Page 22 of Affliction
“I didn’t dig, you had clothes on the end of the bed.” He chuckles and exits the bathroom.
I get out and wrap my hair in one towel and begin to dry myself with the other. Once I’m completely dried off, I slip into the baggy t-shirt and sweatpants Maverick laid out then pull the towel off my hair and begin angrily brushing it.
Flinging open the door to the bedroom, I see Maverick sitting in the chair that’s tucked in the corner by the door texting on his phone. Obviously he’s made himself right at home. He looks up when he hears my entry and pockets his phone then stands. He meets me at the edge of the bed just as I’m flipping back the covers. His strides are wide and surprisingly silent for a man his size.
Holy fuck.He’s tall with a powerful and formidable build. He comes to a stop in front of me and I have to crane my neck to look up at him. I’m five foot two and he has well over a foot on me. He’s covered in detailed tattoos from what I can see. They start at his knuckles and slip under the sleeves of his jacket, and peek back out on his neck stopping before his jaw. His beard is neat and to his face; a little more than stubble that is as dark as his onyx colored hair, making those god damn green eyes pop.
“You’re not staying. I don’t even know you. What just happened was a mistake.” I lie, maintaining eye contact. Even though everything about him is intimidating, I refuse to let him see it.
Maverick lets out an amused chuckle and places his hand on my shoulders. “Whatever you say Sweetheart. And yes I’m leaving. I just wanted to make sure you got in bed.”
“I will when you leave.” I say tipping up my chin. “I need to make sure the doors are locked. So, for the last time, get out.”
Maverick’s lips curve into a slight smile before he takes a step back, “You win, this time. Don’t get used to it.” He says as he turns his back and walks towards the front door.
I follow behind him and stand back at the kitchen table as he puts on his boots and opens the door.
“Goodnight Parker, I’ll see you soon.” The door begins to close, and suddenly my brain is scrambling to ask something, anythingto try to gain a little clarity over what the hell has happened tonight.
“Wait!” I rush out and jog over to the door to catch it before he closes it fully.
He stops and looks at me, confusion in his eyes. I’ve been adamant he gets the hell out since I came to in the bathroom earlier, and now I’m asking him to wait?
Tell him to get fucked and never come back, you don’t want to see him ever again. Yes, that’ll do it.
But when I look back at him, my heart stops for a second and I lose my nerve.Those fucking eyes.
“Earlier, you called me Raven. Twice. Obviously you know my name is Parker, so who’s Raven?”Seriously? I facepalm myself internally. That’s the best you could come up withParker?
He lets out a sigh, “Ravens symbolise many things. They’re also known as keepers of secrets. And I have a feeling you have many. Goodnight, Sweetheart.”
With that he turns and walks off my porch and down the driveway. And suddenly, I cannot breathe.
Does he know something?No, there’s no way he could. I just met him.
I close the front door, locking the knob and the deadbolt, then try it to make sure it’s locked. I begin my nightly routine of checking all the windows, then go back to make sure the door is locked. Stepping into the kitchen, I flip on the stove light then drag myself back to my bedroom.
Entering the bathroom to close the shower curtain and hang up my towels, something flashes in the low light of the room on the counter. Stepping over to it, I see that my Ruger has been cleaned. It’s spotless, and even looks cleaner than it did before. I pick it up and look it over, eject the magazine to make sure it’s still loaded. Nothing is wrong with it and all my rounds are still here.
Is that what he was doing while I was glowering at him behind the shower curtain?
Exiting the bathroom, I leave one of the lights on and leave the door open slightly, then walk over to the bed. I can’t stop staring at the weapon. He could have taken it, used it on me, hid it, but instead he cleaned it for me. It’s almost like he wanted me to have it on me, in clean, functional order.
Inspecting it for a few more seconds, I reload the magazine and drop it into the night stand drawer, then crawl into bed. I turn the TV on and restart theBrother’s Keeperepisode of the show I’ve been watching then turn on my side. It’s for the background noise, I’m not going to watch it, I just desperately need sleep. I haven’t slept in two days at this point and I’m afraid the slightest noise is going to send me into a panic. I can feel myself going a little more insane with every moment I stay awake.
Pulling the covers to my chin, I stare at the doors that lead outside. I can feel eyes on me, but for the first time in two days, I can’t seem to give a fuck. I’m too tired. At this point, I’m sure that the lack of sleep is beginning to play tricks on my mind, given that I’ve tried and failed to catch whoever might be out there. While it is an unsettling feeling, I refuse to let my mind get the better of me tonight.
Doors are locked, windows are locked, phone is charging, gun is loaded and ready. I’m safe.
“Fuck off.” I say out loud, rolling over to face the bathroom door, and my eyes close. I texted Ashlynn earlier while I was still at work, cashing in on that favor she owes me, and she was more than happy to cover my shift tomorrow. I decide to put off the call to the security company another day so that I can catch up on some rest, and my eyes quickly fall closed.
Chapter thirteen
Age fourteen
Knock knock knock.
“Lizzy, come on kiddo you’re going to be late!” My uncle shouts from the other side of my bedroom door. I groan and shove my face into my pillow.
