Page 8 of Sinful Mates

“Are you okay?” he questions me, that warmth still in tone. It’s so uncharacteristic of him. I expect that from Theo, not Tobias.

I would be if people stopped trying to touch me. Knowing I can’t say that, I simply nod while turning the phones over to take them off voicemail. We sit in silence with me pointedly ignoring him. After a time, Tobias rises and goes to his own office. I breathe a sigh of relief and throw myself into my work.

The day flies by and neither one of them asks me to do anything all day. I remain at my desk, answering calls. I want the distraction—a task, anything—instead of being left to my own thoughts. I wish the workday will never end.

Theo pokes his head in the door, his arms filled with files, and I grin at the pile, eager for it. He looks relieved at my smile and plops them on the side beside me. I thank him, then get to work.

By the time I have all the paperwork sorted into their allocated files, it’s already late again. My time to be distracted with work is drawing to a close. Theo and Tobias have left without preamble, a fact I’m grateful for. I don't need them hovering over me afraid I'll crack. I need more clothes; it’s time to take the walk to my storage shed. I don't want to drive, not while in this state.

I have to be back by 9:00 PM or I'll be locked out. It’s 7:30 now, so I still have an hour and a half, plenty of time to get there and back. Ducking out to my car, I snatch the storage locker key from the glove compartment, along with the empty vodka and tequila bottles. I plan to discard them on the way. I won't be able to keep hiding the bottles from Tom if they keep building up.

Making my way down to the bottom floor, I pause. The hairs on the back of my neck rise in warning and I can't shake the sensation of eyes on me. I glance around but I don’t see anyone else. The garage is just as deserted as always. I shiver, trying to push away the feeling and walk faster. I make my way outside heading up the “in” ramp. As soon as I’m outside, I toss the bag of empty bottles into the trash for the garbage man to collect tomorrow.

The skyrise I work at is in the outskirts of the city, which is convenient for me. Everything is at my fingertips, so to speak. My storage locker is two blocks from where I am now. Next to the skyrise is a park that leads into a small, wooded area. I like to walk through it. The park is a shortcut to my storage locker. It’s also where a lot of people have picnics and hang around.

I cut through the trees heading back. It’s dark out already. I usually don't come through here at night, but I don't have time to go the long way. not if I don't want to be locked out. Shaking off the feeling yet again, I continue on, but even faster this time. The moon is my only light, the shadows in the trees stretching over the pathway. Is there someone behind me? I whirl to check but there’s nothing there. Just the shadows playing tricks on my eyes. Something dashes through the trees, and it has to be big for me to hear the rustle and breaking of twigs. Swallowing, I pick up my pace. I follow the path that leads toward the industrial area. After about five minutes, I’m deep amongst the trees when I hear a deep growl coming from behind me.

Spinning around, I trip, landing on my ass and come face to face with a huge beast. Its black eyes stare at me. Shaking my head, I close my eyes. I must be seeing things.

I snap my eyes open when its growl resonates through the air. Staring at me is a huge dog or maybe a wolf, but it's huge, the size of a small bear. It’s easily over half my size, its fur is jet black, its paws are bigger than my head, and its claws look like they can rip me to shreds. More like a tiger’s claws than a dog’s.

I’m going to die.

I’ve never seen anything so magnificent and terrifying at the same time. I hold my breath as it stalks toward me. I try to scoot back, but it growls at my movement. I’m forced to remain still. My heart hammers. It’s going to attack me. I’m going to be mauled to death by a huge beast of an animal. I suppose I had a good run.

“Well, if you're going to maul me, can you hurry up and get it over with?” I snap. The beast stops growling and cocks its head to the side like it understands what I said. I raise an eyebrow at it.

I get to my feet, prepared for it to attack, only it doesn't. I stand there unsure if I should turn my back on it. Time ticks by. I'll be locked out if I don't get to my storage shed and back. Will this creature follow me the entire way or will he rip into me the instant I turn away? The shiny black fur shines strangely in the moonlight. Its fur has blue undertones. The color shows whenever it moves, catching the moon's light, entrancing me with its beauty.

Maybe it’s somebody’s pet? It seems a little too smart and tame. It creeps over to me, sniffing at me. Its fur brushes against my leg. I can't resist. I reach out and run my fingers through it. It’s thick, soft, and long. The animal nudges at my hand. I guess it likes being rubbed.

“Aw, you’re not that bad. You do look scary, though.”

Great, I’m talking to an oversized dog. I’m really losing my marbles. Shaking my head, I turn my back on it and keep walking. The dog trots at my side. I try to tell it to shoo, but it doesn't so much as twitch an ear at me. I even pick up a stick and throw it high overhead, hoping it will give chase, but it doesn’t work. Instead, it seems annoyed at me and whines loudly, scolding me for daring to try to get away. I don't have time for this. Giving up, I let him follow me.

When I come to the mesh fence surrounding the storage sheds that hold the lockers, I walk along the fence line until I find the spot where the mesh has been broken, creating an opening.

Climbing through, my hip catches on a piece of wire snagging the side of my blouse. I hiss as the wire cuts across my hip, the sting reminding me of my failed efforts to be careful. My white blouse gradually turns red as the cut bleeds. The huge dog whimpers at the noise I make. Spinning around, I stare at it. He seems intelligent for a dog. When I speak to it, I get a feeling like it actually understands what I say.

“Go on, you can't be here. Don't you have a home to go back to?” He makes a noise and nudges my hip with his nose, moving my hand out of the way. He sniffs at my injury and whines again, trying to lick it through my blouse.

I push him to the side. “Fine, but don't pee on anything.” I give the dog a pointed look. It opens its mouth in a mockery of a smile as if amused. I really am going bonkers. I need to lay off the horror books.

Walking up the rows of storage sheds, I find the one I’m looking for: number 423. Bending down, I undo the padlock and lift the heavy door. I grunt from the pain of my injury. Boxes and furniture line the entire place. There’s a narrow walkway through the middle that I left purposefully so it makes it easier to find things. I take said path and find my wardrobe. The dog follows after me and sits next to my feet, observing what I’m doing. I open the wardrobe and grab an outfit wrapped in plastic. It’s a black skirt with a navy-blue blouse and black jacket. One more outfit to add to my rotation in any case.

Grabbing it, I put it aside before moving farther into the locker. I find a box that says kitchen on it. Rummaging through it, I find a small first aid kit. I grab some alcohol wipes, gauze, and medical tape. I shrug off my blouse, sticky with my blood. The cut is deeper than I thought. Instead of just grazing me, the wire has punctured me deep. My blouse sticks to the wound, and blood runs down into the waistband of my skirt.

Carefully peeling it off my cut, I take the alcohol wipes and dab it clean. Every swab is like the time mom poured alcohol on my cut knee when I was little. The pain makes my eyes water, but this is necessary. The wound is slightly jagged, like my skin has been opened with a can opener. Cleaning it up best I can, I place a heap of gauze over the top before securing it with tape. I place the blouse in my handbag before finding a camisole in my wardrobe and tossing my blazer back over the top.

I exit the storage locker, and place my outfit down before closing the roller door. The dog looks around curiously and watches as I padlock the door. Picking up my belongings, I start to hobble back toward work. Despite being cared for, I’m not about to be power walking back with this cut making my body ache.

The park is eerily quiet, usually at night you can hear insects and the hoots of owls, but it’s completely silent tonight. It makes me shiver. The giant dog follows quietly. I have become used to his presence behind me. He resembles a wolf more than a dog. There’s something familiar about him. I just can’t decide why I feel that way. Despite earlier, he gives me a sense of peace and protection.

Once back at Kane and Madden Industries, I walk through the car garage and find my car. I made it in time.

“You really shouldn’t be in here,” I say, staring at the wolf-dog. He seems to return a bored look, sniffing at my vehicle.

“Well, technically I shouldn't be here, either,” I tell him. Opening the door, I hang tomorrow’s outfit up on the hand rest in the back and grab my toiletries bag. Tom gave me a key to the bathroom on the bottom floor of the car garage. It has a shower, a toilet, and a small sink. Tom said it’s for the janitors to shower before they leave and slipped me the key during my stupor this morning.