levator felt stuffy, like his words had sucked all the air out of it. She gri

e the s

. What did he even mean? What was he planning? And why did she fe

bby, past the receptionist, not even noticing how the woman stared

e and called her dad, h

ice sounded

ng to catch her bre

't say

uge debt you are unable to pay back. He wants me

Emma... I didn't want yo

tighter. But I am. So

ust some businessman, Emma. He's the real deal. You don't want him as an enemy. I thought

ced. Pay off th

t know you need to watch yourself. D

nd answers, but she knew it wouldn't help. Th

scared he

her as she went to the small café where she worked. The routine helped take he

a table by the windo

Parked acro

ee inside, but she could feel someone watching her. A chill ran down her

it him? Was Damien alrea

m

where as she hurried to clean it up. Her manager, a nice

a smile. Yea

ncerned but didn't pu

ck. But before she left, she gla

was stil

chi

it

ear by the end of her shift. The car w

tead of going straight home, she turned left, walking the other

lled out a

taili

hem, but how? Her place was just a few blocks away, bu

pping into a clothing store, she moved through the racks, her heart ra

driver's d

a dark su

sn't Damien, but the man had t

nd, then pulle

d later, her

t was without

n Bla

mbled as she re

scape. I will

tomac

k

she'd tr

had l

ne buzz

ide. We sh

t. Her heart pounded as sh

eady caught

was no w

ks of clothes, gripping the fabric like it could keep her safe. Her mind was racin

her a polite but curious look. Ma'am

ook her head. N

ed off, but Emma knew she

zz. Anothe

mm

e word felt like a ton of bricks, like a

reath, then slowly

't hide Damien's scary presence. He was there, waiting. A black car

feeling harder than the last. As she got clos

hing, but his voice was s

she knew she