Chapter 5

Marshall

*****

My muscles cramped with exhaustion as I sat outside in my car, struggling to keep my eyes open. It had been a long week. A pain in my ass kind of week, too.

We had recovered the damaged goods from the attack and I'd managed to get the local police off my back. Barely. They were persistent fuckers. The driver was still in my basement, though hardly alive at this point.

Today, I couldn't give less of a fuck. Not about that guy or anybody else. I sat in my car and occasionally lifted my head to look through the heavily tinted windows. I could tell when classes were changing or lunch was out, since kids would flow out of the red brick monolith. Otherwise, the school was dead from the outside.

This wasn't my first day. I knew when to expect my angel. She walked to and from this building every weekday at the same time. Ear buds in, feet at the ground. She never noticed me and I doubted she ever would.

This morning, she walked out of the decrepit little house in skinny jeans and a pink hoodie. Her honey gold hair folded down both shoulders in two long braids. I thought all day about tugging the elastics off and dragging my fingers through the wavy strands.

My eyelids were growing heavy again when the school bell tolled. Jolting, I glanced at the clock on my dashboard. Three o'clock. Students came pouring out of the building. I dragged in a deep breath and pushed myself upright. My gaze pierced the herd of bodies, each moment more impatient.

The herd began to thin out. Where the hell was she? I felt more awake now as the familiar pound of adrenaline pumped through me. My fingers wrapped around the steering wheel. Maybe she'd escaped my notice and was already down the street.

No. I would have seen her.

My breath wavered as the school doors opened again. A tall boy stepped out, very clearly a jock from his hideous red and black letterman jacket. He was holding the door. Half a second passed and then a short figure stepped out after him. She was dressed in an oversized gray jumper that hung down to her thighs. Her cheeks were flushed as the two started down the sidewalk together.

My blood boiled. Who the fuck was this kid? And where the fuck was her hoodie? I grabbed the door handle and leaped out of the car without a second thought. I'd been so patient all week. Biding my time, memorizing my angel's schedule, learning about her life.

But this shit? Absolutely not. My hands balled into fists as I marched across the street and down the sidewalk. The boy was just saying 'see you later' as I approached. When my angel turned, I was there. She halted and her eyes widened. I peered down at her face, absorbing the satisfying fear that flickered through her round emeralds. Then I lifted my face to glare at the jock's retreating form.

"You," she said.

My gaze dropped down to her face and the softness there surprised me. "Yes, me," I snapped. "Come with me."

I grabbed her wrist and tugged her along. She didn't resist at all, though. When we reached my car and I opened the passenger door, she seemed to snap out of her trance.

"Get in," I ordered, releasing my hold on her to gesture inside the car.

She eyed me suspiciously. "Why?"

"Because I said so. Get in, little girl, before I make you."

"We're in front of my school," she said. "I could just scream 'pedo' and like five resource officers would come running."

"Is that so? Well, why don't you go ahead and try?"

She pursed her lips but didn't utter a noise.

"That's what I thought. Now, get in."

Sighing, she shrugged her backpack off her shoulder and slid into the seat. I ensured her legs were inside before slamming the door. My gaze swept down the street but the boy was gone and no one seemed to notice. I rounded the hood and climbed in behind the wheel. She stared at the side of my face as I cranked the engine and put the car in drive.

"It's rude to stare, angel."

"I knew it was you," she said.

I glanced over at her before returning my focus to the road. "What do you mean, exactly?"

"I knew you were following me. I just didn't know if this was your car."

I waited a few moments before saying, "You don't sound as terrified by that observation as you should be."

"Why should I be terrified?"

"Because a strange man has been stalking you." I stopped at a stop sign to glower at her. "Have you mentioned your little observation to anyone?"

She finally looked away and shrugged.

"Angel," I growled.

"My name is Caroline," she muttered, her eyes locked outside the window.

I sighed and rolled on through the intersection. We would be at the 7/11 soon and I wasn't ready to release her.

Caroline. Somehow, it suited her.

"Does anyone know about me, angel?" I asked more softly.

She returned my gaze now. Her eyes were dark, thoughtful. For a moment, I felt a panicky flutter in my chest that she could somehow see right through me. I internally chastised myself.

This naive little girl? She would be the last person to ever recognize a monster. If she knew what I was capable of, she would have never gotten in this car.

"No." She rolled her pink lips together like a nervous tic. "I didn't know if it was true or if I was just hallucinating. Doubtful anyone would believe me anyway."

She shouldn't have told me this. If I had ill intentions towards her, now I would know how easily I could harm her. My angel wasn't stupid, though. If she was telling me this, it meant that she trusted me. She shouldn't have. She wouldn't if she knew what I really was. Some very small, very trivial part of me was gratified by her trust, though.

The larger part of me was mystified by her disbelief. Why wouldn't people believe her?

"Why?" I asked.

Smiling, she shook her head. I failed to recognize the emotion behind the gesture until I saw a gleam in her eye. She was sad. "You wouldn't get it," she said.

We had arrived at the 7/11 now. I parked at a pump but pressed the lock button to keep her from getting out. She didn't move to, anyway.

"What wouldn't I get?"

She shrugged again and this time I could sense her shield rising up, her body tensing with uncertainty. "Me," she said.

"I think I understand you fine."

"You don't know anything about me."

Relaxing back into the seat, I raked my eyes over her. She sat slightly slouched, her curved chin pointed down.

"Where is your hoodie?" I asked.

Her eyes flashed up at me with her brows bent in confusion. "I . . . spilled milk on it at lunch. Why?"

"Do not lie to me."

Color spilled across her cheeks. "I'm not."

"Liars get punished, angel. Tell me what happened to your hoodie."

She exhaled forcefully and crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't know what it is to you anyway, but some girl at school dumped her lunch tray on me. I had to change." Her eyes bore down at the floor mat while she waited for my response in silence.

I turned her chin towards me, a feeling of immense satisfaction taking over when she didn't resist. Her eyes were glossy now as they held mine. I rubbed my thumb gently along the silky flesh beneath her chin.

"Don't lie to me again," I said. "Tell me you understand, angel."

Her long, painted eyelashes fluttered against her freckled cheekbones with a sigh. "I understand."

I realized then how close our faces were. I had leaned towards her, unnoticed by even myself, until we were now but inches apart. Releasing her chin, I sat back in the seat.

"Why should I trust you?" she asked.

"You tell me. You got in the car."

She blushed again and turned her face away as if to hide it from me. "I guess I'm just stupid, huh?"

"We both know that is not the case."

"You don't even know me."

"But I will."

Her responding groan of frustration was so adorable that I couldn't help but smile.

"You don't believe I'm going to hurt you," I said. "That much is clear."

When she said nothing, I added, "I hope you don't make a habit of trusting strange men."

She rolled her eyes. "You would know, since you're my stalker and all. Right?"

My grin widened. My sweet little angel had some bite to her, after all.

"It's not strange men I'm worried about." I looked away, surveying the other pumps and pretending to sound bored. "It's idiot high school boys."

Again, she said nothing. I looked over at her and found her biting back a smile.

"What could possibly be funny about this?"

"What are you—my father?" She laughed. "Why are you worried about high school boys if they're such idiots?"

My voice tilted down a notch. "You'll wish I was just your father, angel. I will kill any idiot who lays a finger on you. And I may or may not make you watch."

She was blushing furiously again. I sighed again and forced myself to relax. My finger found the unlock button but I never took my eyes off her scarlet cheeks.

"You're a smart girl, Caroline. Let's not make a mess of things. Anyone who finds out about me will meet an unkind fate, and I know you would not do well with blood on your hands," I said. "You're free to go."

Her grip tightened on her backpack. "I don't even know your name."

I smiled. "Next time, I'll tell you."

She didn't move at first but then, seemingly accepting this, she pushed open the door. As she stepped out with her backpack, I leaned across the console.

"Oh, and one more thing."

She leaned her head back in.

"Burn his sweatshirt," I said. "Or I will."

Her stare went wide again. I shooed her out of my car and grabbed the handle of the door.

"See you later, angel." Smirking, I closed the door and peeled off.

My blood pumped quickly through me, hot and thick with thrill. I was achingly hard for her. I wanted my little angel bad. I craved her like a sick junky. One dose of her made me feel more alive than I ever had. I knew I had to leave now before I did other rash things. I hadn't intended to reveal myself to her today but I couldn't help it. She was mine and I would rather commit murder than allow her to believe otherwise for even a second.