Watch Me - Page 114

I’m here and worried. Please text.

I sigh. As much as he was creepy, he also watched out for me.

Me:

I’m doing fine. Please don’t worry. I don’t think I’ll be back to the apartment. I can’t risk Valerie finding me.

Robert:

Okay. Keep in touch.

He answers quickly, but there are more texts to go through. I set the phone aside and head into my bathroom to get ready for work. I can read them while I eat breakfast.

When I’m ready, I grab my old phone and head into the kitchen. I leave it on the island while I get a cup of coffee and start some eggs. The availability of food is still a little novel to me, and I really enjoy being able to have more for breakfast than just a piece of fruit or toast.

When I sit down with my eggs and toast, I grab my phone and start going over the texts from the past few days. There are a bunch of texts from various services and appointments. But as I scroll down, the next number makes my whole body freeze. It’s from Valerie.

“Madison?”

I lift my gaze from my phone to Seth’s worried eyes. He takes the phone from my hand. He reads the texts, but I don’t need to see them to remember. They’re burned into my memory already.

Valerie:

Don’t think we’re done with you.

Valerie:

If I’d known you were putting out, Jeff and I would have sampled the goods before.

Valerie:

You changed the lock, you cunt!

Valerie:

I’m going to fuck you so hard for fucking with me.

Valerie:

Don’t think those guys can protect you forever.

Valerie:

We both know they’ll toss your slut ass to the curb soon enough. Then you’ll be mine to play with.

Valerie:

If we don’t kill you first.

“Fuck.” Seth does something on my phone and then slides it into his pocket.

I’m still frozen, like I never got out of my apartment. Like they still have me trapped, crushing my throat. I jerk at the scarf around my neck like it’s choking me. I toss it aside and draw in a breath.

Strong arms wrap around me, and my forehead rests against his chest. When my nose fills with sandalwood, my breathing becomes less strained. Seth’s hands rub down my back.

“What happened?” Blake’s voice is thick with worry.

Seth shifts and holds his arm out to Blake, but he doesn’t release me. I assume he’s giving him my phone. My lungs burn, and I pant to try to catch my breath. My fingers clutch Seth’s shirt as I try to ease the tightness inside my chest and slow my breathing.