His Sweet Red

chapter 9

"Here we go, I think even your shoes are in there," Jake said as he handed her her box and got in the driver's side.

"I kinda was enjoying walking barefoot." Cassie sulked.

"Then don't wear them, it is not like you are walking home on foot. Also, the receptionist said she put your letter in there," he said starting the car.

"What letter?" Cassie asked trying to think if she had forgotten something at work.

Jake just shrugged.

"How am I supposed to know?"

As they passed her office building Cassie turned to him. "Can you drop me at the bus stop right there? I will catch a ride home."

Jake looked at her with a frown of confusion on his face.

"Why? I don't have a problem driving you home. It will make me feel better if I left you safe and sound at your doorstep," he told her.

"Let us be realistic here Jacob..." Cassie started.

"Jake," he interrupted.

She glared at him but ignored him.

"Jacob. You are a complete stranger to me. You might seem like a not so bad guy...."

"Not so bad? That sounds like an upgrade." Again he interrupted this time with a smirk on his face.

"Didn't your mother teach you it is rude to interrupt someone when they are talking," Cassie scolded. He was getting on her nerves and looking at the smile on his face he enjoyed annoying her..

"She did, but I really enjoy irritating you. Your eyes fire up and you start swearing at me. It is beautiful," Jake said smiling and stealing glances at her.

"Me swearing at you is beautiful?" Cassie looked at him like an alien.

"No, you are beautiful," Jake replied without missing a beat, still smiling like a cat that ate a canary.

Cassie just rolled her eyes, shook her head and decided to ignore his nonsense. He definitely had a few loose screws upstairs.

"Anyway back to what I was saying, I don't know you and as much as you seem harmless I cannot trust you with where I stay," she finally finished without getting interrupted.

"You know I can find your address in less than fifteen minutes right? And there is the possibility I already know it." Jake said.

"Yes, but what the hell for? I'm not going to help with your insane idea. Just humor me and drop me off at the stop. I will say goodbye and we will part ways in semi-good spirits." Cassie told him.

"What if I want a kiss?" Jake asked but Cassie ignored him as she opened the letter addressed to her.

"What the f**k!" She swore.

"You are such a good kisser I would not mind having you as my kissing buddy. If you know what I mean" When Jake got no reply he looked over at her. "Hey, are you ok you look like you have seen a ghost? What's that?" He asked looking at the letter gripped tightly in her hand.

"Drop me here please." She said still staring at the letter. Her free hand started fumbling with the door.

"You don't look so good let me just..." Jake started on to be cut off by her banging the door.

"Stop the f*****g car." She screamed.

"Cassie what's wrong-....."He saw her trying to open the door while the car was still moving. It was still on child lock so she opened the window and opened the door from outside.

"Cassie are you insane." Jake quickly parked and she got out before the car even fully stopped. " Stop being an impossible brat." When she ignored him and started crossing the road he just looked at her like she lost her marbles. "Fine, be that way."

Jake got back into his car and drove off angrier than he had ever been in his life. He just did not get that woman. What was so bad about that hand-drawn smiley face anyway. He decided to just forget about her for now and think about another plan.

Cassie's whole body shook as she walked home as fast as she could. She was in a trance and barefoot as she walked the few blocks to her apartment. Fear rushed through her making her cold even though it was fairly warm. It was probably sometime after four in the afternoon judging by the sun.

She clutched her box in a vice-like grip. The letter still in her right hand. Questions ran in her head so fast but she was too scared to try to answer or figure out anything at that time.

The whirlwind of thoughts were starting to give her a headache. All she wanted was to get home lock her doors and cry. She was in such a turmoil she did not have time to react when she was grabbed from behind dropping her box and letter to the ground.

The person had one arm holding her hands captive at her side and one hand grabbed her mouth. She was quickly dragged behind some flats kicking and trying to scream. It was all in vain.

"Shhh. I'm not gonna hurt you darling. Well, unless If you misbehave and give me a reason to." A man spoke right next to her ear sending warm air that smelled disgustingily of cigarettes and booze.

Cassie kept on struggling, fear stopping her from listening to her captor. All she wanted to do was get free and run as fast as she could.

The man move his hand from her middle to her throat and squeezed, hard. "If you keep struggling I going to end up snapping this pretty neck of yours."

That was like a bucket of ice-cold water on her. That's when she stopped, eyes wide and breathing hard.

"Good girl. Now we are going to walk to my car a few ways from here like nothing is wrong. Then we are gonna go on a trip. Okay"

Cassie quickly nodded and the man removed his hand from her mouth.

"What do you want from me?" She asked her voice shaky and betraying all the fear she felt.

"Me? Nothing sweetheart. But people are willing to pay a fee to have you brought to them. And I am more than happy to collect," Her captor replied.

"Why?" Cassie felt tears gather in her eyes but she willed herself not to start bawling.

"None of my business darling. Now let us go. Remember, behave," he warned one last time.

They started walking, the man put his arm around her waist. To anyone, it would look like a man holding his woman close. His fingers were digging deep into her side in a silent warning.

Cassie was too scared to even try to look at the man and see his face. Every part of her was trembling and it took all her power to put one leg in front of the other.

"Excuse me. Do you happen to know where I can find Plein street?" Another man's voice called out to them.

Someone asked. Cassie kept her eyes down afraid to lift her head. She worried her captor might react and kill her.

"No." Her captor replied and pushed for her to keep moving.

"Oh come on help a man out, I have been going around in circles." The man asked again.

"I said no." Her captor snapped.

"Ok man chill out. But can you let go of my sister, she is too pretty to be dating an ugly fart like you." The other man said amusement clear in his tone.

"What the hell did you call me?" the guy holding her spat turning.

The man's words were cut off when he was ripped from her side. Cassie looked up and saw the two men tumble to the ground, fist flying.

They exchanged punches with her savior having an upper hand. Then her captor landed a punch in his opponent's gut. When he went to do more he saw they had created an audience and some guys were moving in to help.

That's when Cassie looked at his face. He was just slightly taller than her. Dark eyes, scruffy face full of scars. But what caught her attention was the snake tattoo that ran from his temple down to the top of his cheek bone. He looked scary and like he could have been all too happy to rough her up if she caused trouble.

The man glared at her before turning and running as fast as he could. He thought better than to stick around and fight.

"Hey, are you ok?" Blue-green eye stared into her own trying to catch her attention.

Cassie turned to the person who spoke to her. Although he was right next to her, his voice sounded far away over the loud pounding of her heart. Her lips parted to reply to the guy who saved her only to have her eyes roll to the back of her head and everything went dark.