Fucking bastard.
“Mama?” Zeke’s voice catches in his throat.
He can sense my fear and likely my frustration.
“Everything’s going to be fine.” I’m trying to convince Zeke that we’re safe, but I’m trembling inside.
The man outside the car is laughing, and I dig out my purse on the floor and call Luca, collapsing onto the seat next to Zeke.
“Hey, Harper,” Luca’s voice echoes through the speakerphone.
My breath cracks as I try to take a few deep breaths to steady my racing heart. “I’m … scared.” I try to be brave, for Zeke. I don’t want him to see me breakdown. It’ll only upset him.
“I’m coming. Are you still at the park?” Concern is evident in Luca’s tone. There’s commotion through the phone, and I imagine he’s getting ready to leave the house.
“I’m in the parking lot at the grocery store, and this guy, he threatened?—”
“Stay on the phone with me.” Luca’s voice is the only thing that calms me.
The asshole that harassed me climbs into the front seat of the van and gives me one last creepy smile and a salute before he pulls out of the space next to us, leaving me trembling.
“It’s okay,” I whisper, trying to regain my composure. I force a smile at Zeke, whose eyes are tearing up. “The guy who threatened us just pulled away.”
There’s more noise in the background of Luca’s phone, and I can hear Ashton and Liam but can’t make out what’s being said.
“Fuck. Tell me exactly where you are, Harper.”
“In the backseat with Zeke. The car doors are locked. We’re parked at the grocery store, in the last aisle, across from the playground.”
“I’m coming with Liam and Ashton. We’ll be there in a few minutes. Just keep talking to me. Tell me everything.”
I can hear commotion on their end, and within a minute or two, the engine of the car, Liam’s car more specifically, is impossible to ignore through the phone.
I recant what happened with the stranger, and I swear I can hear steam emanating from Luca.
“We’ll be there soon,” Luca says. “Just keep the car doors locked.” Luca’s voice is filled with resolve. He’s the strength I need right now, more than anything.
Liam’s muffler is broken, but it’s the sound of relief when I can hear it approaching from down the road.
When Liam’s car pulls up, Luca jumps out, walks around the vehicle, convincing himself everything is okay before he tells me to unlock the door for him and we hang up the phone.
Ashton heads into the store, while Liam parks in the abandoned space next to our car.
“Ashton and Liam are going to talk to the manager and have them pull surveillance footage. I’m going to take you home.”
Silently, I nod, holding back the tears, not wanting Zeke to see me break down.
My bottom lip trembles, and Luca watches me from the rearview mirror as I sniffle. “Do you want to climb up front with me?”
Wordlessly, I climb over the console, falling into the leather passenger seat. He reaches across, his hand finding mine, intertwining our fingers together.
“Next time, call me as soon as you suspect anything. Ever. Okay?”
“I just, I thought it was my imagination. You know how your father is. I thought he might be one of Dante’s men, but that white van, the threats,” my hands tremble and I inhale sharply, my voice quivering, “it felt different.”
Luca glances at me, gives my hand a squeeze but doesn’t say anything.
“You think it’s your father?” I ask. His silence has me concerned.