He put his hand on my lower back, and I tensed. The light touch caused my whole body to lock up. If he noticed my response, he didn’t say. Instead, he led us inside, not once breaking contact. My steps hastened when we walked past the flowers, and I eyed them from my periphery.
“Pack a bag,” he said as soon as we made it inside. “We’re staying at the clubhouse.”
I stopped, flowers forgotten. “What? Why? No way am I bringing my kids there.”
“Did you read the card?” he asked.
My blood turned to ice, and I clutched Lena to me while at the same time squeezing Luca’s hand. I knew the card wasn’t a good sign.
“No,” I haltingly replied. “I thought it was just another way for him to screw with me.”
“Show it to her,” Sebastian said.
Gears stepped forward and handed me the card in question. I didn’t take it since I was still holding on to both my kids. Sebastian didn’t make me choose who I was going to let go. Instead, he breached the distance between us and pulled Lena out of my arms.
She didn’t mind at all and instead settled right in. My mind on the card instead of my daughter, I took it and looked at the image on the front. It was Salvador Dali’s painting of melting clocks. I’d never liked it and thought it was disturbing.
When I flipped it over, there were words on the back.
Ticktock. Time has run out.
A jolt of panic shot through me and took hold, digging deep. He’d officially lost his mind. What a creeptastic attempt to freak me out. It was time I went to the police, because flowers were one thing, scary messages another.
“You’ll stay at the clubhouse. There’s always people around, and nobody will get in or out without us knowing,” Sebastian said, ignoring Lena, who was singing into his ear.
I gaped at him, words trapped in my throat. I didn’t want to stay at the clubhouse with scary bikers. And I certainly didn’t want my kids there.
That thought finally snapped me out of it. “I’m fine staying here. I’ll tell the police, and they’ll keep an eye out.”
Sebastian nodded at Gears, who started collecting toys from the living room.
I glared at both men, not in the mood to be ignored. “Hey, what are you doing?”
“He’s helping you pack. Now, if you don’t want him to go through your clothes, you better start packing,” Sebastian said.
I stalked past him, making sure to stomp extra hard. “You’re infuriating.”
I felt helpless. Nothing in my life seemed to be in my control anymore. My stalker was escalating, and a biker was running my life.
It was safe to say my life had gone down the drain.
Luca climbed on top of the bed once we were in my room and started bouncing.
“Luca, no jumping on the bed,” I muttered and jerkily pulled clothes out of drawers and my closet.
I packed light, not needing much. I had clothes for work in my locker at Pepper’s, and I usually wore jeans and a T-shirt at home.
The kids’ room was next, and I stuffed their bags as full as I could. Who knew if they even had a washing machine at the clubhouse. I needed to pack as many options as I could since I had to change them at least once every day, often more than that.
The bathroom was next, and I shoved our toiletries in a plastic bag, the only thing I could find on short notice.
Gears showed up when I squeezed the bags shut and forced the zipper closed. “It’s not so bad there. You might even like it,” he said and shrugged when I narrowed my eyes at him.
He took the bags and walked out of the room. Luca had been following me around the house, and I could hear Lena’s voice in the living room, telling Sebastian a story about a unicorn and a ball that made no sense. My girl had an active imagination and a vast vocabulary for a two-year-old.
I stalked back to Sebastian, my nostrils flaring. I was sure I looked like an angry bull, ready to charge. Which was exactly how I felt. I didn’t get riled up very often, but once I got to this stage, it was hard to talk me off the ledge.
“Let’s go,” he said, turning on his heel and carrying Lena out with him. I had no choice but to follow, Luca skipping along next to me.
