The Haunted - Jessica Verday [95]
Of course, that was when I started hearing strange noises and seeing things move out of the corner of my eye. I had to laugh at myself when a rat scampered by. “Chill, Abbey,” I said out loud.
Pulling out my phone, I lamented the fact that Caspian didn’t have one, then scrolled through the games section. I was busy pushing buttons and kicking ass on Tetris when a shadow loomed over me. I looked up.
And then wished I hadn’t.
“Hello, Abbey,” Vincent said.
I gritted my teeth and forced out a hello before returning to my game. He sat down next to me on the table and bumped his knee into mine. I shifted away from him, and he crowded further into my space.
With exaggerated slowness, I moved farther away from him. His perfect white teeth glowed in the light as he smiled. “Don’t be like that,” he purred, then he pitched his voice low.
“Or rather, do be like that. It excites me.”
I stopped what I was doing and stared at him. What was his deal? Why did he have to be such an asshole?
“I can tell what you’re thinking,” he said. “You want me.” I made a disgusted sound. “Please. I’m taken. Besides, don’t you already have a girl-friend?” I gestured toward the shop. “Aubra?”
Vincent sighed, an elegant sound, and looked pained. “I’m getting tired of her. She’s becoming a bore.” Then he and cocked his head. “Besides, maybe I’m looking for a piece on the side.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not gonna be me.” I stood up and moved away from him to the front of the alley, only noticing then that a black Ford Mustang was blocking the entrance. His footsteps echoed behind me, and with every step I took, they followed.
Panic started curling the edges of my stomach. Whirling around to face him, I planted a fist on my hip. “What’s your problem? Go toy with someone else.” He stepped close, and I resisted the urge to shrink back.
“I will toy with you when and how I want,” he said. His voice was cold… and deadly. I knew that this was no game. His face transformed from a perfect mask to seething rage. He gripped my cheeks in one hand, his fingers digging in harshly.
Please, please, my mind was whimpering, don’t hurt me. I bit down on my tongue to keep myself from crying out.
His free hand grabbed my left wrist and shackled it like iron. Vincent’s touch made my skin crawl, and I glanced down to see if the flesh was actually starting to curl up and peel away like it so desperately wanted to.
Running one fingernail down my wrist all the way across my open palm, he pressed cruelly and left a deep red scratch in his wake. I tried to put steel in my gaze, but was quickly losing the battle. My hand burned like fire and my mind was still whimpering.
The severity of my situation slammed into me. We were alone. In a dark, dirty alley. No one knew where I was, and no one would come if I screamed. My mind switched gears from Please, please don’t hurt me to Please, please let me get through this.
“Tell me how you are taken,” Vincent said suddenly.
My mouth refused to open, my lips clamped shut.
“A boyfriend?” he asked. I nodded mutely, willing the tears not to fall. “I see.” He let go of my face.
But I could still feel his finger marks, like brands, on my skin.
He brightened, and flashed a smile at me. “Wonderful, wonderful.” As if realizing what he’d done to my hand, he looked down. “My apologies.” Bending low, he kissed the scratch mark, and I closed my eyes. I was going to be sick.
Vincent released my arm and straightened, putting one hand to his head like he was tipping an imaginary hat. “My lady.” Then he turned and sauntered down the alley, whistling as he got into his car.
I stood there, lost for a moment, as it thundered away. Trying to tell myself that he was really gone… I was really okay.… And that was when my stomach rebelled. Huddling over a section of yesterday’s trash and old cardboard