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Back Stalker Save as PDF
Chapters (66)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. 58
  61. 59
  62. EPILOGUE
  63. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  64. MORE FROM GEMMA ROGERS
  65. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  66. ABOUT BOLDWOOD BOOKS

‘Nightmarish, we almost had an account pull out of a contract, which is why there was a crisis meeting. I should have gone to the gym to be honest, relieve the stress, but I wanted to see you.’ His eyes flickered to my closed bedroom door, which could be seen from the kitchen.

‘You could always go for a run?’ Images of him sprinting away whilst I hid behind the parked car flashed into my mind.

‘Bit late now, I might before work in the morning.’ He finished his tea, mine was still a touch too hot to drink, but I persevered regardless. He stood and put his empty mug in the sink, turning back to me. I didn’t move, eyes fixed on him. Was he going to drag me to my bedroom? Force himself on me? ‘I’ll let you get to bed.’

I pushed myself up and walked Ian to the door, relief washing over me. I thanked him again for the flowers. In a few more seconds, I would be able to relax. He would be out of my home and I would be safe with the deadbolt across the door. Although now he knew where I lived, I didn’t think I’d ever feel safe again.

‘See you Wednesday?’ I nodded, waiting for the kiss I knew I would have to endure. When it came, he cupped my face in his hands and there was less urgency, but I was grateful when it ended.

When he left, I locked the door and checked every window, making sure the flat was secure. I needed a drink stronger than tea. I threw away what was left of mine and poured a large elderflower gin. Sitting at the table, I retrieved my packet of cigarettes from the fruit bowl. I hadn’t smoked in days, but I lit one, sucking in the smoke, using the taste of tobacco and gin to rid the memory from my mouth. How far was I going to let this relationship go? How far was I willing to go with the plan?

38

TUESDAY 16 JANUARY 2018

I slept past my alarm the following morning and had to drag myself to work, it had been a fitful night. I kept watching the app but didn’t see Ian return home. The barren image of his living space had been burnt into my retinas. Where was he? What dark road was he wandering along? Who was he following?

I was grateful he didn’t push me further last night. He could have and what would I have done, here alone? So confident to the point of being cocky, it was intimidating. I found myself shrinking whenever I was around him. Although who I was around Ian wasn’t the real me. It was the submissive Eve, who was happy to relinquish control. The sort of girl Ian liked. One he could easily manipulate.