Sleep has become a distant memory this last week. I have spent my sleepless nights focusing on my book instead. It started as an idea for a short story but as I started writing, a whole more came to me and before I knew it, I had signed up to submit a full novel instead. I eventually stopped writing so much after Xavier died and my agent is now threatening to cut me loose if I don't show something to the editor in the next 2 weeks. It's rough but it will do for a first submission, the rest is done by the editorial team.
I must have dozed off at some stage as I am woken suddenly by my phone blaring loudly beside my bed, half asleep; I answer without checking the caller ID " hello"….a long silence followed and just as I was about to end the call, a deep voice says " You need to watch your back, you are in danger. Do not trust anyone" before the call is ended abruptly. I stare at the phone for a few seconds, trying to decipher what I just heard, what did it mean? Am I really in danger? Is this about Blue eyes? Is this his warning? I panic and quickly get dressed and head out, feeling that being anywhere but my own apartment would be safer. On way my out I call Evan to let him know I am on my way on ad I need to talk with him, I need to have someone else on my side keeping an eye out when I can't.
I hurry down the street, my eyes watching everything around me, searching for any sign that I may be followed but nothing looks to be out of place, it's early so there isn't too many people about yet anyway.
As I reach the cross walk near the café, a creepy feeling washes over me, like someone is definitely watching me. I dart my eyes around and just at the last moment, I see a dark figure hiding in the alley way just next to the Café, a hoodie covers their face but I can tell by the build, it's Blue eyes but he is not alone, behind him stands 3 others with similar hoodies, all covering their faces but I can still see them staring directly at me. He moves the hoodie so I can now see his face, our gazes lock and I see I small smirk form on his face before he pulls his hoodie back so he is again hidden and darts back down the alleyway without even a word, his crew following behind after one final glare in my direction. Creeped out, I rush across the road and push myself into the café in a flurry, causing Evan and Joe to look up in surprise. I stand frozen in the doorway, unable to move further as my heartbeat slows down slightly but I am still on edge. I search the café and I don't see blue eyes anywhere, I start to relax as Evan comes to me and pulls me inside, his arm wrapped protectively around my shoulders as he guides me out the back, past Joe who looks like he has seen a ghost as I pass. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror beside the wash up sink out the back and see my face, my eyes are wide and skin pale, my lips are trembling. Evan directs me to the sink and tells me to splash water on my face and take a few deep breaths before asking me what happened. I explain the call and then the incident outside the café just now and then the conversation with blue eyes a few days ago where he revealed he was Ace's brother and his family was now out for revenge. Evan stays silent for a few seconds before he pulls me into his embrace and whispers to me "I will not let anyone hurt you Quinn, you are safe with me, and I got you. You are safe" while rubbing his hand up and down my back in a soothing manner. I stay out the back out of the way, around lunch time, Joe comes out the back to tell me that I have to leave and he hurries me out the back door, locking it behind him without so much as an explanation. Confused and angry, I walk around the front and see the 3 goons that were with blue eyes this morning standing guard at the front but I can also see in the side window, Blue eyes is standing at the counter in some sort of standoff with Evan. I can't hear what I being said but gathering by the hand gestures, Evan has advised him to leave. I watch as Blue eyes grabs Evan by his collar and lifts him up slightly, his jaw ticks as he gets in Evan face. Evan's eyes dart everywhere but at Blue eyes and as his eyes land on me, they grow wide in shock, which does not go unnoticed by blue eyes as he quickly turns in my direction and sees me standing just outside. I freeze, as blue eyes lets Evan go and yells something out towards the door to his goons, before I can move, a hand has grabbed me, covering my mouth as I am dragged into the alleyway. I try to kick and scream as I look back to Evan for help but he is on the ground, blue eyes digging his boots into his ribs. I try to scream but the hand over my mouth muffles it and it sounds more like a heavy groan instead.
I feel a sharp rick in my neck before everything starts to spin and then all I see is blue eyes standing before me, with that smirk before everything goes black.