she wasn’t all that surprised to know what he was planning, but hearing
it said out loud was different. Those words put everything in perspective. And
as soon as the first wave of fear had settled, Veronica realized she was angry.
She didn’t have any intentions of dying that day.
“Now hold still,” Richards instructed, his voice nearly a purr. His other hand came up,
grabbed hold of her upper arm, and latched on to it. A moment later he eased
his hold on her throat, putting awkward pressure over her collar bone in order
to keep her off of her feet, and then he leaned in.
Veronica watched in horror as he bowed
his head, for a second thinking he intended to do something unspeakable to her
before killing her, until she realized he wasn’t aiming for her lips. He had an
awkward hold on her, and he seemed to be leaning toward her throat. And then,
as she watched, his lips curled back and the kitchen light reflected off of
something far too long and far too pointy to be an ordinary canine. Is that a…?
She shoved the thought aside. It didn’t matter; what mattered was getting the
hell away while she could.
Before Richards could lean too
close to her chest, Veronica shoved her free arm between them, hoping he’d
believe that she was trying to shove him away. A mirthful chuckle drifted up
from him as he paused to flash her an arrogant smirk
and she knew he’d fallen for it. She gave a little shove with her elbow—now
pressed into his ribcage—for effect even as she dipped
her hand into the edge of her purse and prayed it was facing the right way. Her
hand wrapped around the slim canister she was searching for just as she felt
his slimy tongue touch her throat and she nearly gagged. Instead, she turned
her head as far away as she could, squeezed her eyes and lips shut, held her
breath, and tugged the pepper spray free before firing it into his face.
Richards immediately leapt backwards,
releasing her with a string of colorful curses as he began coughing and choking
violently.
Veronica stumbled once, nearly
dropping the pepper spray, before spinning and darting toward the door. She
didn’t know whether or not her pepper spray would stall him for long, but she
wasn’t willing to take that risk. And, when this was over, she was buying stock
in the company.
“Bitch!” Richards roared, his voice raw. What little effect it
might have had was ruined when he immediately began choking all over again.
His renewed choking fit had barely
begun when Veronica yanked the front door open and all but jumped through. She
was fighting the need to cough herself and her eyes were watery, but if she
could just get away then it would be worth it. There was a sharp tug at her
shoulder, indicating that Richards had latched on to her purse, and Veronica
nearly twisted her ankle in her rush to slip free of the leather straps. And
then she was sprinting forward again, putting as much distance between herself
and her attacker as possible.
She didn’t stop running until she
was across the street, when it occurred to her that all she had was her pepper
spray and her cell phone, and she turned cautiously back around. If he came at
her again she could at least scream and hope someone heard her.
But he wasn’t right behind her. He
wasn’t chasing her at all. He was glaring through undoubtedly-watery eyes and
standing calmly in the entryway of her house. Her purse was hanging carelessly
from one hand, and as she watched he managed a cocky smirk and stepped
backwards. The door shut a moment later, leaving him alone in her house and her
stranded on the street.
Veronica sucked in a breath,
feeling an entirely different burning beginning in her eyes, and shoved it
back. There would be time enough for tears once she had a little more distance
between them. And definitely once she’d figured out where she could go.
“I want you to call me
immediately.” Those had been Seth’s words at lunch earlier that afternoon. And
that had been his
it said out loud was different. Those words put everything in perspective. And
as soon as the first wave of fear had settled, Veronica realized she was angry.
She didn’t have any intentions of dying that day.
“Now hold still,” Richards instructed, his voice nearly a purr. His other hand came up,
grabbed hold of her upper arm, and latched on to it. A moment later he eased
his hold on her throat, putting awkward pressure over her collar bone in order
to keep her off of her feet, and then he leaned in.
Veronica watched in horror as he bowed
his head, for a second thinking he intended to do something unspeakable to her
before killing her, until she realized he wasn’t aiming for her lips. He had an
awkward hold on her, and he seemed to be leaning toward her throat. And then,
as she watched, his lips curled back and the kitchen light reflected off of
something far too long and far too pointy to be an ordinary canine. Is that a…?
She shoved the thought aside. It didn’t matter; what mattered was getting the
hell away while she could.
Before Richards could lean too
close to her chest, Veronica shoved her free arm between them, hoping he’d
believe that she was trying to shove him away. A mirthful chuckle drifted up
from him as he paused to flash her an arrogant smirk
and she knew he’d fallen for it. She gave a little shove with her elbow—now
pressed into his ribcage—for effect even as she dipped
her hand into the edge of her purse and prayed it was facing the right way. Her
hand wrapped around the slim canister she was searching for just as she felt
his slimy tongue touch her throat and she nearly gagged. Instead, she turned
her head as far away as she could, squeezed her eyes and lips shut, held her
breath, and tugged the pepper spray free before firing it into his face.
Richards immediately leapt backwards,
releasing her with a string of colorful curses as he began coughing and choking
violently.
Veronica stumbled once, nearly
dropping the pepper spray, before spinning and darting toward the door. She
didn’t know whether or not her pepper spray would stall him for long, but she
wasn’t willing to take that risk. And, when this was over, she was buying stock
in the company.
“Bitch!” Richards roared, his voice raw. What little effect it
might have had was ruined when he immediately began choking all over again.
His renewed choking fit had barely
begun when Veronica yanked the front door open and all but jumped through. She
was fighting the need to cough herself and her eyes were watery, but if she
could just get away then it would be worth it. There was a sharp tug at her
shoulder, indicating that Richards had latched on to her purse, and Veronica
nearly twisted her ankle in her rush to slip free of the leather straps. And
then she was sprinting forward again, putting as much distance between herself
and her attacker as possible.
She didn’t stop running until she
was across the street, when it occurred to her that all she had was her pepper
spray and her cell phone, and she turned cautiously back around. If he came at
her again she could at least scream and hope someone heard her.
But he wasn’t right behind her. He
wasn’t chasing her at all. He was glaring through undoubtedly-watery eyes and
standing calmly in the entryway of her house. Her purse was hanging carelessly
from one hand, and as she watched he managed a cocky smirk and stepped
backwards. The door shut a moment later, leaving him alone in her house and her
stranded on the street.
Veronica sucked in a breath,
feeling an entirely different burning beginning in her eyes, and shoved it
back. There would be time enough for tears once she had a little more distance
between them. And definitely once she’d figured out where she could go.
“I want you to call me
immediately.” Those had been Seth’s words at lunch earlier that afternoon. And
that had been his
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