Page 29 of The Monster’s Weakness

Chapter Eleven

Gemma walked home late from work, the setting sun creating pink and orange strokes of color across the sky. Nothing could get her down, not even the fact she was exhausted and needed a two-hour nap to feel human again.

When she heard footsteps behind her, it unnerved her a bit as the streets were quiet. She ignored it for a while, but noted that when she slowed, he slowed. It was probably a coincidence but she picked up speed, getting closer to her apartment. He was getting closer.

The reflection of a tall man in black behind her was on the glass of the closed store windows across the street. Caleb had given her pepper spray a few days ago and she fumbled in her pocket to grip it in her hand. She stopped dead and dared to turn around.

There was no one there.

Gemma stayed in place, listening for anything out of the ordinary. Her imagination wasn’t that good. Where did he go?

She rushed the rest of the way to her apartment, breathing a sigh of relief once she was inside and the door locked.

Normally Caleb drove her home, but he had an important contract appointment today, so she insisted on walking. It wasn’t far and she didn’t mind ... except for the creep who was following her.

A few minutes later there was a loud pounding on her apartment door, making the teacups in her cupboards rattle. She gasped, then slapped her hands over her mouth. He’d gotten into her building. Should she call the police? Would he be able to break down the door?

She had no clue what he wanted with her, but she didn’t want to find out. Tears filled her eyes as the banging continued. She tiptoed to her purse to get her cell phone, and that’s when she heard his voice.

“Gemma, it’s me. Open up.”

It was Caleb.

She nearly melted into the floor with relief. Gemma rushed to the door and released the chain and opened the deadbolt.

“Caleb! Why were you pounding like that? You almost gave me a heart attack.”

He ushered her inside and closed the door, re-bolting it.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“We have to talk.”

She swallowed hard. Isn’t that what people said before they dumped a person? Was that why he was acting so weird?

He gripped her shoulders. “You’re not safe, Gemma.”

Caleb wasn’t joking.

“Are you talking about the guy who was following me home?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Someone followed you? Who?”

She shrugged. “Some tall guy in black. He was behind me the entire way, step for step, but when I turned around, he was gone.”

He spun away, running his hands through his dark hair. “This isn’t good.”

“Caleb, you’re scaring me. Please talk to me.”

“There are things I need to tell you, but I’m not sure how you’ll take them.”

He actually looked vulnerable when he always appeared so confident and in control. She didn’t like it. And she was going to tell him something she’d never said before.

“You can tell me anything, Caleb. I love you.”

She meant it. All of it.

“Maybe you’ll feel differently afterward.”