by Christa Lynn
“Once he got back on I85 behind me, I called nine, one, one and they dispatched an officer who pulled him over. I kept going, but they are supposed to call me later to get my statement.” I continue as I drop in to my chair, my face finding solitude in my hands. I fight back the tears, because I’ve done enough of that shit lately and I don’t want to cry anymore.
“Damn girl, do you have any idea who it was?” Tim asks and I shake my head.
“No idea.”
“Well, if you need me to follow you home.....”
“Shit, he knows where I live,” I gasp.
“What do you mean, he knows where you live? How could he know? How do you even know it’s ahe?”
“I guess I don’t know that it was ahe,I just assumed, and, he - or she - was at the exit to my apartment complex waiting for me to pull out, I think. I just didn’t realize the car was following me, until it was on my bumper. I’m just glad I didn’t have to hit the brakes or he would have slammed right in to me.”
“Jesus, Ally. I’ll follow you home later, or is there somewhere else you can go?” Tim asks.
“I guess I could go to my parents’ house, but I really don’t want to worry them, I don’t have any clothes there, so I have to go home. You don’t need to follow me. I’ll get Heather to come over and keep me company.”
“I don’t like it Ally. You call me if you need anything, and, let me know when the officer calls you. I want you to keep me posted, okay?” Tim says, as he stands to leave my office and I just nod. I know he sees the fear in my eyes and I’m trying to mask it, but it’s hard.
I finally break down and call Heather, because I need her assistance in this later on. Maybe I can stay at her apartment until we figure out what’s going on.
“Heather Langley,” she says as she answers her phone on the first ring.
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Ally! Shit! Why didn’t you respond to me yesterday? You had me all worried.”
“Cause I was pissed at you, but I’m over it now. Got worse things to deal with and I need your help.”
I tell her about being followed and ask if I can stay at her apartment tonight, of course she agrees. Anything for her to not have to be alone. We need to talk anyway, so this is a good excuse.
Just after lunch, my cell rings. “Ally Sanders.”
“Ms. Sanders, this is Sargent Jack Rossetti with the Gwinnett County Police Department. I handled the traffic stop this morning. Do you have a few minutes?”
“Yes, I do. Thank you for calling,” I say, as I step around my desk to close the door to my office, effectively shutting any nosiness out.
“Well, I pulled over the vehicle and the person was Scott Adair, do you know him?” He asks.
“No, never heard of him. Did he say why he was following me?”
“He says he wasn’t and I checked him out, he’s clean. So I couldn’t arrest him. Can you tell me what made you think he was following you?”
Great, he thinks I’m some freaked out drama queen that imagined this whole thing.
“When I pulled out of my apartment complex on Buford Drive, he pulled in behind me. I didn’t pay much attention to him, until I saw the same car following me real close, almost seemed like he was close to touching my bumper. I made a series of lane changes and even exited off at Pleasant Hill Road. He stayed right behind me, waiting in the parking lot at McDonald’s while I went through the drive-thru. When I exited back on to I85, he was right behind me again, that’s when I called nine one one.”
“Well, unfortunately he didn’t do anything wrong and I couldn’t hold him. I’m going to give you my cell number and you call me if you see him again, okay?”
I take down his contact info and slip in to my wallet. Great, now what? I can’t go home and now I’m stuck at Heather’s for a while. There are a few cops that live in the complex, maybe I will grab one and have him go with me to my apartment to get some things.
I finish my day and go down to the garage to head home. “Do you want me to follow you?” Tim calls out, from down the hall.
“No, I think I’ll be okay. Surely he won’t try it again, knowing I called the police the last time.”
“Did the officer call you today?”
“Yeah, someone named Scott Adair. I have no idea who he is, but he couldn’t arrest him cause, technically he didn’t do anything wrong and he came back clear on their check. I’ve racked my brain and I honestly do not know who he is.”
“Well, drive safe and keep your eyes peeled. Call the police again if you see anything strange. Are you going to your parents’ house?”
“No,” I tell him, “I don’t want to worry them, so I’m going to Heather’s place. There are a few cops that live in my complex, so I will flag one down and have him go with me to get some clothes and such. Once I feel safe again, I’ll go home. I don’t have the alarm system activated at home, but I will do that this evening, when I get home.”
“Okay, be safe. Text me when you get home,” he says, as he walks back in to his office.
Chapter 8
I ride the elevator down in silence, my heart racing and fear crawling up my spine. Maybe I should have asked Tim to go down with me, but I have to be brave. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself. This morning was just a freak thing and I need to get over it.
The doors slide open and before I step out, I peek in to the garage, with my finger hovering over the door close button just in case I need to make a quick escape. I see some people getting in to their cars from other offices, but no one is near my car. I don’t see anything suspicious either, but that doesn’t mean Mr. Black Car isn’t lurking somewhere.
Deciding to make a dash for my car, I secure my bags on my shoulder and run for it. I’m sure I look like a bouncing cow, but I don’t care. I need to get to my car and lock myself in quickly. My heels click echo on the concrete floor and that draws attention from others in the garage, but I don’t look their way.
Even though I don’t need the fob in my hand, it is anyway, because there’s a panic button on it and my finger is resting on top of it. Geez, I hate feeling this way! I’ve felt paranoid before, but this is ridiculous. Once I am securely locked in my car, I finally release the breath I had been holding. Course, it comes out in heaves now, because I really don’t need to be running, but I finally catch my breath and scan my surroundings.
All is quiet, so I press the button to start my car. I send a text to Heather letting her know I am leaving the office and if she hasn’t heard from me in an hour to call the police. I know I am being over cautious, but I don’t care. Mr. Black Car, scared the shit out of me this morning and even though I am not going back to my apartment, I am going to the complex.
Before I can pull out, a black car pulls in front of my car, effectively blocking my exit. Sweat begins to bead on my neck and my hairs stand on end. I suddenly feel like I am going to have a heart attack, but I reach for my phone ready to call nine one one which is now on speed dial.
Before I press the send button, Jackson unfolds his tall, lean body from the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Another guy gets out of the passenger side, someone I don’t recognize at first. Then I realize who it is, Chase Rowland.
Too scared to get out of my car, I crack the window enough, to hear what Jackson has to say. He stands outside my window and begins to speak. “Are you okay, Alexandra?”
Wha… what? “Yes, of course I am. Why?” I decide to keep this morning’s incident a secret, which turns out was a big mistake.
“Jump out and get in the passenger side, I’m driving,” he says as he opens my car door. Well, he tries anyway, but since the door is locked he is unsuccessful. Ha on you!
“Unlock the door and switch places with me. I’ll explain as we drive.”
I look back and forth between Jackson and Chase, waiting for Chase to say something but he just stands over by the BMW and lets us have our conversation.
“What’s going on? I thought you were in Miami?�
�� I ask him, as I exit the car.
“Were you going to call me and tell me about what happened this morning, Alexandra?”
Uh oh, he’s mad.
“Why would I do that? You were out of town and I have it under control.”
“Do you? A strange man followed you this morning and you had to call the police, you call that having it under control?”
“Okay, maybe I don’t. But I didn’t want to bother you wi.....”
“Hush! You will never bother me with something like this. Your safety is more important than any meeting. Next time something like this happens, you call me immediately. Understand?” Next time? Here’s hoping there isn’t a next time.
Unable to speak, because Jackson has jumped in to save the day again, I just nod. Right now, I don’t know if I’m angrier that he’s here or relieved. I guess it’s a mix and I am totally confused.
“Give me your apartment key and the gate card,” Jackson tells me.
“Why?”
“I’ll go over it with you in the car, just hand it to me.”
Geez, Mr. Bossy Pants is back and in rare form. I reach in to my purse and hand him the key, then pull the card out of the glove box and give that to him as well. “Thank you, now move over so I can drive.”
Okay, I’m really not liking the way he’s talking to me, but I get out and walk over to the passenger side, while Jackson goes back to the BMW, speaking with Chase briefly, before getting in to the driver seat. “I’m taking you to my place, you’ll stay there until this blows over,” he says, as he pulls forward to exit the parking garage.
“No Jackson, I am not running from this. It’s no big deal. I’ll stay at Heather’s and I planned to get an officer that lives in the complex, to go with me to get some clothes.”
I can tell immediately by his face, that my plan was not going to work. “No, you’re coming to my place. Chase is going to your apartment to gather your things and bring them home.”
“Home? You mean your place,” I say, the sarcasm is not appealing, but I can’t help it.
“Yes, home. This will be your home too, until we figure out who followed you this morning.”
“Jackson, the police gave me the guy’s name and I don’t know him. It was just some random dude and he knows I’m on to him, so I expect he’ll go away.”
“You don’t know that. Chase will check things out at your apartment. He’ll get some clothes and bring them that is not open for discussion, but what is going to be discussed is why you didn’t call me.”
“Because I knew you’d act like this! I knew you’d be back on a plane rushing home, to shelter me in your cocoon and I don’t want that. You have a job and a life outside of me and I refuse to interfere.”
He glared at me with steely eyes. If looks could kill...well.
“From now on, your safety is my first priority. I have management in place that can handle things in each office and I can work from home if needed. Until this guy is caught or we are sure he’s left you alone, you will not go back to your apartment. That is another thing that is not up for discussion.”
I wrap my arms around my chest in a sulking motion and sink in to my seat, as Jackson merges on to the highway. I then remember I told Heather to call the police if she hasn’t heard from me in an hour, so I grab my phone and send her a text. It is then. that it comes to me. Heater must have called Jackson, because that’s the only way I can figure he would know about this.
A - Not coming home, going to Jackson’s
H - OK, are you all right?
A - Mad at u again, u called him
H - Im sry, worried about U
A - U need to butt out and let me deal with this
H - Call me l8tr
A - I might
And that’s it. I toss my phone back in to my bag and continue sulking like a child. I refuse to speak to Jackson about this anymore. Any attempts to change his mind would be a waste of time.
We quietly pull in to the parking garage and Jackson pulls in to a reserved spot. We travel up the elevator in silence. He steps towards me, taking my hand in his, but he says nothing, his eyes say it all. He pulls me against his body, wrapping his arm around me, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of my head, but he still remains quiet.
The doors open and we enter the penthouse. I drop my purse and keys, then walk over to the window to look down on to the world. I want to go home. The last time I was here, was not fun and that’s all I can think about. The first time I was here was incredible, but unfortunately, it is over shadowed by the night I walked out on Jackson.
Granted, we’ve worked things out for the most part, but I tend to dwell on things. Just another one of my many downfalls.
As I stare down in to the city, Jackson comes in, hands me a glass of wine and speaks for the first time since we left my office. “I know you want to go home, or to Heather’s, but you are safer here than at your apartment. It’s only temporary and we’ll make the most of it. I personally am very happy to have you here, under my thumb. And, if I play my cards right, I’ll have you under my body,” he says as he hands me a glass of wine.
I shiver at the thought, but I still can’t shake this feeling. “I do want to go home, but I understand why you brought me here. I think you’re over reacting, but I’ll humor you for a bit,” I smirk at him, and he grins right back at me.
“Thank you. We’ll figure this out. Chase is on it and it shouldn’t be long before we figure out who followed you today.”
“Jackson, it may have been just a fluke thing and I’m in no danger.”
“Yes, true, but until we know for sure you’re staying here. End of conversation.”
I release a sigh and turn back to the window, slowly slipping my wine. I have a feeling he is particularly happy about this strange turn of events, having me in his control. I hate it, but I’ll deal with it for the moment. I hear Jackson’s phone ring and he quietly goes in to his office, or what I assume is an office. There I go again, assuming. That’s going to get me in big trouble one of these days.
I finally decide to kick my shoes off and sit down. Once Chase gets here with my things, I can change in to something more comfortable.
After a few minutes, Jackson comes out of the room, the one I called an office and the look on his face is....strange. “What’s wrong?” I ask him.
He sits down next to me and takes a deep breath before answering my question.
“Chase is at your apartment and someone broke in. I have to take you there, so you can tell him if anything is missing.”
“What? What do you mean someone broke in?”
“Get your shoes on, I’ll tell you on the way there.”
I slip my shoes back on, grab my purse and follow him out the door. “Tell me what happened, now please.”
“Apparently your apartment has been ransacked. Clothes everywhere, pictures broken. Things like that. Did you have anything valuable inside?”
“Valuable? You mean like my piece of mind? Yeah, that’s pretty fucking valuable to me, Bentley. As for material things, only a ring my grandmother left me. God I hope they didn’t take that.”
“Don’t you have an alarm?” He asks.
“No. It’s available,but up until recently I was on a limited budget, so I didn’t have it monitored. I planned to do that today when I gothome,but since you kidnapped me and brought me here, I wasn’t able to do that.” I tell him, my angry gaze piercing in to his eyes. He flinches, but he saves himself by keeping his mouth shut for once.
“We’ll take care of that tomorrow. You aren’t going back there alone, until that alarm system is monitored. And, if and when you go back, I will have a man posted outside keeping an eye on things.”
“What, like a body guard? No way, Bentley. I draw the line at a bodyguard.”
“Alexandra, I willnotargue with you on this.If I let you go home, and that’s a big if, then you will be protected, even if I have to stay with you.”
I growl in frustration, b
ecause I just don’t know how to handle this man and it’s really pissing me off. “Jackson, this is just a fluke thing. No one is after me, or going to hurt me. The police are already aware of the creep that followed me and now that the creep knows this, he’ll back off.”
“That’s not a chance I am willing to take, Alexandra. Not when it comes to you, you mean too much to me, to let anything happen to you. I failed with Madison, I will not fail with you.”
Whoa, that comment takes me aback some. He really thinks he failed with Madison? How can he think that? She got involved with the wrong people, she failed to take care of herself. I would never fail at taking care of myself, I’ve been doing it for years. My heart aches for him and I see the grief in his eyes as he watches the road. He hasn’t looked at me since we left his condo and I can see the muscle twitching in his neck. He really feels responsible and I need to do what I can to make him understand this isn’t his fault, or his responsibility.
We finally pull up the gate, but I don’t have my card to get in, so we call Heather to let us in. After the arm raises, we pull through to my building and the sight is unbelievable. There are three police cars with blues going and two unmarked cars, as well as Jackson’s BMW that Chase drove over here.
As we approach the building, we’re stopped by an officer. “Sorry, you can’t go back there right now. It’s a crime scene.”
“This is Alexandra Sanders. That is her apartment. Chase Rowland of the APD, called her to come here and take an inventory to see if anything is missing,” Jackson tells him.
“ID please, Ms. Sanders.”
I pull out my wallet and show him my driver’s license and he waves us through. I walk slowly, because I’m not sure I want to see what’s happened with my own eyes. It was hard enough imagining it, but now I have to see it. As I step into the apartment I see Chase over by the corner and he nods, walking towards us.
“Oh my God!” Is all I can say. As I scan the room, I am amazed at how much is destroyed. The TV glass is shattered and lying on the floor. Throw pillows are shredded and fuzz is blowing through the room from the breeze coming in through the door. Gashes in the sofa cushions and chairs, tables turned over on their sides. I gasp and my body starts shaking all over again, but I try and calm down, when I feel Jackson’s hand on my back, stroking my spine in a tender attempt to keep me calm.