Daniel reaches across the corner of the table, fingers brushing my arm as if he has any right to touch me. I can see a pair of scissors getting closer to me with every step I take. Two more, and I can safely lunge for them.
“Don’t,” I snap quietly, letting a little rage seep into my voice. “You need to leave.”
“You need to remember who you belong to,” he seethes, burning gaze locked on me. “I don’t care who you’ve been playing with. Today, you’re coming home.”
My phone buzzes in my hand once more, and I pull the same move. Step left, bump knee, look down. Another message sits on my screen.
Locke:
Security is on the way.
Footsteps echo down the hall. Two guards appear, confused but alert… Ready enough to deal with trouble even though they have no idea what’s happening.
Daniel freezes, his entire body rigid. “When did you call them?”
I don’t entertain him with an answer. I just slide backward, my spine hitting a copy machine, and I use it like a wall to anchor myself, ready to lunge if this goes to shit.
He looks from the security guards to me, weighing his options before his smile flickers. “This isn’t a game you want to play with me, Anna.”
Daniel turns and walks out like he owns the building and the guards are here to protect him.
I stay still until the hallway goes quiet, all footsteps and sound gone. It takes thirty seconds. Maybe more. Then I lean against the counter and open the app.
Eris:
Thank you.
Locke:
I told you I’d protect you.
I’m choosing to overlook the part where I saidcall a murderous sociopath, and one or all of them ignored my request. But I’ll most likely have some retroactive anger about that later.
Eris:
He sent another photo.
It was from outside the office, in the building across the street.
Locke:
Show me.
I drop the image into our chat, but there’s nothing to be done about it now, other than check the office cameras from across the street. Not that they’ll tell us much.
The dots appear. Disappear. Reappear. Over and over and over again.
Locke:
He’s getting reckless. That’s good.
Eris:
How is that good?
I agree with them, but I’m not ready to say that yet.
Locke:
