through my nose. Every inch of me was screaming to run and to run as far as I could. The only problem was I knew that I would trip and fall because of the heels.

I wouldn't be able to get away from him. I immediately recognized him. The man that I had robbed the other night.

Bratva.

He had come to kill me for stealing from him.

Yara and Des,I thought. They'll never know exactly what happened to me.

He leaned in close, smelling of something close to rain and an expensive cologne. His head tilted as he took me, and he pressed as close into my body as he possibly could. No space existed between our bodies.

"Little Thief," he smiled. "I'm going to remove my hand...if you scream, I'll kill you. Do you understand?"

Slowly I nodded my head, thinking that if I could just get the chance to knee him in the nuts, I'd have a fighting chance. His hand lowered from my mouth and I thought about the need to survive.

"Where is the jewel," he asked.

"Long gone," I replied.

"I figured as much." His mouth danced inches away from my own.

His words suggested he would harm me, but his body language...I wasn't completely sure if that was a gun pressing against my midsection or if he was extremely hard. If it was because of a hard on...this man was packing between his legs.

"How...?" I asked.

"Everything leaves a trail, Little Thief," he said. "And I told you that night you robbed me, that you would pay dearly."