“I’m still here,” I say quickly, realizing I’d been lost in thought. My mind races to change the subject.
“I think we lost connection for a second,” she muses. “Anyways, what else has been going on? How’s the study stuff going?”
I breathe a sigh of relief.
“It’s going,” I huff. “I can’t wait to be done with it. I love it, but I’m so ready to get out into the world and start doing things.”
“You’re going to shine one day, Georgie. You're so good at it. You have a natural, innate empathy that makes it so easy to talk to you. I know I spilled all my secrets,” she giggles.
There’s a knocking sound in the background. “Oh, sorry, G, I have to go. Are you free for a video call tonight? Maybe nine o'clock?”
“Yes, that’s actually perfect. And long overdue,” I laugh.
“Okay, good. I’ll call at nine then. Chat soon. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I set the phone down on the sofa next to me and stare at my tea.
Kristopher.
I sigh hopelessly.
There is no woman in the world who could resist that man’s charms. And he’s gorgeous. I mean, dangerously so. Every guy I meet is a boy in comparison to that man. I can’t even entertain the idea of being attracted to someone else, and quite honestly…it’s annoying.
So, while learning about Jess’s Bratva world didn’t affect me in a bad way, her brother did. He made it impossible to date.
It’s not even like he’s a major part of my life, and since I don’t see Jess as often anymore, I hardly see him at all. But every now and then, I’ll get a message from him that will send my heart into a tailspin.
It’s ridiculous. And somewhat embarrassing. I’m pining over this man when we will never be together.
My eyes roam over to my phone, trying to remember the last time I actually spoke to him, and I notice the clock on my lock screen.
“Shit,” I squeal, jumping up. I’m going to be late for my next class. I’ve been sitting here daydreaming about himagain.
I set my unfinished tea on the little coffee table in front of the sofa and run to grab my keys and my book bag, pushing the door open. I hurry out into the fresh afternoon air and walk briskly towards my class. As I make my way around campus, people smile and say hello. It’s a normal afternoon, a normal day, so why do I have a weird prickling sensation on the back of my neck?
I turn to glance over my shoulder, but everything seems as it should…normal.
I’m just being silly. All this thinking of Kristopher has me agitated about things I can’t have. That’s all.
The afternoon rolls on, and I attend my philosophy class, and then head back out onto campus to my neurology class. That same sensation follows me around the entire time. I rub my hand over the back of my neck, trying to brush it away, but I have this unnerving feeling that someone is following me.
After my classes, I carry my heavy bag back towards my dorm. I’m hungry and eager to order some takeout and get into my evening study session. At least when I’m studying, I’m not thinking about him.
I turn the key and push my door open with my foot, dumping my bag in the usual spot as I slide my phone from my back pocket to open the food delivery app. I’m craving chow mein.
But before I have a chance to do anything, two men leap from their hiding places, one in the kitchenette and one in the bathroom.
They’re on top of me before I take in a breath to scream. One of them clamps his hand over my mouth, and I kick, panic spinning through me like a hurricane. I bite down on the hand over my mouth, and the man yelps, grabs a handful of my hair, and punches me hard in the jaw before letting me drop to the floor in shock.
I scream, but it’s cut off when the other man grabs me and wraps duct tape over my mouth. He tugs me to my feet, my back against his chest, and his arm around my throat. My head is spinning. My entire body is shaking with adrenaline.
What’s going on? What the hell is happening?
“Is this the right girl?” One of the men snarls.
The other pulls out his phone and looks at a photo of me on the screen. “Yes, let’s get her out of here before someone hears the commotion. The boss won’t be happy if we get caught.”
