The line goes quiet on the other end of the phone while Deven registers my request.

Then he firmly states, "I'll send someone. Pack your bag."

"Wait," I say before he can hang up. "Someone snuck into my apartment. I think they've been here before, at least once. I don't trust anyone else but you."

It's a lie—I trust him the least at this point. But I need proof, and the only person who can give it to me lives across the hall with three nervous dogs.

"Fuck. Are you safe? Get out of there, now."

"No, they're not here now." Possibly another lie...I didn't check the bedroom. "I'm really scared, and I need you, just you, to come and get me."

"I'll be there in fifteen."

He hangs up and I slump to the wall of the hallway, letting it support me since my wobbly legs aren't doing the job. My heart thumps hard against my ribs and my mouth is still horribly dry.

I'd really like a glass of water, but that means going back inside. I peer in from the doorway. Across the small living room, my bedroom door is visible, with the line of light from the window in there. Nothing is moving. There is no noise.

If I leave the front door open, I can risk going in. Besides, apparently, I need to pack a bag now that Devon is coming for me. Either Mrs. Parker and her dogs recognize him and I'll have to find a way to get to the police without Devon suspecting, or she doesn't and I'll have to stay in his office now.

In his office...

Of course he has a Murphy bed in his office. I'm surprised he doesn't have a swanky penthouse apartment next to the club, Lucifer style.

"All the better for picking up the babes, my dear," I whisper to myself, imagining Devon as the big, bad wolf. "And all the better for trapping you in your new prison, my dear."

I tiptoe inside my apartment, ready to bolt at the tiniest noise. First, I creep into the kitchen and get a glass of water. I can't stand having a scratchy, dry mouth and throat, it drives me crazy.

Plus, if someone is in the bedroom, it might make them think I don't know.

I need a weapon, but not one I could accidentally kill myself with, like a knife. I grab the broom from its nook by the fridge.

Yes. Now I can poke the intruder from the safety of one and half feet away....

Ignoring my inner voices telling me this is a bad idea (they're right, but I don't want to admit it), I square my shoulders, lower the broom handle like a jousting lance, and ease over to my bedroom door.

Standing to the side, I push it open, and then jump back, ready to jab any attacker that comes for me.

I hold my breath.

Come on, I'm ready!

And...nothing. I crane my neck.

It's still a mess from this morning, clothes, blankets, shoes are all over the floor. The Louver doors to my closet are folded open, and it's too shallow for anyone to hide behind my hanging clothes. I take a deep breath and lower my broom.

I'm safe.

I'm alone here.

That other person smell is stronger in my room, though, as if they stood in here for a long time.

I shudder to think what they were doing, looking at, touching. I try not to imagine an unknown man's hands on my clothes, fingering my underwear, smelling my cosmetics.

Focus, Avery.

I have a gym bag somewhere, that's as fancy as my luggage gets these days. I'll have to hurry. Devon said he'd be here in fifteen minutes and I've already lost several. It seems like it would take much longer from his club, but from the way he sounded on the phone, he'll probably break the speed limit and run a few red-lights to get here faster.

I start shoving basics into my bag for a few nights stay. As I grab my silky nightgown, though, I recoil as if there was a spider underneath it.

But it's not a spider. It's so much worse.

*** ONC 700 words. Thank you for reading! Hit the star if you enjoyed this chapter - hugs to you all! ***