However, today, there’s something wrong.
When he gave me an undecipherable look this morning, I brushed it off. Jonathan does a lot of watching and observing, and not all of his expressions can be explained.
After all, he didn’t give me that look again, the ‘You’re crazy’ one. We’re past that phase, right? There’s no way he’ll bring that back up.
And yet, that doesn’t alleviate the tension sinking to the bottom of my stomach. I caught myself touching my watch more than often today, and I barely pushed through the meetings.
I leave work early, opting to go home. Not that Jonathan will be there at this time.
My feet come to a halt in front of my car. Did I just call Jonathan’s house home? Since when did I start considering it as such?
I shake my head, not wanting to think about it. Just when I’m about to open the door, a dark shadow passes in my peripheral vision.
My hand freezes as I search my surroundings.
H&H’s car park isn’t that big, but it’s still underground and silent. The only sound is the buzzing from one of the defective neon lights.
This time, I don’t stand there and wait for the hit.
I beep my car and reach out to open the door. When a hand comes from behind me, I startle, hitting blindly.
It’s like I’m pushed back to that day eleven years ago. Soon, there’ll be the crunch of the blade against my bones, then blood — lots of blood — followed by pain.
Uncontrollable pain.
I’ll be buried alive in a grave. I’ll be just like those women, where no one will hear my screams.
“No!” I shriek, then shove my hand in my bag and retrieve the pepper spray I started keeping on me since my most recent attack.
I whirl around and point it at the shadow. I don’t care if he’s a member of a victim’s family. I shouldn’t be the subject of his wrath.
My voice is strong and comes from the bottom of my gut. “If you want to attack anyone, go stab the fucker Maxim!”
“Whoa.”
My hold falters on the pepper spray as I come face-to-face with none other than Ethan Steel.
My harsh breathing slows down and I glance behind him as if expecting to find the shadow. Sure enough, there’s what resembles a shadow, but it’s only Agnus.
“Sorry.” I drop the bottle back into my bag. “I thought it was someone else.”
“It’s fine.” He smiles, and it’s kind of welcoming. Kind of, because there’s something else behind it that I can’t pinpoint.
“Is there something I can help you with, Ethan?”
“Yes, and I can’t exactly visit you at Jonathan’s place or he’ll chase me away with a shotgun.” He motions at his car. “Do you have a moment?”
I hesitate for a beat. It’s not only due to Jonathan’s warnings about staying away from Ethan — and the entire male population, per his words. I also want to go home tonight. It feels crucial that I be there.
Seeming to sense my hesitation, Ethan says, “It’s about Jonathan.”
That gets my attention. No matter how much Jonathan says he hates Ethan, he was once his best friend. One way or another, he knew him better than anyone else.
I follow to Ethan’s car and Agnus joins in the front seat beside the driver. He’s like Harris in a way, but without the latter’s weird antics and snobbish sense of humour. He’s kind of grown on me. Even Margot’s and Tom’s silence has grown on me, too.
Everything that I was wary of about Jonathan’s entourage has eventually snuck its way into my life. Before I knew it, they became an inseparable part.
The car rolls down the streets. The bright city lights and the endless traffic are visible through the tinted window. No idea why all of it gives me a horrific premonition.