THE RIDE BETWEEN US

WATCHED

CHAPTER 5

KIAN'S POV

The road was empty, I slowed down at the traffic light my home vibrated in my jacket pocket , I pulled over and checked it, one message, my expression changed

UNKNOWN: You really thought it could forget me?

I stared at the screen, another message popped up

UNKNOWN: I saw you today

my grip tightened around the phone, I liked around, nothing just cars, people, buildingnormal life,but suddenly nothing felt normal again,i typed a reply

ME: who is this?

the message was seen immediately but no reply. I stared at the screen, another message popped up

UNKNOWN: YOU KNKW EXACTLY WHO I AM

I put the phone away, my jaw tightened, thus could not be happening again, I started my motorcycle and rode off.

RILEY'S POV

The next morning I woke up with one thought, the charity event, and immediately after that came another, Kian, I groaned and buried .y face in the pillow, why was I thinking about him, it wasn't like anything hd happened between us, well... almost nothing, except he had looked at me like he knew something I didn't, I still couldn't shake the feeling lthat they had been something strange about him, the way be watched me, the way he disappeared, something wasn't right.

I forced myself out of bed and got ready for work, trying desperately to convince myself that last night had been nothing more than an unusual experience.

By the time I arrived at work, I had almost succeededAlmost."You're late."I looked up.

Mr. Will stood behind the counter with his arms folded.I glanced at the clock."I’m three minutes late.""Three minutes becomes ten. Ten becomes thirty."I sighed."Good morning to you too, sir."He shook his head and walked away.

For the first few hours, everything was normal.

Customers came and went.Orders piled up.My phone buzzed occasionally in my pocket.Normal.Peaceful.Until I looked through the window.Across the street, a man stood beside a black car.He wasn't doing anything.He wasn't on his phone.He wasn't talking to anyone.He was just standing there.Watching.I frowned.Maybe I was imagining things.I looked away.Then looked back.He was still there.My stomach tightened.I stepped closer to the window.The man suddenly turned his head.Our eyes met.I froze.He immediately got into his car."Riley?"I jumped.I turned around.Mr. Will was staring at me."You okay?""Yeah."I looked back through the window.The car was gone."I’m fine."But I wasn't. Not really.

KIAN'S POV

My mind went back to the day I won the race, I was celebrating with the guys, when I saw her in the audience, I chocked on the beer I was drinking, "no no way" I told myself in my head, it can be her not again, " maybe I'm just seeing things" I told myself in denial, the text messages, everything, she is watching me, she is way being my next move, I'm not sage anymore but I can't just stand and do nothing.

"You've been quiet"I ignored Zane.He leaned back in his chair."That's saying something, because you're usually quiet anyway."Valentina laughed from across the table."He's thinking.""I don't think Kian thinks," Zane replied.I finally looked at him."Keep talking."He grinned."There he is."Valentina rolled her eyes."Both of you are impossible."I glanced down at my phone.The message was still there.

UNKNOWN: you should have left it alone.

I'd received it twenty minutes earlier.I didn't need to ask what it meant.The race, The girl.Everything was connected.I locked my phone."What's wrong?" Valentina asked."Nothing."She studied me."You've been saying that all morning." "Because there's nothing wrong."glance with Zane.Then she picked up the invitation lying on the table. "Are you at least coming to the charity fundraiser?" I looked at the invitation. "Yeah." Zane smirked. "Since when do you attend charity events?" "Since I'm one of the sponsors." Valentina raised an eyebrow. "You mean since your family is one of the sponsors." "Same thing." She smiled. "Interesting." I ignored her. The fundraiser wasn't what concerned me. I'd already heard that some unfamiliar people would be attending. People connected to the racing scene.

People who had no business being there. And now I had another problem. Riley would be there. I didn't like the thought of her being anywhere near this. "What's with the face?" Zane asked. "Nothing." He laughed. "You're terrible at lying." I stood. "I'm leaving." "Where?" "Home." "You just got here." "I know." I ignored their laughter. Because I already knew. There was something wrong. And I needed to find out who was behind it before Riley got caught in the middle.

RILEY'S POV

By lunchtime, I had almost forgotten about the man across the street. Almost.I was carrying a tray toward one of the tables when the bell above the door rang.I looked up. My heart skipped.Kian. Of course. Because apparently the universe had decided I hadn't been confused enough. He walked inside wearing a black shirt and jeans, his expression unreadable. His eyes immediately found mine. For a second, neither of us moved. Then he walked toward me. "You're working."I raised an eyebrow."Very observant." His mouth twitched. "Can we talk?" "I'm working." "I know." "So?" He glanced around. "Outside." I frowned. "Why?" "Just come outside." I hesitated before following him. The moment we stepped outside, I crossed my arms. "What?" He looked down the street. "Have you noticed anything strange? I stared at him. "That's a very broad question." "Anyone watching you?" My expression changed. "You too?" His eyes snapped toward me. "What do you mean?" "I saw someone across the street this morning." Kian's face hardened. "What did he look like?" "I don't know. A man. Dark clothes. Black car." "Did you see the car?" "Yes." "What kind?" "I don't know." He cursed under his breath. "What?" "Nothing." "No. You clearly know something." He looked at me. I blinked.I stepped closer. "You keep telling me to stay away, but you won't tell me what I'm supposed to stay away from.""Because you don't need to know.""That's not your decision."His expression softened for a moment."You're right."That surprised me."But please," he continued, "just listen to me this once."I stared at him.There was something in his voice. Something almost desperate.Silence.

Then his eyes dropped to the folder in my hands. "What's that?" "The fundraiser." His expression changed slightly. "You're working at the charity event?" "You're one of the sponsors."He went quiet.I narrowed my eyes."You knew I'd be there.""No.""Then why did you ask?"Before he could answer, his phone rang.He looked at the screen.His expression changed. "Who is it?" He ignored the question and answered."Hello?" I watched him carefully.He listened for several seconds.Then his face went completely blank."Where?"A pause."I'm coming."He hung up."What happened?"He looked at me."Nothing you need to worry about.""That's getting old."He almost smiled."I know."Then he walked away.I watched him disappear around the corner.

what am. I getting myself into