Page 13 of Triple the Secrets
She tried to shake off the feeling that someone was watching her, but no matter how hard she tried, it never went away. Casually, she looked around the lot as she made her way to her car. Her hand gripped her purse tightly, and in the other she held her keys, ready to attack.
She would never be caught unaware again.
Reaching her car, she looked around, but again, nothing. Still, she could feel eyes on her. She climbed into her car, locked the doors and took a deep breath.You’re being paranoid. No one was out there watching her. She needed to get a grip. She couldn’t live her life constantly looking over her shoulder.
Turning on the car, she headed for the grocery store. It was Friday, her bank account was once again topped up, and she had a few hours before the girls would be home from camp. Which meant they would be hungry, and she needed to figure out something for supper. She had half a mind to pick up a pizza, but the fridge and pantry were almost empty, so it was better to just get some groceries and save pizza for later.
When she reached the store, she sighed when she realized how busy it was. She just wanted to get done and go home, but she was already here.Might as well get it over with.When she got inside, she grabbed a shopping cart and hurried through the aisles. She smiled politely when a few people greeted her, but kept on her way. When she finally made it to the register, she had a full cart and was ready to get home and relax.
“Ms. Scarlett,” the young girl at the cash register said warmly as she scanned and bagged her items.
Scarlett immediately recognized her, and smiled. “Hey, Charlotte. Did you enjoy the book you grabbed last time?” she asked.
“I really did,” she beamed. The girl was sixteen, with braces, and dark brown hair, but a warm smile for everyone. Scarlett enjoyed her because she was naturally inquisitive, and she was planning to become a doctor one day. “I hope that it will give me a leg up when I do my next science project,” she continued. “I’ll be back on Monday to return it. And probably pick up a few more.”
“I’ll see what I can find before you come in,” she promised her. She paid her bill, piled her bags in her cart, and gave a small wave before heading outside
She pushed the cart towards her car, but faltered when she saw the man leaning against it. Her first instinct was to run. To get as far away as she could, but she kept herself from doing either when the man turned his head and looked at her with those wild eyes. She stiffened as she forced herself to keep making her way towards him. “Mr. Rogue,” she said tightly as she stopped her cart in front of him.
He arched a dark brow at her. “Ms. Scarlett,” he returned. He lifted his chin towards her cart. “Feeding an army?”
“If you count two growing teenagers as an army, then yes. I assume there is a reason you’re leaning against my car uninvited, so how about you tell me what you want so I can put these away and go home?”
Rogue straightened. “Saw you go in and thought I’d wait to help you when you came out,” he said with a shrug.
She blinked and then snorted. “And I’m the Queen of Siam. What’s the deal, Rogue? You have a problem with a library book or something and wanted to complain?”
He quirked a brow at her. “People do that shit?”
“More often than you think. Look, can you move so I can put these away?” she asked irritably. “You might have all the time to do whatever you want, but I have to get home before the girls. So you’re going to have to speed this up.”
Rogue moved out of her way, waved her forward, but reached into the cart to grab her bags before she could stop him. “You always this sassy?” he asked mildly.
“‘Fraid so.” She let him put her bags in the trunk, since he apparently wasn’t going anywhere. “Something tells me that you don’t like sassy women.”
He grunted. “I’m surrounded by enough of them at the clubhouse. Hell, Esme is a smartass and I have to listen to her mouth off every damn day while I work.”
“Must be your sunny disposition.”
He gave her a sideways glare, but she ignored it. If he was trying to intimidate her, he was going to have to do a hell of a lot more than this. He put the last bag in the trunk and shut it with a quick snap. “My disposition has nothing to do with it,” he told her. “What I do know is that you and those girls are in trouble, and I don’t like it.”
It took everything in her not to react to his statement. She narrowed her eyes at him. “Have you been following me?” she demanded. He didn’t confirm or deny. “I knew someone was following me,” she hissed. “What the fuck? Are you some kind of stalker or something?”
“Stalkers don’t let their targets see them,” he replied drily. “I don’t need to stalk anyone.”
“Then what the hell do you call it when you follow a woman for no reason?” Her stomach clenched tightly at what he was trying to figure out. Did he know who the girls were? Was he trying to figure out a way to get to them and get her out of the way? Every protective instinct inside her reared up, and her fists clenched into fists at her side. Over her dead body would he get her girls. She’d die first.
“Settle,” he said calmly, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m not going to hurt you or your girls. What I’m trying to figure out is why you’re running. And whether that trouble is going to involve me and my club.”
“So you’re worried about yourself?” she demanded icily. “And whether it will affect your club? Nice to see your true colors, Mr. Rogue.”
“Starting to figure out you get sassy when you’re pissed,” he replied mildly. “Can’t tell whether I like it or not.”
“I don’t give a flying fuck if you like it or not,” she snapped. “Look, I don’t know what you think gives you the right to follow me and pry into my life—”
“Because two kids that are the children of my brothers see you all the damn time,” he said darkly, making her snap her mouth shut. “Those two boys have been through more than enough in the past few years, and if you’re going to be a danger to them, I’m going to know about it.” His eyes took on a stormy light that had her stomach quivering uneasily, because in that moment, he looked as dangerous as his name suggested.
She swallowed and assured him, “Nothing will happen to those kids. I would never put children in danger. I had a bad experience a few years ago, and it’s made me jumpy.”
