Page 8 of Cruel Betrayal

It’s going to take time, but perhaps the problem is distance.

She stops dancing and turns to the window, pulling the sheers to the side.

I duck back into the shadows of the tree I’m standing beneath, pulling out my phone and looking around like I’m reading a map and a little lost.

A moment later, the curtains flutter back into place.

I flick my collar up a little higher, tipping the ballcap down.

One day, my little minx. One day, we’re going to be together.

My little minx deserves the world, and that’s exactly what I’m going to give to her.

If she lets me.

Chapter Three

JADE

The hairon the back of my neck stands, and it feels like a set of eyes are burning deep into me.

I glance over my shoulder, but there’s still nothing there. No matter how many times I turn back to take a look, there’s still not a soul in sight.

At least not one that is openly watching me.

I hoist my bag higher and leave the subway station, wishing that the university was beside my building. I wouldn’t have a long walk of looking over my shoulder every couple of seconds.

The urge to put on some music and drown out the rest of the world is strong, but I can’t do that. I need to be aware of my surroundings. I need to make sure that nothing is going to happen. That whoever is following me isn’t going to come out of nowhere and snatch me out of the street.

“You’re being ridiculous. There’s nobody following you,” I mutter under my breath as I dodge several people on the sidewalk, continuing on my way.

Still, I do an extra lap around my block, darting into a couple of little bodegas and waiting to see if anyone stops outside or walks in behind me.

Then, I do my last lap and jog up the stairs to my building, as Lewis mutters to himself as he opens the door.

I give him a broad smile. “Afternoon, Lew.”

He shrugs. “Don’t see what’s so good about it. My wife is up my ass. Thinks that we should have a fifth child and if you tell her that a normal person only has two, she gets upset. Then I tell her that we can’t afford a fifth child, and she says breastmilk is free.”

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” I grab the couple of bills I have waiting in the mail, hands shaking when I see an unfamiliar blocky writing on the front of one of the envelopes.

There’s a light scent, like the cologne I smelled on my sheets last week after I found out someone had been inside.

As I step into the elevator, I stare down at the envelope.

What if this is pictures of me sleeping?

With a shudder, I step off the elevator and head down the hall.

My door is closed and when I push it open, there’s not a sign of anything being moved.

I breathe a sigh of relief, turning and locking the door behind me, checking it two more times before heading down the hall to my room. I drop my backpack in the corner before glancing at my bed and freezing.

The sheets are moved. The bed isn’t made this time like it was before, but the duvet is half on the floor, the pillows are moved slightly, and the same scent of cologne lingers in the air.

I suck in a sharp breath to shake myself out of the stupor and pull out my phone, dialing my best friend’s number with shaking hands.

She’s the only person I confided to about my stalker. The only person I can trust to let me handle this on my own instead of overstepping, even though she is loyal to my older brother.