Page 23 of Dancing with the Devil

“Why are you explaining yourself to me, you creepy stalker?”

“Because my reaction bothered you.”

“It didn’t—”

“Don’t lie to me.”

I plastered a smile on my face, leaning forward onto my forearms. “You’re full of your own importance,” I shot back.

“Yeah?” he challenged.

“It’s revolting.”

“And what else?” he grinned, leaning back as he threw his arm over the back of the sofa.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Next time, don’t get cocky with me. I eat men like you for breakfast. You’re no different.” Amusement lingered behind his eyes, and my heart leaped in my chest. “What?”Why is he looking at me like that?

“There she is,” he lowered his voice, and my stomach dropped in realization.Damn him.

I scoffed, getting up but stopped, seeing the image of Nic flash in my head. With my newfound bravery, I once again spoke without thinking. “Did you doit?”

The slight tilt in his head supported my assumption. He knewexactlywhat I was referring to. “Care to elaborate?”

If he answeredyes, I knew I had gotten myself into some serious shit. But, if he saidno, would the accusation deeply offend him? I swallowed hard, shaking my head in sudden panic.

“Never mind,” I plastered a fake smile on my face before whipping around but stopped. I grinned, allowing it to disappear when I faced him again. I crossed my arms over my chest. “Hand it over,” I extended my hand toward him.

His tongue brushed against the inside of his cheek, and I could tell he was fighting back a smile.

He pulled his black card out of his wallet and placed it on the palm of my hand.

He spoke as I slipped the card into my bra. “Five-three-nine-zero.”Perfect!

* * *

After a long, exhausting week that included a variety of shopping sprees—courtesy of my insanely handsome stalker—it was finally Sunday; my day off.

I plopped down onto my bed after my shower, sinking into my soft bed sheets.

There was a loud knock on my front door, so I simply stayed quiet, hoping whoever it was would go away. I laid back in blissful silence until the knocking got louder, and I groaned in frustration.

Irritably, I grabbed my cell phone, slowly getting up. I left my bedroom, but the knocking turned into pounding from morethan just one person, so I froze. My body stiffened as the pounding echoed in my head.

“I know you’re in their little Nirah.”Sylvester.

Without hesitation, I bolted back to my bedroom, quietly shutting my bedroom door. Locking it, I looked around my room in fear. No, no, no. No,pleaseno.

The front door swung open, crashing against the wall. My heart dropped, and I rushed to my window. With sweaty palms, I slid it open and looked down at the ground. I wasn’t that high up…right?

My body trembled as I clutched the metal bars, climbing through my window. A thud behind me stopped me dead in my tracks. I could hear a faint grunt as someone kept ramming into my door. I hurried to the stairs attached to the side of my bedroom wall, and I rushed down, but when I looked up, Sylvester was looking out my window.

He was with two other men who left the room when he slid the window open. A devious glare appeared behind his eyes, and my lips dried. Adrenaline shot through my veins, forcing my feet to move.Go, Nirah! Go!

I bolted down the road, fighting against the gust of wind. I hurled myself even further with every step I took, not daring to look back.

My heart was pounding. My legs were numb. Sweat dripped down the side of my face. The icy wind smacked against my legs with each step. My eyes darted from building to building. Short, tight breaths. In and out.

I turned back, seeing Sylvester’s massive body charging towards me.