Page 29 of Crave

“Looks like your boyfriend knows his way around a thong.” She murmured, staring at him as she rang the purchase up.

I pressed my card against the machine, waited for the beep before I snatched the bag and hurried out of there, mortified. “He’snotmy boyfriend.” I murmured.

He never left me alone, crowding my steps as I raced from store to store. I didn’t even know which ones I went into. All I cared about was getting away from him. He strolled casually, his long, predatory strides eating the distance while I scurried, hiding around towering clothes racks and ducking between shelves until for a second I lost him.

I stopped at the end of an Asian grocery aisle and glanced around searching for him, the pungent scent of salty and sweet filling my nostrils. But he wasn’t there. He wasn’t anywhere.

“Thank God.”

But then there he was, trailed by some woman outside the store. He turned around, grabbed her wrists, pinning them together as she stared up at him with desire and hope in her eyes.

He said something to her. Whatever it was, she didn’t want to hear it. She shook her head, but he was cold and cruel, pushing her away and turned his back. He turned his head, that callous glare finding me. The woman followed his focus and stopped. Rage burned in her eyes. She said something that made Silas flinch before she turned and stormed away.

I didn’t stick around to see the fallout, slipping out of the grocery store and kept walking toward the food court. The crowd grew thicker, pushing against me. I spied a woman standing on the outer edges, trying her best to hand out flyers and headed her way.

“Charlie Hunter Women’s Shelter needs your help.” She called those walking past. Her smile, hopeful, but they ignored her, striding past.

“I’ll take one.” I pushed through them toward her.

Her eyes lit up. “Really? Oh, great. Charlie Hunger Women’s Shelter is a non-for-profit organization…”

I shook my head, glancing over my shoulder. My mind was already racing as I turned back to the number in bold, trying to fit it all together.

Escape.The word filled me. I could slip out tonight, then call for help. They’d come and pick me up, and wouldn’t even ask any questions. It’s what they do. “It’s okay. Thank you.”

Her smile turned to confusion as I shoved the flyer into my purse. I felt him before I saw, like a hunter searching for his panicked prey. That’s exactly how I felt. Panicked and prey. I slammed my purse closed, squashing down the pamphlet and ran hurrying toward the bathroom.

Free.

That feeling raced as I hurried along the hallway, looking over my shoulder before I plunged into the ladies restroom. I needed an escape, to find some kind of way out of here…without my so-called brother watching my every move.

The hand dryer howled, making me jump. I jerked my gaze to a woman watching me with curiosity before she strode my way. I stepped out of her path. “Sorry.”

Others glanced my way, coming out of the stalls. I spun around, hoping with all I had Silas was gone. But the moment I stepped into the hall he was there, leaning against the wall, watching the women who walked past.

“You know this is the perfect pickup place.” He murmured, staring at a cute brunette as she almost skipped past. She gavehim a smile, turning her head to watch him as he pushed off the wall and turned to me.

I was mortified. “How…why…”

“How, why what, sister?” He gave a shrug.

My whole face felt like it was on fire. “Never mind.”

I gripped my bags and strode out, my focus on him behind me. He was a dark blur never more than a step behind me as though he was letting me know I wasn’t getting away again. Only I had to…now more than ever.

I made my way into Luxe and picked up their soaps, smelling them before I grabbed summer breeze and made for the counter. He said nothing, but he didn’t have to. Women stared at him walking past, it didn’t matter their age. All they saw was a six foot two muscled bad boy, heavily tatted with gorgeous dark eyes and perfect lashes. Silas was more than handsome, he was beautiful.

If only they knew the real him.

I walked out of Peter Alexander, sick of the attention he was getting and turned around. “I’m done.”

“Are you?” He searched my eyes. “Going to come clean, are you?”

“What?”

He lowered his gaze to the Luxe bag. “The soap.”

I just shook my head and strode away heading for the mall doors. Sun hit me the moment I stepped out, moving with the crowd and across the crossing to his car. The boot clicked, opening instantly as I neared. I dumped my purchases in andheaded for the passenger’s door, yanking it open and climbed inside.