What she didn’t expect was the American to come out of the shadows. He wore a suit, but with the way he walked, she knew he was used to living life in the darkness. This wasn’t some creepy guy looking for a good time.
He was serious business and she knew with any wrong move, she was fucked.
“Why are you following me?” she asked.
“I need you to come with me.”
“And you think I’m going to go and follow a strange man around at night? No, I don’t think so. I’m not this Sarah, or whoever you think I am. I’m not interested and I want you to leave me alone.”
“Not going to happen. You can come quickly and quietly or you can make a whole load of noise and I will still make you come with me.”
She shook her head. “I don’t do things quietly.”
After growing up in the care system, then on the streets, she’d learned how to fight dirty. This man, he wasn’t getting anywhere near her.
“Okay, how about this? I will offer you ten thousand pounds to come with me,” he said.
“And what, you have your freaky way with me? No thanks.” Money was always a temptation but she’d seen other girls, younger ones who were on the streets get lured in by money. It was dangerous. The next time she’d seen said girls, they’d been a shell, if she’d ever seen them again. Some of them would tell her horrible things, what the men did, how they hurt the girls.
Not happening.
She’d evaded rape a couple of times. Tulip wasn’t a fool about this world or what it was capable of. It was a horrible, shitty place. There was no happiness, just a fight for survival and that was exactly what she did. Every single day, she fought for a reason to not slit her wrists … or be in any kind of position for them to be cut again.
Staring at the man before her, she hated the very ground he walked on. The suit was expensive and he had this air around him that told her he was used to getting what he wanted. Not from her.
“I have no reason to touch you. I just want to talk.”
“We can talk right here.”
“I don’t talk about my business in the open.”
“Then you shouldn’t be stalking girls at night. It’s rude.” She noticed he kept closing the gap, trying to distract her. It wasn’t working. There was nowhere for her to go.
She couldn’t move. The light was her only saving grace right now.
Fuck, she had to get away. The only way was to attack him. She hoped if he was wounded he wouldn’t chase after her.
With each step he took, her heart rate sped up. She was sure he heard it and it scared her. Why now? Why did this have to happen to her? She’d been living her life with no real drama for months.
Watching him, she waited. He got to the edge of the light and he stopped there. His hand shot out and she saw a brown envelope.
“Take it.”
“Not happening.”
“Do you have any family?” he asked.
“None of your business.”
She leaned against the post. Even as she was tired, she wouldn’t give in to the need to fall asleep.
“You know, it doesn’t have to be this way.” He pocketed the cash and when he pounced, she expected it. Drawing her blade up, she went for his stomach, but at the last minute, he captured her hands, blocking the move.
She cried out at the sudden pain. He was strong. Stronger than she anticipated. As he held her still, she whimpered, but he didn’t let her go. He twisted her wrist, making her cry out again. He moved her suddenly so her back was to him. She fought against him, but her street fighting was no match for this guy.
“I’m sorry. I had hoped we could make this easier but it seems you like to do things the hard way, and well, I don’t have time for bullshit right now.”
Something pricked her neck and she cried out. “What did you do?”