Chapter 6

Jenna

Stalked.

The term hadn’t really entered my mind my entire life. Maybe that’s because I’d been born and raised in Missouri, living in a small town where everybody knew everybody’s name and family, even their dirty little secrets. Sure, there was crime and bullies just like in big cities, but I’d never felt threatened or as if I was being watched everywhere I went.

When I’d gone to college, I’d had an awakening about people and rudeness, callous actions and brazen attitudes, but you adjusted or moved back to a cave. When I’d come to New York for the first time, Charlotte and her family my tour guide, I’d been like a kid in a candy store, squealing at the beautiful surroundings and tall buildings, hungry every few minutes just because there were so many restaurants and little food corners, the marvelous scents filling the air everywhere we’d walked. I’d been in heaven eating pizza for the first time, the flavor and consistency unlike anything I’d ever had before. I’d loved the street in front of Broadway, acting as if one day I’d be a star.

I’d swooned from seeing the Empire State building, Rockefeller Center, and the twinkling lights of Fifth Avenue. When I’d returned at Christmas time, forget about it. It was as if I’d been placed in the perfect Christmas card, including snow falling as if on cue. We’d ice skated, although I’d fallen more than skated. We’d gone Christmas shopping and eaten bagels, going to see a show on Broadway for the first time and even staying in the Plaza Hotel, a treat from her parents for the girls’ weekend out.

And I’d almost been mugged. Well, technically I had been, but I’d kept my purse even though the asshole thug had given me a black eye and sore ribs. I’d learned that day that no valuables were worth losing my life, but I was still grateful I hadn’t lost my two precious credit cards and personal identity. Even the horrible experience hadn’t dampened my love of the city.

But never had I felt like I was being followed or stalked as I had the entire time I’d ridden the subway car or walking the four short blocks to the clinic. I’d seen no one, including the person I’d been certain was standing across the street from the coffee shop. I also hadn’t seen the handsome stranger anywhere. Perhaps the reason I was still feeling icky, goosebumps shooting down my arms was because of all the juice joints in the New York City area, the mysterious, sexy man had found the one I was sitting in. Granted, there was a luxurious hotel across the street, which seemed like the kind of place he’d secure if he was an out of towner, but even that remained to be seen.

What if he was local and I would have this feeling for days, weeks, or even months? I shuddered as I opened the door, thrilled to see my new assistant was already inside.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” I said to her as I walked inside. She’d already turned on the speaker system, the soothing music putting a smile on my face. She’d also flicked on all the lights, adjusting the pictures that had been knocked around in the evening of disturbances and was ready and waiting for our first client.

“You did a great job,” she said. She’d only seen the place twice during her interviews and the entire office had appeared like a disaster area. The last time had only been a week before. “I love the colors. And the pictures of the little babies are amazing.”

I’d been determined to open when I’d said I would on my Facebook page.

The scent of coffee was in the air. Now I was grateful I’d purchased a Keurig machine for those waiting to be served. Everything was just… perfect.

Except my mind. I was still unable to get the man from the night before out of the private space in my head. A strange cold shiver drifted down my spine. I knew what victims experienced when the shock wore off. I realized that I could be in a third phase of being a victim, the recovery daunting at best. But I refused to succumb to such bullshit. I was stronger than that.

“I think it works,” I told her as I headed for my tiny office. While it was the size of a shoebox, it was the place where I could check on patients and file notes on their conditions. And where I could close the door and just be me for a little while.

I tossed my purse into the bottom drawer of my desk, taking a deep breath and running my fingers through my ponytail. I was rip-roaring ready to go.

I checked my watch. The first client of the day was due at any time.

Thankfully, I’d taken the time to clean up the mess from the night before, except for taking out the trash. However, the last thing I’d wanted to do after being attacked was head into the darkened alley just after midnight. I rolled my eyes. Fear was going to remain a horrible factor for at least a few days.

“Are our appointments still on the books?” I asked as I returned to the reception area, studying the dozen or so seats that were crammed together for the human parents of my furry patients. All two of them.

“I’m sorry. There was one cancellation on the machine this morning and another called in right after I’d gotten here.”

“So we don’t have anyone scheduled for today?” I was already feeling as if the good luck I’d hoped to have had just been sucked down the toilet.

“I’m afraid so.”

“Great. Just great. Well, let’s see what happens for the next couple of hours.” You can do this. Just a slow start. Chin up, girlfriend.

“Don’t worry, Doctor Kilborne. I am sure you’re an amazing vet and your reputation is going to get out in the community fast.”

Her bright eyes and hopeful demeanor made me smile, even though at this moment I couldn’t share her vote of confidence. “I’ll be in my office if you need me, or anyone drops in. And Kerri, please call me Jenna. We’re not going to be that formal around here.”

Someone just dropping in? Not likely.

Suddenly, I had the distinct feeling I’d feel mighty cramped inside the shoebox.

“You got it, Jenna.”

Why was her voice that chipper?

Thirty minutes passed without a single phone call. Then one hour. Finally, the phone rang and the excitement that tore through me was like a lightning bolt, or a cattle prod had been stuck under me.

You mean like the electricity you felt with the dark, handsome stranger?

Uh, no. Two entirely different things.

Sadly, when the caller turned out to be nothing but a solicitor, I was beginning to lose hope.

Another hour passed and I was ready to grab a bottle of wine and hide under my covers. It almost felt as if the lettering spelling failure had been branded across my forehead.

I moved to the doorway, leaning against it. “Well, I think today is a bust. Why don’t you go ahead and get out of here?”

“Are you sure?”

I had a feeling when she reached for her purse that she already had a foot out the door.

“Absolutely. I can handle it if and when we get a new client. Just go.” I’d close early today to give myself a break and maybe make a few calls or spend a little time on Facebook trying to draw business in. Maybe I could do a raffle or something. I’d hunker down and think of some creative ideas. I was good at that. But I had to stay for a couple of hours longer. For my frame of mind if nothing else.

She waved goodbye, heading out the door and I sagged against the wall. While I hadn’t prayed since I was a little girl, I did so now, hoping that all my hopes and dreams wouldn’t be dashed. If this was a failure, I wasn’t certain what I could do. Even applying for a position with an existing firm sounded terrifying at this moment.

And I wasn’t ready to pack it in and head back to Missouri, although my dad had offered to fund a business back in my hometown. He’d even called me two days before, trying to lure me back to town, the concern in his voice almost making me question my choices. He was just being overprotective. That’s all it was. However, if I’d agreed, to me it would have felt like crawling home with my tail between my legs. Nope. I wasn’t going to do it.

So I waited.

And continued to wait.

And I waited some more.

Almost two hours later and I was angry and anxious, tired and upset. Fifteen minutes would be my limit. I paced the floor as I’d done a couple of times then walked into one of the examination rooms. Okay, the least I could do was empty the trash. I grabbed the bag, including the bloody rag I’d tossed into the bottom, and headed to the back door leading to the alley. I had two deadbolts installed knowing that if a perpetrator wanted to get inside, they usually tried to do so from the back, especially when it fronted an ugly alley.

And this one was one of the ugliest in the city. Smelly too, since there were two different restaurants located directly across the building on the other side of the alley. The stench of their garbage was strong today, so much so I wrinkled my nose. As I headed for the dumpster, the same creepy crawlies skittered into my system.

I was already standing in front of the dirty steel piece that hadn’t been emptied in a long time when I finally looked over my shoulder. Now, I’d seen crazy movies where there was steam coming from some old pipe from a building or two. The outcome was never a good one. That’s exactly what it seemed like right now. And as occurred in every horror movie, a lone figure was standing in the middle of the steamy film, staring at the soon to be victim.

Fuck. Me.

This was insane.

While the rational side of me said there had to be an explanation, like it was a utility worker or maybe a guy taking a smoke break, I wasn’t going to take the chance. I’d never moved so fast dumping the trash and rushing back to the door, fighting my nerves to get inside. Once I was, I smacked the deadbolts into place with speed.

Then I turned and leaned against the door, taking gasping breaths.

This had to stop, or I’d never be able to handle my business. I folded my arms, heading back to the brightly lit reception area. At least it was the middle of the afternoon on a busy street. No one was going to be that stupid.

A few minutes passed and I’d had enough. I was more than ready to get the hell out of here and drown myself in wine. I headed back to my office to get my things but heard the door being opened. Very cautiously I peered toward the door. The nice-looking older gentleman walking in didn’t have a pet with him, but he could be checking out my services. At least he was dressed very nicely and had a bright smile on his face.

“Can I help you?” I asked more tentatively than I’d meant to do.

“Yes, I noticed you had a new business online and I wanted to see if I could make an appointment for my puppy.” Was that an accent? A Russian accent? Yes, it was. I had to remind myself that New York had boroughs of various nationalities, Russians included.

Now we were talking. Maybe my luck was changing. “Absolutely. Let me get to the computer and we can get you set up.”

I moved around the receptionist desk, a smile finally on my face. Until I heard a clicking sound, one that I’d heard the night before.

My visitor had locked the door.

“What are you doing?” I asked but the moment I noticed the odd glint in his eye and the way he reached into his pocket, I bolted toward the back door. Nothing was going to stop me from getting the hell out of here.

I made it to the door, even managing to yank the two locks free when the bastard snagged my hair, yanking and pitching me back by several feet. I tumbled into one of the chairs, stars immediately floating in front of my eyes. However, there was no way I was going to let his bastard derail my plans or my life.

Using every ounce of strength, I clamored to my feet, now trying to get to the front door. As he’d done before, he jerked me away with ease, only this time he kept his firm grip around my hair, dragging me onto my toes.

I screamed but the wind was knocked out of me the moment the intruder shoved the sharp blade of a knife under my chin.

“I suggest you be quiet.” The man’s accent was much more pronounced, his voice a hell of a lot deeper than before. And dangerous. The threat was real.

“What do you want?” My voice was shaky, my mind spinning from the possibilities as I tried to determine why I had a target on my back.

“In-for-ma-tion.” His words were stilted, the asshole lowering his face to within an inch of mine.

“On what?” I asked sweetly, adding a smile to my face. The bastard narrowed his eyes, twisting the knife but I refused to back down.

“On a friend of yours.”

“I have few friends. Who the fuck are you talking about?” I might sound brave, but I was shaking in my tennis shoes, praying harder than I had in my life.

He grinned and that’s when I noticed the man had a gold tooth. Who allowed that kind of shit any longer when there were so many other choices? Oh, bad guys. Really, really bad men with dangerous pasts.

“The one who took a fancy to you last night.”

A fancy? Had I been transported back in time? “What the fuck are you talking about?” Oh, God. The mysterious savior/killer had come back to haunt me.

Before he could answer, I took my one chance at getting away, slamming my hands against his chest. The surprise and momentum were enough that his fingers broke free, and I tumbled to the floor only to will my muscles into action, fighting to get to the door while I screamed all over again.

His backhand was swift and severe enough that the moment I was driven into the wall, I was certain I was going to pass out.

I heard the thudding of my heart just seconds before two heavy footsteps as he closed the distance, crouching down in front of me.

“I thought there might be a chance you were an innocent flower, but I can see I was wrong. Unfortunately, you’re going to die but not before I have a single taste of you.”

Who the hell announced their plans, even a horrible asshole like this? And what about a taste? When he jerked me to my feet once again, tossing me against the receptionist desk and wrestling with the bottom of my scrubs, my scattered brain registered what he was talking about.

The bastard was going to rape then kill me.

No. No fucking way.

I did everything that probably the experts would say was stupid, fighting him with everything I had, able to get in a few punches before he yanked down my scrubs. There was no training ground for these ugly moments when I was about to be raped. I felt a strange sense of helplessness that was so overwhelming all I wanted to do was choke on tears but I hated myself for showing weakness. There were no aspects of self-defense that could work effectively with someone with a body built of muscle and testosterone who outweighed me by almost a hundred pounds. And there was certainly no rationale that would explain why I had gotten to a point where I just wanted it to be over with.

The only reason I continued to fight was knowing in my heart he would make good on his threat to kill me.

In my mind and in my gut, I knew without a doubt this had to do with the man who’d saved then accosted me. Sadly, he wasn’t a superhero, a man who cared about anyone but himself. I was being victimized for a second time because I’d made the mistake of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I continued flailing, making it hard on the asshole, but when he wrapped his hand around the back of my neck, squeezing to the point the lights started to dim, I knew I was lost to the violence and circumstance.

The ringing in my ears was horrific, the pounding of my heart already starting to slow down as the monster began to rip the life from my body. But I could swear I heard another noise or maybe I was having an out of body experience. I cinched my eyelids shut, waiting for my life to flash in front of my eyes when something amazing happened.

The pressure and weight of the bastard’s body was suddenly gone and very slowly I began to slide to the floor, my legs like noodles. I landed softly as pounding sounds occurred from every side of the facility. I managed to pull my knees against my chest, blinking several times to try to alleviate the fog.

As the images started to become less blurry, I realized what was happening. Two other men had entered the location, the asshole who’d attacked me seconds before being tossed around like a rag doll. Brutal hit after hit was issued, blood flying everywhere. Or maybe it was just wishful thinking.

I wasn’t certain at all what I was seeing, until I noticed the flash of a blade. There were moments in time when you weren’t certain if you were dreaming or not and this was one of them, but there was nothing nice or serene about the moment. What I was seeing, blood flung against the walls and across the chairs in my reception area, was the thing nightmares were made of.

The noise was horrific but suddenly it stopped. Now the silence left another type of ringing in my ears. I lifted my head as I heard muffled words being spoken. Greek. The words were being said in Greek. I issued an unwanted whimper and suddenly, a huge figure crouched in front of me.

The light brush of a hand was followed by a single growl. “My mageménos.” His whisper was hoarse, full of anger.

“What? What did you say?” I was shocked hearing the sound of my own voice.

“I called you my enchanted one. I am so sorry. You’re safe. No one will ever hurt you again.”

I wasn’t thinking clearly nor was I able to process what had occurred or what I was thinking and feeling. But as the powerful man gathered me into his strong arms, I couldn’t help myself but nuzzle against his neck, shuddering from the heat building between us. He held and rocked me in his arms, the feel of being there far too comforting.

Tension started to release, my mind still foggy but all I wanted to do was curl up in the stranger’s arms. That was… sinful.

“Christos. Lock up after me. We’re getting the fuck out of here,” my savior growled.

Wait a minute. Hold on. That couldn’t…

“No. No! I can’t leave,” I muttered, fisting my hands and coming more alive than I’d been, punching him in the chest. “Let me go!”

“Jenna. Calm down. You’re in no position to fight me and you continue to be in danger.” But he eased me onto my feet, using a single finger to lift my chin. “Stay right here. Okay?”

It was him. I lifted my head, staring into his soulless eyes. I hadn’t been dreaming. Danger. Danger. Danger. “Why? What is going on? Why are you here?”

“I’m here to do what I just did, save your life. Unfortunately, you were caught in the middle of a war. The only way I can protect you is to take you with me. Stop fighting.”

“No!”

“You have no other choice. If you want to live.”