Page 14 of You for Her (The Edge of Retaliation 2)
He’s right, we are planning on going out. How he knew that, I don’t know? I guess he spoke to Jo.
I need to get out of here.
I need to get there before they do.
I’ll throw a damned wrench in their plans tonight.
Fucking assholes.
They disappear out the back, and I make a run for it, charging towards the front door. I have my black hoodie pulled over my head, and I’m panting with nervous energy. I rush out the front door, and to my horror, it slams behind me.
Shit.
“Who’s there?” Tanner yells from inside the house.
Oh god.
Oh shit.
I start running. I parked my car about five blocks down, not wanting to be seen anywhere near the house. I duck my head and I charge down the street. Everything in my body is on high alert, adrenalin is rushing through my body, making me run faster. Maybe Ethan was right about running, one day I did need it. That day being right now. Without it, I’d probably be panting on the side of the road with Tanner tackling me to the ground right about now.
“Stop!”
Oh no.
Fuck.
Tanner’s voice echoes through the night. My heart races and my whole body moves faster as I realize he’s actually chasing me. He’s following me. I run as hard as I possibly can, ducking across the road frantically to throw him off. His footsteps are behind me, and he’s roaring at me to stop. If he catches me, it’s over.
Everything is over.
I run with all my might, but I’m only small and he’s a big man. He could very easily catch me if I slow even a touch. I run towards a park, full of thick trees. I can hide in there. When I reach it, I launch over a small seat and keep running, hearing Tanner do the same. He’s getting closer.
“Fuckin’ stop!”
Over my dead body.
I run into the trees and dodge through a few, then, I find one deep enough in that I’m covered and press my back against it, panting. There are some small bushes next to it, and I duck down behind them, shuffling in as far as I can. Then, I cover my mouth so he doesn’t hear my panting. I hear his boots crunching through the leaves as he walks around, slowing down near me.
“I know you’re in here!”
I hold my breath, keeping my head down. Being dark, it works, because I’m wearing all black. I don’t move. I don’t breathe. I don’t even think. I just keep my eyes clenched shut and pray he doesn’t find me. He walks around for a few minutes, and then an angry growl leaves his throat followed by a curse before he turns around and leaves.
I sit for another half an hour, too scared to move.
Scared he’s waiting outside for me.
That was too close.
Far too close.
When I’m sure it’s safe, I pull out my phone and I call the police.
Nobody will be targeting me tonight.
Nobody.
I SIT DOWN THE STREET and watch as everything unfolds exactly how I want it to. My car is parked just off to the side, where it’s dark enough for them to target it without being seen. I did that on purpose, I wanted it to seem easy for them. We live on a quiet enough street that they can get away with it. I watched them come in, well, one of them. I’m guessing Tatum. I don’t know if I’m relieved that Tanner isn’t there, or if I’m even more pissed.
He, whoever he is, moves closer to my car. He has something in his hands, I can’t see what from here. He’s just about to do something when the cops roll in, their sirens only flickering on as they come to a stop, completely stunning him. He runs immediately, disappearing around the block. I watch as the cops launch out of their car and go after him. It seems like it takes forever for them to return, as I sit there with my heart racing. Ten or so minutes later, they come back with him in handcuffs. The hoodie is off now, and I see it’s Tatum.
My anger grows deeper.
I have so much I want to say to him. So many things I wish I could do right now, like rush over there and give him a piece of my mind. I can’t do any of those things, so instead I sit and watch in satisfaction as he’s shoved into the back of the police car.
That’ll damn teach them for playing with me.
When they’re gone, I go back to my apartment and head inside, locking the door. Then I call Jo.
“What happened?” she asks, her voice frantic. She’s at work, but I told her what I was going to do. She didn’t really agree with it, but she also didn’t try to stop me.
