Fear freezes me before I stumble back a few steps away from the door. The man never moves. I glance toward the parking lot, spotting my Audi right where I left it. In the furthest spot on the lot because I hadn’t wanted to be parked close to anyone.
The ten yards or so between it and me feels like a mile.
Can I make it to my car before him? I’m fast. But vampires are faster. I curse. What reason does he have for standing out there, lurking?
“Come on, Isa. Pull yourself together,” I mutter to myself. Just because I was attacked by vampires it doesn’t mean every vamp is out to get me. It doesn’t mean it’ll happen again. But my attacker’s words echo in my mind.“Because we can,”he’d said. What if this is him, or another one like him? Someone who hates my kind enough to attack me for no other reason than because they can without repercussions?
Oh God. I’d been so stupid. Thinking I could just go on with my life.
I slump into one of the booths toward the back, away from the windows, and pull my phone out with shaking fingers. I dial Josué’s number before I realize he can’t help me and hang up. Okay. Plan B. I’ll try Zheng.
I call him and wait. The line rings once, twice, six times.
Voicemail.
Dang it.
I try again.
Voicemail again.
I wipe my clammy hands on my knees and stare at the screen of my phone. I don’t know who else to call. Feeling desperate I try Natalia. She doesn’t pick up. Against my better judgment, I try Brian next.
“You’ve reached the voicemail box of…”
I hang up.
My heart skips a beat and the urge to shift sweeps through me, but I fight it. My wolf can’t open doors and she can’t use my phone. I peer out the window again.
He’s still out there. What is he waiting for? A knot of dread expands in my chest. It crawls through me and my entire body begins to shake. I squeeze my eyes shut. I need to get it together. I can’t think if I panic.
My breaths are ragged as if I’ve just run a marathon. My chest heaves up and down. I press my forehead down on the cool surface of the table and force myself to slow down my breathing.
Think, Isa. Just think. Don’t. Panic.
The idea to call Rafael leaves me as quickly as it comes. I swallow hard and chew on my bottom lip until I’m certain I’ve bitten through the tender flesh and the tang of copper fills my mouth.
I try Desmond.
He answers on the second ring. “Isa?”
“Oh, thank God,” I choke out the words on a sob.
“What’s going on?”
His voice is hard, and a sense of urgency has me rushing to say, “I just got off work and there’s a vampire outside. I think he’s waiting for me. I’m alone and my car is far away and—”
“Breathe, Isa. Take a breath. Slow down.”
I try to do as he instructs but I can’t seem to slow down.
“Where are you at?”
“Suzy’s.”
“Okay. I’m on my way. I’ll give you a lift. We can get your car tomorrow morning.”
I nod even though he can’t see me. “Thank you.”
