never known.
It was Danika.
Her frightened voice had pierced his soul. She was in danger.
Chapter 7
Brushing warm tears from her cheeks, Danika stepped outside into the cool night air, the oppressive weight of defeat crushing her already heavy heart. Without the added income her job at the club provided, there was no way she’d be able to pay off her mountain of debt. She swallowed back a sob and hurried up the dimly lit street toward the bus stop.
The thought of being financially tied to James for another minute sent her emotions into a tailspin, her sanity threatening to take a swan dive straight into the flusher.
“No,” Danika whispered to herself. She wiped away the last of her tears and straightened her posture. “I won’t let this get me down. I won’t…” She’d simply have to find another job. That’s all there was to it. Hell, she’d work the nightshift at the local gas station cleaning toilets if she thought it would help free her from James.
Red heels clacking against the grimy pavement, her thoughts drifted back to the nightmare scene at the bar. Good Lord. No one, man or woman, had ever come to her rescue before. Despite the end result, she couldn’t stay angry with Mr. No Name. Having been on the opposite end of James’ fist on more than one occasion, it was nice to see him get the ass-whooping he so richly deserved. For once, it seemed, the cosmos had been on her side.
A cutting breeze swooped down off the side of the large brick building to her left, chilling her from the bone out. Numb, both from the cold and the nightmare scene she’d endured back at the club, Danika picked up her pace, a heaping case of paranoia worming its way through her gut. It felt like someone was watching her, but she couldn’t be sure. And really, after her colossal error misreading Mr. No Name’s attraction to her, she couldn’t trust her instincts.
Her car, a 2010 Mustang, had recently been repossessed, as she’d been unable to make the payments. She shook her head, thinking back on that fateful day. So embarrassing. Given the choice again, she’d make the same decision and relinquish the vehicle in a heartbeat. She’d much rather keep a roof over her head than hold on to a fancy car. Public transportation, though scary at times, was at the very least reliable.
The unease plaguing her kicked up a notch, her heart now thrumming a rapid, staccato beat, and the tiny hairs on the back of her neck standing at attention. Mouth dry, she fought to swallow back the large lump in her throat as she scanned the area. Dim street. Dark buildings. Pitch-black alleyways. Great. All three were the perfect setting for a made-for TV horror flick. Oh, God. She didn’t have much time for television and wasn’t a huge fan of the news, but she was fairly certain she’d heard something about a serial slasher terrorizing the city. Dammit! She should have called a cab.
With her pulse thrumming in her ears, she checked her surroundings once more before quickening her pace. She hadn’t seen anyone, but that didn’t mean anything. There were plenty of hiding places deep within the shadows of the tall buildings and dark alleyways. Plenty of places for a knife-wielding maniac to lie in wait.
Whimpering in fear, her breath coming in short, rapid pants, Danika broke into a full on sprint, running as fast as her red heels would carry her. Worn, tired and afraid, she wanted to get home, where it was safe and warm, and put her horrible day behind her. Just as the well-lit bus stop came into view, a large, steely hand came out of nowhere and covered her mouth, while another yanked her sideways and back into a pitch black alleyway.
No! The slasher! Terrified, and certain her life was about to end, Danika fought against her captor. Struggling to free herself, she kicked, hit, scratched, and even bit the ice-cold hand that covered her mouth. Freedom was her only objective, and she’d use any means possible to get away from the
It was Danika.
Her frightened voice had pierced his soul. She was in danger.
Chapter 7
Brushing warm tears from her cheeks, Danika stepped outside into the cool night air, the oppressive weight of defeat crushing her already heavy heart. Without the added income her job at the club provided, there was no way she’d be able to pay off her mountain of debt. She swallowed back a sob and hurried up the dimly lit street toward the bus stop.
The thought of being financially tied to James for another minute sent her emotions into a tailspin, her sanity threatening to take a swan dive straight into the flusher.
“No,” Danika whispered to herself. She wiped away the last of her tears and straightened her posture. “I won’t let this get me down. I won’t…” She’d simply have to find another job. That’s all there was to it. Hell, she’d work the nightshift at the local gas station cleaning toilets if she thought it would help free her from James.
Red heels clacking against the grimy pavement, her thoughts drifted back to the nightmare scene at the bar. Good Lord. No one, man or woman, had ever come to her rescue before. Despite the end result, she couldn’t stay angry with Mr. No Name. Having been on the opposite end of James’ fist on more than one occasion, it was nice to see him get the ass-whooping he so richly deserved. For once, it seemed, the cosmos had been on her side.
A cutting breeze swooped down off the side of the large brick building to her left, chilling her from the bone out. Numb, both from the cold and the nightmare scene she’d endured back at the club, Danika picked up her pace, a heaping case of paranoia worming its way through her gut. It felt like someone was watching her, but she couldn’t be sure. And really, after her colossal error misreading Mr. No Name’s attraction to her, she couldn’t trust her instincts.
Her car, a 2010 Mustang, had recently been repossessed, as she’d been unable to make the payments. She shook her head, thinking back on that fateful day. So embarrassing. Given the choice again, she’d make the same decision and relinquish the vehicle in a heartbeat. She’d much rather keep a roof over her head than hold on to a fancy car. Public transportation, though scary at times, was at the very least reliable.
The unease plaguing her kicked up a notch, her heart now thrumming a rapid, staccato beat, and the tiny hairs on the back of her neck standing at attention. Mouth dry, she fought to swallow back the large lump in her throat as she scanned the area. Dim street. Dark buildings. Pitch-black alleyways. Great. All three were the perfect setting for a made-for TV horror flick. Oh, God. She didn’t have much time for television and wasn’t a huge fan of the news, but she was fairly certain she’d heard something about a serial slasher terrorizing the city. Dammit! She should have called a cab.
With her pulse thrumming in her ears, she checked her surroundings once more before quickening her pace. She hadn’t seen anyone, but that didn’t mean anything. There were plenty of hiding places deep within the shadows of the tall buildings and dark alleyways. Plenty of places for a knife-wielding maniac to lie in wait.
Whimpering in fear, her breath coming in short, rapid pants, Danika broke into a full on sprint, running as fast as her red heels would carry her. Worn, tired and afraid, she wanted to get home, where it was safe and warm, and put her horrible day behind her. Just as the well-lit bus stop came into view, a large, steely hand came out of nowhere and covered her mouth, while another yanked her sideways and back into a pitch black alleyway.
No! The slasher! Terrified, and certain her life was about to end, Danika fought against her captor. Struggling to free herself, she kicked, hit, scratched, and even bit the ice-cold hand that covered her mouth. Freedom was her only objective, and she’d use any means possible to get away from the
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