Page 40 of Rear View
Ryah
The Saturday morning sun was beautiful as it streamed through the window. My foot bounced, excited for Xavier’s race that afternoon. Excited to see him. Be with him.
Grabbing some milk from the fridge, I filled my bowl of cereal, then headed to the couch and took up the remote.
When I turned the TV on, I flicked it to the sports channel, watching the previous day’s highlights.
One of them showed my rally driver as he took a Hawthorne Mountain switchback at a breakneck pace.
Snow and gravel flicked up, spraying the air.
It was the Shakedown, for God’s sake. He wasn’t even going at top speed.
Still, it was sexy as all get out, and my heart thumped in my chest, my mouth running dry at the sight of it.
The race being in Edgewater meant he was swamped with local media and events. It was great for him and Alec. We’d seen each other when we could, but when we couldn’t the hours had felt long.
As the article’s story had been at Trina’s direction, NSM refused to do a retraction, so she’d been forced to post one on the team’s page, taking responsibility for the error.
Turned out, the guys being loyal to their girls made them infinitely sexier to that female base and was even better for their brand than being single.
I was still deciding how I felt about that.
Zoya’s bedroom door creaked open and she barreled out, keys clanking and a stack of books in hand.
“Hey,” I said. “Headed to study session?”
“Yes. Ugh. ” She shook her head. “I can’t wait till graduation.”
I raised my bowl in cheers.
“When’s Miles coming by?”
Swallowing around my mouthful of food, I checked my watch. Eight AM. “In a few hours.”
“How’s the hockey going for him?”
I cocked my head. “The hockey?”
She shoved her feet into her boots. “You know I’m not the sportiest.”
My smile was wide. “Really good! He’s been named a prospect!”
Z frowned. “I don’t think you understand how little I understand.”
“A prospect for the draft,” I said. “To the NHL.”
“Heyyyyy!” She beamed when she eyed me. “That’s awesome!”
My face warmed, and my heart fumbled clumsily around my chest. “We’re going out with Xavier after to celebrate.”
She wiggled her brows. “A family affair, huh?”
I grinned.
Taking her coat from the hook by the door, she turned back to me. “Oh! I totally forgot. That security guard, Stan, stopped me yesterday.” Her face twisted. “He says he’s trying to set a meeting with you. That it’s impor tant the two of you speak.” She shrugged as if she didn’t understand either.
My stomach knotted and I frowned. Creepy. He was just creepy. “Thanks.”
Sauntering to the door, she pulled it wide. “I’ll see you later.”
“Later!”
She left.
Finishing my breakfast, I eyed Xavier on the screen and bit my lip, because my heart beat faster just at the sight of him. Sighing, I headed for the kitchen, set my dishes in the sink and glided down the hall for the shower.
Half an hour later, I was out and shuffling through my “someday clothes.” Grinning at a full-length, gray wool dress, I pulled it out and slipped it on, admiring the way it hugged my curves. No doubt, Xavier would love it.
A loud boom echoed through the apartment. I jolted, my head whipping toward the sound. The shot of adrenaline that hit had my blood pressure spiking as my chest heaved with frantic breaths.
Taking my phone from my dresser, I edged into the hall.
The boom sounded again to my right. The living room window rattled, and a streak of snow slithered down its pane. My heart thrashed in my ears, my body shaking wildly as I dropped to the floor. Crawling on my hands and knees toward it, I peered out.
A hooded figure clad in all black stood across the street, watching.
No!
Him. It’s him!
I needed something. Someone. To act. My thoughts were muddled, wouldn’t come clear. Help! I need help!
Xavier! I wanted him. But he’d have been at the circuit by then, readying for the race. Even if I called, he was on the other side of the city. It’d take him too long to get to me.
Which left only one other option.
Falling flat to the floor, my fingers trembled so hard that it took three tries before I could punch the numbers and call for help.
“Nine-one-one. What’s the address of your emergency?” the monotoned woman on the other end asked.
“876 Lemon Grove Lane, apartment 204,” I said, my voice broken and shaky. “He’s right outside. Please, hurry.”
“And what’s your name?”
“Ryah,” I said through a sob. “Ryah Nolan.”
“Can you tell me who’s outside, Ryah?” the operator asked.
Another boom .
I screamed and crawled toward the kitchen.
“The guy who’s after me!” I sobbed.
“Do you have his name?”
“No. Ask Officer Maynard. He knows about him.”
Some buttons clicked on her end. “Are you in immediate danger?”
“He’s right outside!” I cried. “Just get here. Please, just get here!”
My phone pinged. Then pinged again. I set the call to speaker as I drew the device away to better see.
Picture after picture flooded the screen.
Me in my room, in only my panties, while I changed.
Me bent over in a thong. All older, before I’d known to cover my laptop’s camera.
Then some newer. The more I saw, the sicker I felt.
Me walking across the U of E campus. Me outside my apartment.
Me at the Parc Ferme in Emerald Cove. Me in Xavier’s arms at the pub.
Oh, God! He knew. He knew!
More snow collided with the window and another boom rang out.
I screamed again.
The ringing started in my ears. “LEAVE ME ALONE! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!”
“Ryah, if it’s possible to do so, I’d like you to lock yourself into a room,” the operator ordered. “I’ll let you know when the police have arrived, and it’s safe for you to come out.”
Jolting to my feet, I grabbed the butcher block of knives from the kitchen, ran to the bathroom and slammed the door. My breath exploded from me in erratic pants as I locked it and dropped to the floor.
The ringing came louder, and the operator’s voice grew distant. My sight narrowed, going dark around the edges.
“Ryah? Are you still there?”
“Help me!” I breathed, tears blurring my sight as they seared my cheeks. They needed to come. Please, just come ! “Just help me! Do your job and help me! Just do your job! JUSTDOYOURFUCKINGJOB!”
* * *
“There were footprints in the snow under your window at the perimeter of the apartment building,” Officer Maynard said, watching me intently from my living room chair.
“They led across the street where you indicated, then further south before they disappeared. I suspect that’s where he got into his car.
We’ve lifted the shoe imprint and tire treads, but both are pretty generic brands. ”
I sniffed and tugged the throw blanket from my couch tighter around my shoulders. “So, what you’re saying is, you have nothing?”
He shifted, his leather service belt creaking when he leaned forward. “We’re asking around about cameras in the area. I’m still looking into things, Miss Nolan, but—”
“But you have nothing.”
Voices carried over his radio while he stared at me, his expression hardening. But I could care less. What was he gonna do? Arrest me? I’d probably be safer behind bars anyway.
I was done. So done with a cop that didn’t care and tired of trying to make him. Like I needed to prove my life had value for him to give a shit. I met Maynard’s gaze head-on. “Do you need anything else from me?”
He shook his head. “Not for now.”
“Then I’d like you to leave.”
His huffed his exhale as he rose, as if I’d disappointed him. But he could shove it up his useless ass ’cause he’d been disappointing me for years. The whole system had.
“If you think of anything else, you know how to reach me.”
I fought the bitter laugh that wanted to break free when I followed him to the door, then closed it with a crack and locked it behind him.
My phone vibrated from across the room. My legs were weak when I made my way toward it, my stomach rolling as I peered at the screen.
Christian: I came by to talk but the cops wouldn’t let me in. Are you alright?
Me: I’m fine.
I wasn’t, but that didn’t seem to matter.
Me: What’d you need to talk about?
Christian: Xavier.
Was he serious with that crap?
Me: Please, Christian. I’ve had a bad day and cannot deal right now.
Christian: R.J. wait. Just, do me a favor and check his social media.
My lungs constricted.
Me: What?
Christian: I’m not trying to cause shit, I swear. Just, check it. Please.
I inhaled slow and steady as I clicked on a web browser. Searching Xavier’s name, I scrolled through until the link to his Instagram came up. The account was open, no limited access or required friend request necessary to see his posts. And when I did…
I froze, my body turning to stone. Oh, God! Had he seen it? Is that why he’d come for me? Had he…had he thought we were taunting him?
No. No. No!
My hands flew to my mouth, my pulse pounding through my head as my breaths turned short and shal low. Too heavy. I couldn’t get enough air because Xavier had shared a photo. One of us—of me ! One that stood front and center as his fucking profile picture.