Romeo

Chapter 4; First Encounters

I knelt down beside Kasey, lifting her paw and examining it.

"It is getting better, but I think I'll leave you here this time." I say before setting her paw down and standing up. I walk to the front door pulling on my sweater, after tying up my running shoes and walking out the door, I breathe in the fresh air, it still smells like rain from last night. I locked the door then jogged out down the road to start my morning run.

I was passing an alleyway when suddenly something grabs my arm and pulls me into the darkness. My back is slammed against a brick wall and something cold is pressed against my forehead.

"Give me all your money!" A scratchy voice whispers threateningly. The early morning light doesn't let me see much but I can tell it's a guy, in his mid thirties, he has a ski mask over his face, his clothes are torn and dirty. He's holding a gun to my head.

"I...I don't have any!" I say tears running down my face.

"You're a lying bitch. Now give it to me!" He says agian pressing the gun into my forehead. A whimper escapes my mouth.

"I swear...I...I don't have anything." I say holding my hands up, I was suddenly glad that I didn't bring Kasey, who knows what he would have done to her.

"I guess I'll just have to search you for it then." The man says running his hand up my leg. Another whimper escapes my lips.

"Don't you dare scream you little bitch, or I'll blow your brains all over the alley." He says moving his hand to my waist and around to my back. He uses the gun to turn my head to one side then licks my exposed neck.

"Mmm, I might just have to keep you." He whispers in my ear.

"Get the hell off her!" A new voice echoes down the alley and suddenly the man is off me and being slammed against the opposite wall. I still can't see much but I can tell the gun has been knocked out of the guy's hand and the new guy has it pointing and the mugger.

"I suggest you leave before the cops come." The guy with the gun says. The mugger quickly scampers away without a glance over his shoulder. The new guy checks the gun,

"Empty." He sighs, then looks up at me. My breath catches, then rising sun illuminates his face, he has dark coffee brown hair with some lighter brown streaks that the sun is making prominent, and some stubble on his strong jawline, as he walks closer I notice his eyes. They're a dark bluish almost purple, little flecks of silver make it feel like I'm looking into a galaxy. His long eyelashes perfectly frame his eyes and as he blinks his full lips slowly part to let a breath in.

"Are you alright?" He asks taking another cautious step towards me. I nod, then collapse in a fit of tears. He catches me and hugs he tightly as I sob. He strokes the back of my hair and tries to calm me. Suddenly I feel safe, protected, like nothing could hurt me while I'm in his arms. The feeling dissipates but I'm sure I felt it. He slowly pulls back to look at me.

"I can drive you home if you want." He says tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. I hesitate and he chuckles.

"I promise I won't rob you." He says and I laugh.

"Come on, follow me, my car is this way." He starts walking out of the alley and back onto the streets. I follow him and am surprised when he stops by a black Chevy Camaro. I raise my eyebrows at him but he just smiles opening the passenger door for me.

"M'lady." He says gesturing for me to get in the car. I smile and slide in. He closes the door and walks over to his side of the car and climbs in.

"Which way?" He asks starting the car.

"I'm on Beaker Street." I answer as the engine purrs to life. He pulls away from the curb and starts driving. Silence fills the cab, after a few minutes he breaks it.

"I'm Griffin by the way, Griffin Edwards." He says glancing over at me.

"Kylie Heffner." I respond, he smiles.

"Nice to meet you Kylie." He says, we lapse back into silence.When Griffin pulled up to my house, his eyes widened and he turned to me,

"Nice place." he said and I smiled,

"Thanks," I got out of the car and walked up to the front door. I was reaching for the handle when I paused and turned around to face Griffin.

"Do you want to come in?" I asked