Page 28 of Dangerous Games

“Because I’m the only one who’s allowed to stalk you.”

“What if I don’t want you to stalk me?”

“Well, that’s just too damn bad.”

My eyes narrow at him. “You know, it’s really starting to be quite annoying that you’re everywhere I am.”

Gio’s hand moves, leaves the small of my back, cupping my ass and squeezing lightly. “And that’s just too damn bad, too.”

“You really killed him?” I ask.

Gio studies me before answering, “I did. And I’d do it again.” I know I should be scared and running for my life, but I’m not. I’ve never had someone in my life looking out for me before. My dad never did that; that’s for damn sure. No matter how much I begged and pleaded, I was never a priority. “This stays between you and me though, okay?”

I nod my head. “Thank you for looking out for me.”

I can’t believe I’m thanking him for killing someone for me but the thought of what could have happened if I came home and he was there…it’s something I don’t want to think about.

“Cara,” Gio sighs, “You don’t know, but you will. You never need to thank me for looking out for you.”

Emotion clogs my throat; the anger I felt from him bulldozing his way in like he always does forgotten. My eyes move over his shoulder, focusing hard on a spot on the wall across the room, not wanting him to see the feelings this has brought up. He doesn’t get those.

“Look at me,” Gio demands. Once again, my body isn’t on the same page as my brain and follows his orders, this time making eye contact with him. His eyes are burning straight into my soul. “Now, tell me what happened.”

I take a deep breath as I let my shoulders sag. I’m so mentally and physically exhausted it isn’t even funny, but I need to get this over with. “I don’t really know what happened. I was exhausted last night because I couldn’t sleep. I mean, I’m still exhausted, even more so now because I feel like I’m floating through this fucked-up reality that has somehow become my life.”

“Bronwyn,” Gio cuts off my rant. “Focus.”

“I’m sorry,” I groan as I tip my head up toward the ceiling. “I’m so tired I can’t think straight. Okay, so I wanted a coffee this morning, obviously.” Gio nods his head. “And when I was sitting at The Drip waiting for my order, this man came up and sat down at my table basically without asking. Which threw me off, by the way, because who does that uninvited?” Gio’s face hardens. “And then he kept going on about how if I had a boyfriend he wouldn’t leave me alone to sit by myself, so obviously I don’t have one. It was so insulting. Even if I did have a man, I can sit by my damn self and have a coffee. It’s not like I invited him to sit with me.” I scoff. I’m getting upset all over again about this.

“The next man you’ll have will let you have a coffee by yourself, but he will be paying for anything and everything you do with or without him. Did he stay with you the entire time?”

I look at Gio, a little stunned at his comment. My next man? What does that mean? And why is he commenting on it?

“Cara.” Gio sighs in frustration. “I know this has been a long day for you, but I need you to focus.”

“Sorry,” I reply. “He sat with me until I got up and left because he made me so uncomfortable.”

“Why do I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me?” Gio asks, his tone taking on a scary edge.

“Because I don’t know what to make of it, and I tried to forget about it today because, honestly, it really freaked me out.” Gio stays silent, waiting for me to finish. “He knew my name,” I finish in a whisper as a chill runs down my spine from the distant memory.

I wish I had more answers as to what and how all of this transpired, but I don’t. That’s almost more unsettling than a stranger knowing me when I don’t know them because how? How does something like that happen?

“He knew your name?” Gio asks, his brows rising slightly.

I nod, not wanting to repeat it again. The guy may be dead, but I don’t think that’s fully sunk in yet. For some reason, I still feel like someone is out there following me and waiting for the right opportunity to do…well, I don’t know what, but I don’t think it’s good.

“Do you recognize him from work?”

“No.” I would remember if someone like him came into AFK. Let’s just say he doesn’t look like the typical guy who frequents the store. Someone wearing a tailored suit would stick out like a sore thumb.

“Have you ever noticed someone following you home from work before?”

I shake my head. “I’m usually in my own world. Headphones in and music blasting. To be honest, sometimes I don’t remember walking home. It’s like my brain is on autopilot and it just knows the way.”

Gio’s mouth hardens into a thin line. “That’s not safe, cara. You need to be aware of your surroundings at all times. We live in a fucked-up world, and there are monsters out there that don’t have morals.”

I tilt my head. “Monsters have morals?”