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“I’m resourceful,” he replies. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be worth my fees.

” He laughs lightly, like it’s a great joke, but I can still sense the tension.

This man came here with a mission, and I worry it won’t end well.

“Madison, I do apologize for tearing you away from your dinner. The Coq au Vin here is superb. I hope you ordered the Feuillette Chardonnay to go with it.” He pauses to glance through the restaurant window.

Rita sees him, and he waves at her with a friendly smile.

“Ah, yes, you got the Feuillette, excellent choice.” Rita gives him a reserved smile, and he turns his focus back on me.

“As I was saying, sorry for interrupting your dinner. I promise I’ll be brief. ”

“Who are you?”

“Jake. I just told you.” He looks at me like I’m an idiot.

Very passive aggressive, but even I can sense the dangerous vibe exuding from him.

Beneath this finely groomed exterior dwells a beast. “Madison, I’m only here to deliver a message, and I hope you’ll take it under advisement.

Otherwise, I’ll be forced to come back, and I don’t like that. ”

Before I even realize what’s happening, he snatches my phone and quickly deletes the recording—which was still running after he hung up. I want to stop him, but a strange and muted dread holds me back, as if my instincts know better.

“Here. Much better. We can’t have you recording people without their consent,” Jake says and gives me my phone back. Briefly checking it, I notice he uninstalled the recording app, too.

“I’ll call the police,” I manage, but even I don’t believe myself.

He chuckles softly. “That’s cute. And tell them what? Don’t be ridiculous, Madison. I’m here because I’m looking out for you. Believe me.”

“What the fuck do you want?” I’m starting to shake. Nothing about this feels right.

“Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?” He pauses, eyes widened. “Oh, wait, your mother walked out on you and your father a long time ago. Anyway, back to the message. I need you to listen to me, Madison. I need your full attention. Do I have that?”

No isn’t an option.

Everything about this guy demands my full attention, much like a wolf requires a deer’s full attention.

This man, despite being young –– and apparently well behaved –– is a predator, and he has set his sights on me.

I hate this feeling. It reminds me of Julian.

The simmering anxiety, the stench of danger, the possibility that I might lose something of myself again. I can’t go through that once more.

No.

I will kick and I will fight and I will scream this time.

No matter what happens, they will hear me. They will all hear me!

“I’m listening,” I finally say.

“Stay away from Rhue, Madison. You may both be majoring in the same discipline, but that doesn’t mean you need to interact beyond the academic necessities,” Jake says, remarkably calm.

“No more coffee dates, no more lunch dates, no more weekends away or back home. No more cuddling in your bedroom, either. If you think your dad’s safe under Rhue’s wing, you should think again. ”

“Julian sent you,” I scoff. “That piece of shit.”

He shrugs. “A powerful and resourceful piece of shit, whose payroll I happen to enjoy. So, listen carefully, Madison. No more lovey-dovey with Rhue. Keep your distance. Your dad’s forced professional relocation was merely a knee-jerk reaction. You know Julian. You know how he can be.”

“You’re threatening me.”

“It’s an ugly word, but fine. Yes, I’m threatening you.

” He sighs deeply, looking downright regretful.

“But honestly, I’ll rather threaten you and scare you off.

I’d hate to have to follow through later down the line, Madison.

So, please. Heed my words and just stay away.

For your sake, and for your father’s. Oh—and one more thing.

” He steps uncomfortably close, like an actor in a movie lining up for a kiss.

“No more girl-dates with your future stepmommy. She’s bad news—literally.

Throw a tantrum. Play at being Cinderella.

I don’t care what you do, but do not ever speak to that woman again. ”

“Fuck you,” I reply, fury coming over me like a volcano spilling over. “Fuck you and fuck Julian, too. You don’t own me, you don’t own the ground I walk on, and you certainly don’t own my family or my life. Fuck you, Jake. Now leave me the hell alone.”

He laughs again. “Oh, you don’t wanna go down that road, sweetie.”

“I’m not your sweetie. And if I see you again, I will call the police.”

I’m too angry and determined not to let Julian walk all over me again. Too desperate to come out of this hot mess with my head held high. Jake tries to say something else, but I walk back into the restaurant and flip him off, for good measure. By the time I reach my table, he’s already gone.

An uneasy feeling is left behind, and it lurks around me, waiting to pounce and scratch at my consciousness. Rita gives me a curious look. “You okay, sweetie?”

“Yeah, I’m good,” I reply, but my voice trembles.

I need to tell Rhue about this as soon as possible.

My dinner is cold, and my friends are watching me intently, yet all I can do is give them an awkward smile as I text Rhue, the fury finally subsiding.

Something tells me I’ll be seeing Jake again.

I’ll need to be ready. Julian will not prevail, I won’t let him.

My throat tightens. What if it’s out of my control?