Chapter 40

40 DREW DEVIL

ABBY

They all look shocked to see me as if I just catch them in a compromising position.

“What should you tell me about, Sebastian?” I repeat when I don’t hear any answer.

“What is Drew have to do with this?” I put my hands on my hips, still waiting for an answer. “Does any of you want to answer? Or did the cat catch your tongues?”

Finally, my husband draws a deep breath. “Tennings is your stalker, Abbygail.”

I laugh my ass loud. “Funny. Don’t joke something like that, Sebastian, because it’s not funny. You saw me how terrified I was.” When he doesn’t look impressed with my response, I shift my gaze to his guys, and they all wearing the same expression—unimpressed. “You’re not seriously accusing him of stalking. Why would he do that? For three years, he stayed with me, and nothing happened to me. He didn’t even try touching me, or worse scaring me. He has been a good friend, and I trust him. How could you accuse him of something absurd?”

Lincoln looks at me. “Abby, I know it’s hard for you to believe all of this, but the call you received is from Lucinda Graves or Lucinda Meyers. Two days ago, Tennings visited her. Do you know her? She’s also from Boston.” Why her name sounds familiar? Then I remember Drew dating Lucy.

“Drew went out on a date with Lucy. I don’t know about her, and I never met her. He said she’s a high—”

“A high school teacher. Yes,” Logan confirms.

“Yeah, but it doesn’t prove him to be my stalker. For all I know, maybe she’s the one who called me.”

“I went to see her, and she said she lost her phone for a few hours, and only to find it on her couch. She didn’t receive a visitor that day. Her phone was stolen, and someone returned it. How would you explain it?”

“Stop all of this stupidity! Accusing my friend of something he did not do is not funny, and you’re all hurting me. If this is your way of saying to me to stay away from him, you won’t succeed!” I glare at them. Sebastian looks hurt and angry at the same time.

“You Sebastian, I’m so disappointed at you, and still keep hiding something from me. What else are you hiding from me, huh? I can’t believe you did this again behind my back, and this time against my best friend!”

They all shut up, except Logan, leaning against the wall.

“Abby, did your dad check his background? Did he know him well? Did Tennings mention his family or old friends? Did you meet one of them?” Now my mind wanders.

“I don’t know if Dad did it, but I told him once when I first met Drew. He did mention that his parents were dead, and he doesn’t have a sibling. I never met any of his friends either, even his co-worker. He said he’s an ex-marine, left his job, and he was seeing—”

“Dr. Peters?” Logan cut in again. “Yeah. I went to check his file. No record of Tennings. I doubt if it’s even his real name, or he took the file from Dr. Peter’s office before somebody could.

“Why don’t you try asking his CO?” I ask sarcastically, making my husband groan.

“Did you even think about why nobody asked you out? Or any girls asked you for a cup of coffee or a movie or go shopping? You don’t have a trust issue, Abby. You trusted us, and you’re friendly. You might have gone through hell, but you’re okay now. He’s been manipulating you not to trust anyone, to believe that men are just after under your skirts. He wants you all to himself.”

I don’t realize I’m already crying until I wipe it away. I can

t listen to this lie anymore. “You’re insane. You’re all out of your mind. I’m the one who doesn’t want to go out on a date or have friends. He never manipulates me!”

“Are you even listening, Abby. He said he is manipulating you, not only yourself, your emotion, your head! He let you believe that everyone is not good enough for you. He can’t do that to you anymore because he’s not winning, you have me, and you have feelings for me the moment we met. Instead, he scares you, stalks you, and now he fucking called me, and he’s been watching us dancing together!” Sebastian snarls.

“How can he watch us dancing, he is in Boston. I just called him an hour before coming over, Sebastian.”

Sebastian widens his eyes and lurches to me. “Didn’t I told you, Abby, not to fucking call anyone? Especially Tennings? I give you that fucking phone so that I can call you when I’m not with you, not to call that fucking psychopath! Now he knows your number, and he won’t stop until he gets what he wants, and until he will fucking scare you again, Abbygail!” he growls at me. My pulse races as I freeze in my place and feel terrified at him. My legs are shaking, and my jaw clenches, and I can’t speak anymore.

“Calm down, Seb. You’re scaring her.” I hear Lincoln’s voice.

“The fuck I can calm down when she did the things I told her not to! When is she going to fucking understand my only concern is her safety? I fucking told her! Her stalker is everywhere, and we don’t have any fucking clue how to take down that psychopath. I’m just concern about her, and if something fucking will happen to her, I’d rather die, but she’s so fucking stubborn!” All I can hear is his yell all over my head, and I cry until my breath starts to pant.

I need air. I can’t breathe anymore.

I feel suffocated and claustrophobic.

I bolt out of the office towards the hallway, ignoring them calling my name until I pass by the smell of disinfectant. My heart is hammering in my chest when I open the door that has an exit sign, and there’s a narrow steel ladder. I step down, and I almost fall when the heel of my shoe stuck in. I made it to the floor to an alley that smells cigarettes and pisses.

I cry for how long I don’t know. They’re still calling my name, and maybe they’re searching for me. The hell I care right now. I’m still hurt. Drew may be overprotective, but he’s not that person that they think they are. He may have worked for my dad behind my back, but the offer is good, and he needs money. I walk out discreetly and make sure nobody notices me, especially the guys and Sebastian.

He keeps hiding from me. This time, it’s against my best friend, and I won’t let it go. He didn’t even apologize or explain instead, he made me look stupid.

A car stops in front of me that makes me jump.

“Get in.” That voice sounds familiar, and the passenger door swings open.

“Drew?” My eyes widen. My heart leaps to my throat.

“Sweetie, get in,” he invites me again.

I get inside without bother looking back. “What are you doing here?” I hug him, and he hugs me back.

“Surprising you. When you said you’d go with your friends to a nightclub, I remember Seb used to visit Night Stalker. Are you okay You look upset? What are you doing in a dark alley, Abby? You could’ve hurt yourself, or worst someone could hurt you. Don’t do something stupid like that again.” He pulls the car towards the road.

I suddenly remember about their warning and what they just told me about Drew, yet here I am. I completely forget everything when he just shows up and saves my ass from them.

“Not the right time to lecture me right now/ I’ve had enough for tonight.” I play cool and maybe, I should lie a bit. I want to know if their suspicion is right.

Play innocent, Abby. Pretend that you don’t know anything.

“I fought with Seb. He didn’t want me to drink, and he didn’t like my dress.” I cross my arms in my chest and pouts. “He didn’t like everything I did. For God’s sake, I can handle drinking, and it’s like I’m drinking with a bunch of horny drunks.” Good job, Abby!

“Well, I don’t like your dress too.” He glances down at my thighs. “And you’re even twenty-one.” If they’re right, then he’s damn good at this.

“Where are we going? How long are you going to stay, by the way?” I ask him while searching for a station to listen to.

“Two or three days. I book a hotel room not far from here,” Drew answers.

“Are you allowed to stay away from your job? You already have too much cut from your payroll when you came to my mom’s funeral.” Imagine Dragon’s song is playing on the radio.

“Why do I feel that you don’t want me to be here. And you look tense.” He steals glances at me while driving.

“I’m okay. Just um cold.” Then I remember something. I forgot my purse. “Can I borrow your phone? I want to tell Sebastian that I’m with you.” I quickly notice him gripping the steering wheel tight.

“You can call him when we get to my hotel. Are you hungry? We can grab some on our way. I don’t think it’s a good idea to go to a restaurant with that dress. I will poke everyone’s eyes who will look at you,” he says coolly.

“You sound just like Sebastian,” I say while looking out the window.

He seems not to like what they think he is. “Is he treating you well, Abby?” His voice becomes stern, and it gives me shiver weirdly.

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t he? He’s nice to me, a little bit protective, but he’s very thoughtful and loving.” I bite my lip to control the trembles, I rub my exposed arms. I’m cold but not because of the air conditioning of his car. I feel cold because I might be riding with a psychopath. What have I done?