(Angela)
I decided to walk back home after work instead of taking a taxi so I could save some money.
I walked through the alleyway clutched my bag tightly to my side and walked past a group of drunk men.
Maybe this was a bad idea, I thought to myself.
It was already pretty dark out by the time I clocked out of work.
I had requested to work extra hours at the restaurant so I could earn more money. Charle's birthday was coming up soon and I wanted to have a little party for him this year instead of the Mickey-shaped pancake and cupcakes I did for him every year. I wanted to give him a special birthday with lots of presents as other parents did for their kids.
We had been invited to the birthday parties of his classmates several times and I felt guilty that I hadn't been able to do the same for my child but this year was going to be different.
"Hey, hot stuff. I've got a present for you between my legs. You just need to unwrap it and it is all yours," a random man catcalled as his friends laughed with him.
I ignored him and increased my pace eager to get home and away from this alley.
"Hey, I'm talking to you. Don't you want to have a nice time?"
I heard him say from behind me. I turned to find him walking toward me and I immediately began to run.
He began to run after me with his friends.
My heart pounded loudly as I tried to make it out of the alleyway.
Suddenly, I tripped over a pothole and fell to my knees.
The men were able to catch up to me due to me tripping over.
"Oh yes, I'm pretty sure I'll like you on your knees," one of them said as he came into view.
I looked up at him and I gasped. It was the same man from earlier today who had tried to offer me money to have a threesome with his friend. I tried to hide my face behind my ear as I got up slowly from the ground. I didn't bother to wipe the dirt from my jeans because I didn't want to make any sudden movements to draw more attention to myself.
"Please let me go. My son is waiting for me at home," I begged.
He hums, bobbing his head.
"Oh, so you're a mama. You know what they say, the older the wine, the sweeter the taste,"
He walked closer to me and I could smell the stench of cheap alcohol all over him.
He pushed my hair to the side as he grabbed my face in his hands.
"How about that threesome now? Or should I say foursome because my other friends have arrived and I can't let them out of the fun now, can I?"
I was so disgusted that scared right after he uttered those filthy words. He grabs my hand and begins to drag me away into a dark corner and I scream for help much to the delight of him and his friends.
"She is a screamer guy," he said earning him some chuckles from his friends.
"I'll let her go if I were you," a voice said from behind us.
I whipped my hair around to find the man who had handed me his card in the restaurant standing with his hands in his pockets. He seemed so calm and out of place in a trashy place like this.
"Mind your business. This doesn't concern you," said the man who continued dragging me away.
"Well, it concerns me because you guys are hurting my girlfriend. Now here's what is going to happen, you guys are going to let her go right now else, I'm going to put a bullet through your skulls. You don't know what I have in my back pocket and I have made people disappear before without a trace,"
I watched as blood drained from their faces and I was released from the grip.
I ran straight to him and his behind his back.
"Thank you, gentlemen. I'll be on my way now. Have a lovely evening," he said as he led me away.
Immediately we walked out of the alleyway, I gave him a tight hug as tears rolled down my cheeks.
"I don't know what would have happened assuming you didn't come to my rescue. Thank you,"
He patted my back as I ugly cried on his shoulder.
"It's Okay Angela,"
He knows my name.
"How did you know my name?" I sniffled as I broke the hug.
"I have my ways," he said as he gave me one of those dashing smiles.
"How did you even know I was walking down that alley?" I asked curiously.
"Well, that one is quite simple. I was waiting for you to get off work so we could talk more.
You seemed so in a hurry to get home so I just decided to follow you home and it's a good thing I did. Who knows what would have happened out there? Never go down that alleyway again, it's not safe," he said seriously.
"I know. I just wanted to get home quickly," I said as I wiped the dirt off my jeans.
"Did you mean all that you said about making people disappear?"
He laughed at my question.
"Of course not. I just wanted to scare them. It's easier for people like them to believe things like that. I just had to sound threatening enough and that was it,"
I nodded in understanding.
"Thank you for tonight but I really need to get home. My friend has been blowing up my phone with messages wondering where I've been,"
"Come on, I'll walk you home," he said.
I didn't argue at that. I was still shaken up after my encounter with those drunk men in the alleyway so I nodded.
"So, how was work?" he asked in a bid to start up a conversation.
"Well, I served breakfast to one of the biggest businessmen in New York today and I didn't even know it,"