"Damn it," I muttered, frustration bubbling up inside me. Why now? Why was he always there, lurking in the shadows? Was he really following me? Or was this all a coincidence? The questions swirled in my head, a dizzying mix of fear and intrigue.
Hitch stood beside me, his jaw tight, his eyes scanning the surrounding area, on high alert. He was a force of nature, a shield against the world. Even in the face of danger, I was drawn to him, comforted by his presence.
"What do you think he wants?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
He shrugged, his gaze still fixed on the darkness. "Doesn't matter. He's got our attention now. We need to figure out what he wants, and fast."
All of a sudden a red dot appeared on my chest, my blood turning cold knowing he was out there with his gun aimed directly at me, my life in his hands. Hitch's eyes widened in panic, but they turned to fear as the dot moved to his chest. We both froze. I knew War was playing games that he thought were hilarious, but they weren't. He was moving the laser back and forth between us, putting the fear of God into our heads.
This man was fucking crazy. He was just with me last night and we slept together. Now tonight he's outside of my house playing eenie-meanie-miney-mo, using me and Hitch. He was seriously bipolar, and as far as I could tell, he was definitely unhinged. It just made me want him even more. I couldn't help myself, and it was fucking embarrassing. How could I want someone who was so fucking bad for me—for this world?
Hitch cursed under his breath, his eyes never leaving the unseen sniper. The red dot danced again, now on my forehead, and I felt the cold fear grip me tighter. He was toying with us, relishing our terror. I could almost hear his low chuckle echoing in the silence.
"Stay down," Hitch growled, his voice a low rumble.
He gently pushed me behind the trunk of the oak tree, shielding me with his body as he scanned the surrounding trees and shadows.
"He wants to scare us. Doesn't mean he'll pull the trigger." But the uncertainty was a tangible weight in the air, a threat hanging over us.
"What do we do?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
The adrenaline was a tidal wave now, crashing through me. The world had narrowed to the pounding of my heart, the rasp of Hitch's breath, the ominous red dot. Hitch didn't answer right away. He was thinking, weighing options, calculating the risks. His jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed, searching for any sign of movement, any clue to War's location.
"You two are cute," War said deeply, his voice coming from behind us.
Confused, we turned around, coming face-to-face with War, while the red dot still danced across our backs and heads. He stepped forward, knife in hand and a twisted, sultry grin on his face that made me burn up inside. I tried to hide the blush on my cheeks but I felt it spread, and I could tell that War noticed it. He winked at me, stepping closer.
"What are you doing back here?" I asked, asserting dominance before he had the chance to seize control.
"Just checking on you," he said all mysteriously, but I had already known what he was up to and most importantly, who he worked for.
"Is that cus Foley told you to?" I blurted out, not meaning to.
His face hardened, his eyes darkened. He stepped forward so quickly I didn't have time to react. He lunged for me and slammed me against the tree, his hand squeezing my throat. His nose was touching mine. I could feel his breath on my lips and the bulge in his pants as he pinned me to the icy bark. Once our eyes locked, something changed, and the hate in his eyes turnedto desire, and War then pulled me in for a kiss that took my breath away.
The kiss was rough, demanding, and I couldn't help but melt into it. He tasted of the cold night air and something dangerous and exciting. My hands instinctively reached for his hair, tangling in the dark strands as I deepened the kiss, allowing my tongue to dance with his. The red dot, now forgotten, felt like a lifetime ago. All I could feel was him, his body pressed against mine, the raw energy that vibrated between us. He broke the kiss, his breathing ragged, his eyes blazing. He kept me pinned, his body a cage I didn't want to escape.
"You like that, don't you?" he rasped, his voice a low growl. "You love the danger."
I didn't answer, couldn't answer. My mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions: fear, desire, and a strange, exhilarating sense of surrender. His gaze swept over me, lingering on my lips, my neck, my chest.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Fallon," he murmured, his voice laced with a warning, but also, surprisingly, a hint of admiration almost?
He pulled back slightly, his hand leaving my throat, but not my body. He caressed my cheek, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through me. His thumb traced the line of my jaw, and I leaned into his touch, powerless to resist.
"What do you want, War?" I managed to ask, my voice barely a whisper.
The cold was seeping into my bones, but the heat of his gaze kept me warm. He leaned in close to my ear, his lips brushing against my skin.
"Let's just say," he breathed, "I want to be your savior." He smirked. "But first..." His eyes danced with a dark amusement, and he released me slowly. "I want to see if you can keep up."
He stepped away, and with a final, lingering look, turned and vanished back into the shadows. The red dot disappeared, and I was left standing there, breathless and trembling, against the rough bark of the oak tree. Hitch immediately stepped forward, pulling me into his arms, checking to make sure I was okay.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice filled with a desperate concern. "What did he do? Did he..."
I shook my head, my throat still tight. "He just...kissed me," I finally whispered, ashamed of my immediate reaction. And then, I had to tell him, because he deserved the truth. "He works for Foley, Hitch."
Hitch's face was a mask of fury. His jaw clenched, his fists balling. "That son of a bitch. I knew it," he said in a cold voice, and then yelled: "I'm going to kill him."
