Peyton

 

 

I was beat after my shift at Olive Garden, but wanted to pick up some items for Ruby, so I drove to a Target store in Forest Lake. Dom had mentioned that she didn’t have many things with her, just a suitcase. I really didn’t know what she needed, and ended up purchasing two night-gowns, shorts, and a couple of tops. I also bought her some shampoo, toothpaste, and a toothbrush, just in case. 

As I was paying for the items, I noticed a man watching me out of the corner of my eye. I turned and was shocked to see that he resembled Dom so much, I almost thought it was him.

“Have a good night,” said the cashier, handing me the shopping bag.

“Thanks. You, too,” I replied, glancing back over at the stranger. He was still watching me in a way that made me uncomfortable.

I quickly turned away and headed out to my car, which I’d parked on the side of the building. I threw my things into the passenger seat and got in. As I slid my keys into the ignition, I heard someone starting up a motorcycle. Sure enough, when I looked in my rearview mirror, I saw that it was the guy from inside the store. He was parked a few spots away and was now staring at me under the streetlight.

“Creepo,” I mumbled.

I locked my doors, started the engine, and backed out of my spot. I didn’t look directly at him, but still felt his eyes on me. Although, he might have just found me attractive, the warning bells were going off in my head. It became even more disturbing when he pulled in behind my car and started tailing me.

Stay calm, I told myself, as he followed me over the bridge and toward East Bethel. I tried telling myself that it was a coincidence, but the further I drove toward home, the more paranoid I became. It didn’t help that he was making every single turn that I was.

Suddenly my phone went off, scaring the living daylights out of me. I reached into my purse and pulled it out.

It was Dom.

I sighed in relief and answered the phone.

“Did I wake you?” he asked, sounding tired himself.

“No. I was just on my way home,” I replied, grateful to hear his voice. Just talking to him had a calming effect on me. “Are you still on the road?”

“No. We’re staying at a motel. I just tucked in Ruby and took Chilly outside to pee.”

“You have her trained already?” I asked, surprised.

“Hell no,” he said, laughing softly. “But, I bought one of those dog books and it says that I should bring her out, even if she’s constantly peeing everywhere else.”

“Has she been having a lot of accidents?”

He grunted. “Yeah. She’s a puddle machine.”

I turned down the next road and sure enough, the biker followed. I swore.

“What’s wrong?”

“Probably nothing,” I said, looking into my rearview mirror again. The motorcyclist was staying at a safe distance behind me and yet, I still felt threatened.

“What do you mean, ‘probably nothing’?” he asked, sounding more awake.

I told him about the guy behind me, explaining that I’d seen him at Target.

“Some jackass is following you?” Dom asked angrily.

“I don’t know. I’m sure I’m just being paranoid. He probably lives in the area and I just never noticed him before.”

“What does he look like?”

“A lot like you, actually. Only, you’re much more handsome,” I said, trying to smile.

Dom swore. “He seriously looks like me?”

“I thought so, at first. I don’t know. He wore similar clothes and was muscular like you. You have the same hair color. I guess there aren’t too many bad-assed bikers in the area, so that’s why I thought he looked like you,” I said, trying to make light of the situation.

He swore again. “Okay, whatever you do, don’t go home,” he said firmly. “Get to a cop station or someplace where there’s people around.”

Realizing that he was worried, too, and it wasn’t just me, I began to panic. I looked back into my mirror and saw the biker was still there. “Okay.”

“Better yet, go to my clubhouse. I’ll call Phoenix and let him know what’s going on. I’m thinking this could be the guy fucking with me, so you need to be very careful.”

“Why would he be going after me?” I asked, frightened.

He sighed. “I don’t know, babe. I’m sorry.”

“Where’s your clubhouse?”

He gave me directions. It was back in St. Paul. A far drive when someone was tailing you.

I bit my lower lip. “Maybe I should just go to the police station.”

“He’ll take off right away if you do that.”

“Isn’t that the point?” I asked dryly.

“It’ll just take care of the problem for a short time. We need to deal with this guy once and for all. Now, I know you’re scared. Just remember that he’s on a bike and you’re in a car. You’ve got the advantage. You’ll be safe as long as you don’t panic.”

It was much too late for that kind of advice. “I’ll try not to, but,” I looked in my rearview mirror at the biker, “I just don’t understand what he wants with me.”

Dom sighed again. “I don’t either. Is he still tailing you?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. I’m hanging up and calling Phoenix. Get your ass over to the clubhouse and I promise you’ll be in good hands.”

“Okay.”