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Life is so good.

Instead of handing my brothers a lump sum of money from the work I’d been doing with Damien, I brought it in slowly. Eventually things started looking up, and now we’re okay. Our home and lives are no longer at risk of being wrecked beyond repair.

As soon as I turned 16, I stopped working for Damien and got a real job. It’s going great. I’ve been working at Dave’s Diner for almost 2 years. Everyone in town loves this place. Even Crazy Steve – who’s not actually crazy – will come in and spend hours telling old war stories from Vietnam. I learned he actually likes the name Crazy Steve. He said it was a nickname given to him by his brothers-in-arms when he first enlisted and he’s gone by that name ever since.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to learn to appreciate the town I’m in.

Sure, we still raise Hell and pull pranks but being able to walk down the street and see a familiar face every day is amazing.

Though it’s been a long time since I’ve seen those creepy men who tried abducting me, I swear I can sense them in the shadows. Waiting to catch me off guard. I’ve been a lot more cautious about being alone because of it.

Graduation and my 18 th birthday are so close. College applications are being filled out and sent off. My brothers encouraged me to fill out a few to some out of state colleges and I did.

I’m happy. My family is happy. And it’s the best feeling in the world.

Surreal, really. I struggled to see life in a positive light for so long that it’s taken some getting used to.

“Can I get you anything else?” I ask, holding the coffee decanter in one hand, a circle tray in the other.

“No thank you, my dear.” Ethel, one of the sweetest old ladies in town, smiles.

“Well, you let me know if you change your mind, okay?” I step away and head back to the kitchen.

The rest of my workday is swamped and by the end, I’m ready to land face first into bed and fall into a coma. The bell above the door chimes and I spin around and immediately freeze.

Eddie stands in front of me with a smug smile. “My have you filled out in all the right places.” Bile pools in the back of my throat as his eyes slowly travel down my body, filling with lust.

“Get out.” Carefully, I reach behind me. Blindly hoping to find something lying on the counter I can use to defend myself.

The diner is completely empty. Rob, the night cook, just stepped outside to throw out the garbage.

Eddie’s entire demeanor changes. His already dark eyes somehow become black holes. Like a shark suddenly in a feeding frenzy.

He takes a step forward. Then another.

When he reaches the other side of the counter, I bolt.

I push through the swinging door leading into the kitchen. He’s right on my tail. Fear courses through my veins, propelling me forward. The narrow spaces of the kitchen make it hard to run but I use it to my advantage. I’m smaller than he is so I can slip around corners much faster than he can.

A shriek bursts out of my mouth when I hear the sound of dishware crashing to the floor. Eddie curses, the sound of him stepping on the broken shards follow.

The back door opens with a thud against the wall. Rob steps in, whistling happily before he freezes.

“Help!” I scream, ducking under his arm and hiding behind him. His eyes are wide, and he takes in the mess of the kitchen.

Where is Eddie?

I peek over his shoulder but don’t see him.

It’s as though I completely imagined him.

“What the hell is going on?” Rob asks, spinning around to face me.

I swipe a hand across my forehead, my hairline wet with sweat. “Someone was chasing me.” My heart pounds against my chest and I struggle to hold my weight upright.

Rob reaches over, picking up a large kitchen knife and begins searching the place.

It takes us an extra 2 hours after closing to make sure everything is cleaned up and secured before Rob gives me a ride home.

My mind is still reeling at tonight events. I’ve been so careful but somehow Eddie was still able to catch me off guard.

After greeting my brothers, eating some leftovers for dinner, and getting ready for bed, I’m finally able to rest. And I mean physically. Mentally? My brain refuses to shut off.

Will this happen again?

When will it happen?

What does Eddie want from me?

A repulsed shudder travels down my spine at the thought of his hands anywhere near my body.

My phone chimes and I reach over to read the message.

Damien: We need to talk.

I rub my eyes, making sure I’m reading the message correctly.

I haven’t heard from Damien in months. The last thing I had heard of him was that he’d left town. So why, out of the blue, does he reach out? And of all nights, it happens to be the first time I come face to face with Eddie?

I hardly believe in coincidences, and this definitely doesn’t seem like one.

All chances of getting any sleep tonight are nonexistent. I’m unsettled even more now than before.

What am I going to do?