I took a deep breath of chilly air and smiled. That had gone perfectly, better than perfect, and it was all me. School was the one thing that was solely mine. And I had just nailed it. My success wasn’t reliant on my family name or Jack’s controlling reach…

I tried not to think of Jack.

Or Cal.

Or kissing Cal the other night.

Everything outside my little academia bubble was chaotic. Feelings, expectations, a shattered soul…it was all tough to deal with, so I tried not to. Tried not to replay how Cal’s lips felt against mine. Or how he stated plainly what he was and, more importantly, what he wasn’t.

And he wasn’t Jack. But I also wasn’t the same Lana that Cal had met a few months ago. The “what ifs” and “timing” didn’t matter because life moved how it did.

Wondering how different my life may be if he’d gotten to me before Jack didn’t help anything.

“Gotten to me?” I scoffed at my own word choice as I continued the long walk to my car. Then again, I guess that’s what it felt like. Jack had swooped me up before I knew what was happening. But I’d liked it, and I fell hard.

And Cal? He’d been there. From the beginning. And I wanted to know so much what the alternative may have been. What it felt like to be wrapped in Cal’s arms…

A shadow moved by my car, snagging my attention and stopping me in my tracks. Someone was standing next to it.

The figure was too small to be Cal. Not that I expected him to show up.

But it was definitely a man. Bigger than me, and in a dark trench coat. The shadows hid his face. He took a step in my direction. Fear enveloped me, but I beat it back. When the man stepped into the light, I swallowed down the familiar taste of horror I’d grown accustomed to.

Brock. The step-brother from hell who hurt me when I was young and, to this day, took enjoyment from my fear.

“Is there a reason you’re lurking around my car?” I asked.

He stepped toward me. I was determined not to be afraid. He still creeped me out, but the more I let him have that power over me, the more he won. And the more he’d continue to impact my life. I was done letting him have any impact on me whatsoever. I’d found some strength over the past few months. I could control my world to a point. And I wouldn’t let Brock chase me from anything.

“I thought this was yours. Just thought I’d stop by and say hi.”

“All the way from Denver, huh?”

He lifted a shoulder. “I have reasons for being in Golden.”

I shook my head. “I’m done playing this game with you. You don’t scare me.”

He laughed. “Aw, sis, what makes you think I want to scare you?”

Because you’re a sociopath who takes joy in my fear and have since day one.

“Just stay away from me,” I said with all the confidence I felt, and pushed past him to unlock my car.

He had hurt me once, I wouldn’t let him hurt me again. Showing up here to spook me may have worked in the past, but not now. I wouldn’t be the mouse he toyed with anymore. I may not be able to prove it, and some people might not believe me, but I knew the truth, and that was enough. It had to be.

I got in my car, shut the door, immediately locked it, and then started the engine.

“You drive safe now,” he said loudly, so I could hear through the rolled up windows. With a sinister smile, he watched as I pulled away. My only wish was that I could have run over his foot in the process, because he looked like he’d already won some victory over me.

~

I sat in my car, angry that my hands were still shaking. I was home, safe, but I wasn’t ready to go in. I wasn’t ready to tell Harper about my day. I needed to get it together first and smother this sick feeling rising in my stomach.

I hit my palms against the steering wheel.

They still didn’t stop shaking, so I tried again. And again.

Go away! My mind yelled. Screaming for peace.

Tags: Joya Ryan Reign Erotic
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