The Monster (18+)

Chapter 11: His Men

Chapter Eleven
"His Men"
Present

   Over two weeks had gone and went since I last saw Dimitri watching me in the shadows while I'd been working. And despite everything, I had to give him credit because he kept his word.

   He never forced himself on me. Never even tried to persuade or manipulate me into welcoming him back into my life. I think this was one of the main reasons I started to loosen up at the possibility of bumping into him, because I've settled some of my anxieties that he'd try to hurt me.

   Still, even though he kept himself away, this rule didn't apply to his men.

   For the first few days after confronting Dimitri, I thought he listened to my arguments and left me alone. But no. I learned the truth soon enough. He had his men change out of suits and into casual clothes.

   This realization came after my nine-to-five, when I ran to catch the bus. I'd been out of breath when I plopped on an empty seat, only to notice the bus still hadn't moved yet because: a huge, intimidating man in a tee-shirt and pants stomped his way into the bus right after me.

   He avoided eye contact while I'd been busy gaping. And then I spotted a black car tracking the bus for the next fifteen minutes.

   If I had his cell, I would have called right at that moment, but I luckily cooled down when I got to the apartment. I was at least grateful they weren't following me inside the building.

   I also tried to remain optimistic about this, even though it was a complete invasion of privacy. For one, at least I could ensure no one would touch Luba on her short walk from the bus to the doors. Honestly, I hadn't known he was also having them watch over Luba until days later, when she admitted they'd been keeping track of her too.

   And stupidly, that made me smile. Because despite his dark obsession, he recognized Luba's importance to me.

   But again, this didn't exempt him from my annoyance. Like today.

   It was Sunday—also known as mine and Luba's weekly meeting at the diner she worked at. She started working at Chills because it'd been the place we went to escape from our dad and his escapades. It was there where we fell in love with crepes, and because the owners had been friendly, they once took us to the kitchen and showed their recipe.

   When she was old enough, she got a job as a server, and we started the tradition of going to the diner every Sunday for crepes.

   Normally, I wouldn't have had a problem with Dimitri's men stalking me. It's been two weeks, after all. But the problem was now Rafael—who I've been avoiding to meet in person, because I was absolutely petrified for his life.

   But he's asked for us to meet, and I couldn't keep on making lazy excuses.

   So when Sunday came, I left the house with my hair tucked into my hat before jumping into the bus, only to notice that the stalkers caught on to my attempts and drove behind me. Then, for the next hour, I took bus after bus to lose them until finally, I no longer found a black car with illegally tinted windows pursuing me.

   I entered the diner a quarter to eleven, sagging in exhaustion. Luba spotted me from behind the bar and jumped up with excitement. She's been awake since five in the morning but looked like she just woke up in a field of daisies.

   "You told me that you were going to be here an hour ago," she accused but still skipped toward me. "You're lucky I told Louis not to get started on the crepes." With that, she jerked her head to the side and shouted, "Louis, babe, can you start em now?"