Blind Date(57)

"Dammit!" I hiss, dropping down to my knees and picking up as much as I can.

The sound of boots crunching has my heart launching into my throat. This was definitely a bad idea. What was I thinking? Anyone could take me. Dammit. Panic seizes me as my fingers fumble around with the items on the ground, picking them up as quickly as I can. When I hear another noise, closer this time, I decide screw it. I find my keys, and pick them up along with my phone and house keys. All the other little things can stay there.

I stand quickly, eyes scanning around once more.

I can't see anyone, but I can feel it. Someone is watching me. Panic grips my chest again, tightening it until I feel like I can't breathe. I shove the key into the car door and unlock it, practically throwing my body into the driver's seat. I shut the door quickly and lock it, and for a moment I sit there, panting, eyes darting around the parking lot.

Someone is out there.

I know they are.

I start the car and back out quickly, not wanting to look around a second longer. Only when I pull out onto the main road, do I exhale. Oh God. Was he there? Was he right there? Would he have taken me? What in the hell was I thinking? I shouldn't have gotten distracted by my phone and had my keys in my hands, like I always do. It was absolutely incredibly stupid of me to do something so unsafe when my life is on the line. And where the hell is Ace?

I'm an idiot.

An absolute idiot.

My hands tremble the entire way home, and when I pull up at the apartment complex, I just sit in my car, doors locked, too afraid to get out. I'm not risking walking up there on my own. I shouldn't have even gotten into this car on my own. I dig through my purse, grateful I didn't lose the pepper spray when I dropped it. I curl my fingers around the pepper spray and bring it close to my chest. Then I put my phone in my other hand. And I just wait.

The phone ringing ten minutes later has a scream launching out of my throat. With shaky fingers, I glance at the display. It's Ace. I answer it without hesitation. "Ace?"

"Where. The. Fuck. Are. You?"

Oh. My. God.

He's angry. The low whip of his voice has shivers running up my spine.

"I waited for you, you didn't come, so I, ah, I went to my car and drove home. I'm still in it-my car that is-at the apartment. I don't want to get out."

"Don't fucking move," he barks, and then the line goes dead.

Oh boy.

I don't move, not that I was planning on going anywhere. I wait until I see two headlights pull into the parking lot, and then hear the loud slam of a car door as Ace gets out and charges, not strides, right towards me. He's pissed. It's written all over his face. I know why. I moved when he told me not to. I shouldn't have done it, but I didn't think.


      ///
       
         
       
        

I unlock my car and climb out just as Ace reaches me.

"Apartment. Fucking now."

Oh man.

I nod and walk in front of him the whole way. When we reach my apartment, he shoves me slightly with his shoulder, using his set of keys to unlock the door and storm inside. He does a scour of the apartment while I just stand there, not really sure what I'm supposed to do or say. He's angry at me.

Maybe I should just keep my mouth shut.

"It's clear," he rumbles in his voice low. "Lock the doors, I have work to do tonight."

He's leaving me?

My heart slams to a stop and I whisper, "You're leaving me?"

His eyes flash to mine. "I have work to do."

"Ace, I'm sorry I didn't follow orders. You were late, you didn't call or answer your phone, I thought I'd drive home. I didn't think it through. I'm sorry."

Those eyes are burning holes into mine. He's so angry, the muscle in his jaw keeps jumping. I've never seen him like this. Sure, I've not known him all that long, but I've still never seen him so aggravated. I know I did the wrong thing, but I'm okay, I'm here. Right? Surely there is no reason to be that angry.

"You didn't fucking think at all," he booms and I flinch, taking a step back.

"Why are you so angry?" I ask. "I know I screwed up. I won't do it again. I wasn't thinking at the time. I know I broke the rules but-"

"Rules?" he hisses. "You think I'm pissed because you broke the fucking rules and so stupidly walked off on your own?"

I nod. Because why else would he be pissed.

He shakes his head. "Your things were all over the ground."

My things were all over the ground? What  …  oh.

Oh. He thought I had been taken.

Ace thought I had been taken.

"Ace … "

"Don't," he growls, pinning me with another glare. "Just fucking don't."