With my hero’s attention solely on me, my captor took the opportunity to scramble away like a frightened child. The mystery man snapped his head around and started to give chase toward the entrance of the alley. I ran after him, reaching the main street and shouting loudly.
“Wait… please! Don’t leave me alone out here.”
He stopped in his tracks and came back to me begrudgingly as the filthy man moved out of sight.
“What the hell is going on?” he said. “Do you know that fuckin’ guy?”
“No, I… he grabbed me near the Stop ‘n Go on 22nd. He made me get in his car and brought me here. He was trying to…” I trailed off as the magnitude of the situation settled in my chest.
“You saved me,” I said, having a hard time maintaining eye contact. Out of sheer habit I sucked my lower lip and arched my back.
“You shouldn’t be out alone so late. You know that’s not smart right? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think I’m fine. Maybe a bump or a bruise here and there but I’m tough.” I said.
“We need to call the police… I don’t carry a phone when I’m out running. Where’s yours?” he asked.
“On the street where he grabbed me,” I replied. I turned and looked back into the dark alley toward the car.
“I think I saw a cellphone in the car...”
I took a step back into the alley but gasped when a strong hand grasped at my shoulder.
“Stop. Someone else is back there,” he said, peering into the darkness. All I could hear was the idling engine of the old Buick. Before I could protest, the engine roared. The wheels screamed as it spun round, high beams blinding me as I stood in directly in its path like some kind of stunned animal.
“Get out of the way!”
I screamed as he pushed me aside just in time to watch the car come tearing past, speeding away.
“Who the fuck was that?” the man asked, staring after the car.
“I don’t know… We were alone,” I whispered, breathing hard. Mr. tall dark and handsome had just saved me for the second time, and all I wanted to do now is run away and forget any of this had ever happened.
“Well I’m pretty sure your friend there had some company…”
“My God…”
I was crying now… Crying like I’d never cried before. Emotions were rolling over my body. If this man hadn’t come… If he weren’t there for me… He reached out and combed the hair out of my face with his fingertips.
“What’s your name?” he asked calmly.
“I’m… Bria…”
He stepped closer and my mind went blank. His thin t-shirt clung to his abdominals like plastic wrap.
“Let’s get you out of here, Bria,” he said.
“Wh- where’s your car?” I asked.
“Nearby. I was out for a run but we’re close to my gym. I’ve got a phone there. We can call the police from there and I’ll give you a ride home when we’re done...”
“Okay.” I let him lead and stayed at his hip like a new puppy dog. As we walked away from the alley, I kept my head on a swivel, looking for my attacker.
“He’s gone Bria. Don’t worry.”
His confidence was out of the ordinary yet still so real. I felt safer walking with him than I ever had felt in my entire life. The way he spoke was comforting, not because he was the nurturing sort, but because he did it with a tone that showed he could never be wrong.
“Just up ahead,” he said. “I own the gym. I’ll go in and grab a clean shirt while you use the phone. I’ll have you home before Kimmel is over, princess.”
The gym looked more like a damn cathedral. The front doors stood more than fifteen feet high.
“This is your place?” I asked.
“Yup.”
“It’s huge. So what, you’re like a fitness trainer or something?”
“Yeah, something like that. My name’s Luke Greer. Pleased to meet you.” Luke stuck out his hand as if to offer a formal introduction. It was cute.
“Bria,” I said, letting my hand be enveloped by his.
“I know, you told me all ready,” he said with a wink.
Electricity shot through me when we touched. My cheeks must have gone a rosier red than the gas station attendant’s. I tried to play it cool but he was so attractive. When he turned his attention to the front lock I had to steal a gaze at his running shorts. Even in the dim light I could make the outline of his impressive size. The man was carved out of steel. Everything about him was fluid and sexy. The way his muscular build moved was so… flawless.
“Coming?” he asked.