Stacy sat on the swing with a beer in hand and I gladly accepted when he pulled one from the ice chest between his feet and offered one to me.
“Long day?” he asked giving me a crooked grin.
“Shitty day is more like it. How was yours?”
“The same.” We sat there in the swing not talking. It was nice to just relax and enjoy the fall air. October had shown its face and I had welcomed it with open arms.
“The club is having some issues with some people and I have gotten involved.” I was not sure where that had come from. I was not even thinking of the club, yet here I was telling Stacy. It must have been the idea of danger that lurked in the back of my sub-conscious.
Involved how?” Stacy asked turning to look at me. I told him the story of the break-in and the fight at the bar and the red and gray vests that seemed to show up wherever I was. “That sounds pretty serious, Dallas,” he said concerned. I gave him a tight smile and shrugged my shoulders. “Well, don’t worry honey. Nothing will bother you here. Not as long as I am around.”
I knew Stacy meant what he said. He would have no problem stopping anyone who tried to get through that door. I wasn’t worried in the least, but I didn’t want to steal his glory so I just patted him on the leg and walked inside. This day had been enough. I was ready to go to bed and hopefully figure some of this shit out.
I climbed the stairs figuring I needed the exercise after the fried cheese and two mixed drinks I had, and walked into my room totally exhausted. I was winded just from the two flights and that was highly unusual for someone as fit as myself. I passed it off as stress then climbed into bed and prayed for a better tomorrow.
I could hear the motorcycles in the distance. I knew he was coming for me. Luke would save me. I was hanging over a ledge with nothing to hold onto but a tree root. The raging water below me was littered with sharp rocks and I knew that even if I managed to dodge the rocks I would still drown in the swift current. The noise became louder and my heart sped. He would be here soon. I wiped my forehead and found it soaking wet. I wondered how the sea spray managed to reach me all the way up here. My hair was wet too. I must have fallen in and then climbed out. I was confused and scared and panting. I had never been scared of anything. What had scared me?
The motorcycles pulled up to the edge of the cliff and I tried to scream for Luke, but no matter how loud I screamed he couldn’t hear me. He walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down. He held his hand out to me. I reached for him, but he was too far away. Just a few more inches and I would be safe. I looked up into his eyes, but instead of seeing his blue ones, all I saw was black. This was not Luke. This guy had a large scar on his face and was laughing at me.
“Good-bye sleeping beauty,” he said to me in a sickening sweet voice. He produced a small hatchet from his back pocket. I thought he was going to kill me, but as he swung it, he connected with the tree root and I was falling.
I sat straight up in the bed and breathed deep trying to catch my breath. My chest hurt and I could feel the congestion that was building there. My whole body was soaking wet and I was burning up.
I decided a hot shower would hopefully clear up some of the congestion in my chest. I climbed from the bed and made my way to the bathroom. It seemed like forever before I made it and my limbs felt as if they were made of lead. After showering, I felt a fraction better. I decided the soaked sheets on my bed would not be very comfortable, so I pulled the comforter from the bed and curled up on the settee.
A loud banging in my head woke me. The light pouring in from the doors leading outside hurt my head. The banging continued and I realized it was coming from the door.
“Come in,” I said, but it came out as only a whisper. I had not moved from the settee and once again I was covered in sweat.
“Miss Dallas you got a phone call and if you don’t get outta that bed you gonna be late for work.” I immediately recognized Jackie’s voice. I didn’t care if she hated me or that I despised her, right now I needed some help. Something was wrong with me. I couldn’t move, my breathing was shallow and I felt as if someone was sitting on my chest.