Chapter 1

"Yeah, Riley," I answered the incoming call, crossing to the other side of the street.

"Are you coming soon? It's dangerous to walk around the city at night," the girl mumbled into the phone, visibly worried about me.

The clouds began to cover the moon, which made the street noticeably darker. In this alley, unfortunately for me, there was not a single lantern that had a whole bulb and could light my way. Unfortunately it was a bad neighbourhood and the notorious petty thugs in the form of teenagers from high schools liked to hooliganise by breaking the I was only in the city for the second time and I couldn't really remember anything. I was always getting the streets mixed up and what to say about the outskirts of the city I'd rather not say anything. I was only visiting my friend for three days. After that I had to go to my job in Sydney.

It was a bit awkward because right after the airport I got in a taxi and went to Riley's but we only got halfway down the road. The reason for that was an empty tank The driver gave me the money and I took my suitcase and went alone to the address.

"If you will distract me with calls, then wait for me in the morning."

"Sorry, I'm just worried about you."

"I will be right back. Make tea, because I'm terribly cold." Without waiting for an answer, I end the call.

Putting my phone in my pocket, I wrapped it around the house. A couple more blocks, and I'll be warm. Next to his best friend and holding hot tea.

"Damn," I hissed when I realized that I had turned it in the wrong place.

It got too dark. I narrowed my eyes, trying to make out the road. London now seemed completely different. As if another life begins at night. Far from clubbing like in all films. Some kind of fear gradually arose in my body, and anxiety rolled up to my throat more and more when I heard someone else's rustling of the soles on the asphalt to my ears. Having stumbled over the average size of the stone, which was apparently left by the small hooligans, I did not keep my balance and flew down, but ...

Male hands wrapped around my waist, preventing me from falling. I screamed in surprise and got to my feet, shoved the stranger away from me, who literally saved me from falling. My heart literally jumped out of my chest when at the same moment, my eyes were wide open, and I tried to see more clearly the situation around me.

I turned to the side, noticing a pair of black figures in my peripheral vision. Three guys stood on the side, thereby frightening me. The devilish expectation of this situation was frightening more and more. There are four of them, I am one, and I am a girl, the weaker sex in comparison with them.

I don't have any wrestling skills, and I'm not particularly good at running fast.

"You need to be careful," the guy put his hands in his pocket and raised his gaze to me.

Blue eyes glittered in the darkness, reflecting from the headlights, but after the car drove on, taking all the light with it. Because of the darkness and shadows that fell on my face, I could hardly see my savior. Only eyes that sparkled in the darkness like a beacon.

"Thank you," I lifted the handle from the suitcase from the ground and wrapped my arms around it, squeezing it tightly so as not to miss it next time.

I already wanted to leave them in order to secure myself as soon as possible, but the hand of this person did not allow me, firmly holding my elbow.

"You just arrived in this city?" his voice was slightly hoarse but at the same time pleasant. He let go of me, hiding his hands in his pockets again.

"Yes," the wind blew, and my body was covered with goosebumps.

I rubbed my bare hand with my free hand, pumping blood through my body to keep warm.

I knew that it was not because of this that I was cold. I was just scared.

It was unusual for me to talk to a stranger at night when his friends were still standing on the side, frightening the devil, because they were silent. Or maybe they were men. You never know what they have in mind. I didn't see the exact face with whom I was talking, and it was a little alarming. What if they're bad people and soon I'm in big trouble?

"Here you're frozen," he took off his jacket and threw it over my shoulders.

"Thank you," I wrapped myself in the stranger's jacket more tightly, feeling the pleasant smell that came from her.

What I needed most was the warmth I already had.

"I think you need to be fooled?" he seemed to read my mind because it really was necessary.

But on the other hand, I was damn afraid of it all.

"Yes, I would be very grateful to you," I took a phone from my jeans pocket and went into messages, finding a message from Riley with the given address.

Fingers gripped the mobile phone tighter so that in case of something, they could not just grab it and run away.

"I understand," the stranger nodded and walked forward, three people also followed him, but then the guy stopped abruptly, turning back. - You are walking?

"Oh yes! "I caught myself and hurried after him.

"What is your name?" he asked without even looking at me.

"Hayley, my name is Hayley."

Could it be rich daddy's son with his bodyguards? Or were they robbers?

We went into a dark area where there really was no lighting. How do they see in the dark? Unlike them, I can't even make out the road under my feet. Probably, they have lived here for a long time and know this city like the back of their hand.

We turned the corner of the building, and my escort and his people stopped abruptly. Not expecting this, I ran into the blue-eyed man's back because I was exactly on his heels.

"Sorry," I turned away, embarrassed.

"We are on the spot. We will meet with you again," I heard his grin.

"Thank you for seeing it. I will go," ignoring his previous words, I went into the house.

Having risen to the desired floor, I opened the apartment and went inside. Quietly closing the door behind me, I put the suitcase down and took off my jacket, and hung it in the closet. Only then the thought struck my head that I had completely forgotten about it in order to give it to the young man. The terrifying situation and wariness knocked this idea out of my head. Now I knew what this guy meant. But anyway, how would he find me? I don't think he would have watched me under the house all day.

Turning on the light in the hallway, I went into the living room and saw my friend. Riley slept on the couch in a seated position, phone in one hand.

There were two mugs of iced tea on the table.

Taking a blanket from the bedroom, I carefully covered my friend with it. After that, I went back to the bedroom and, to put it mildly, flopped down on the bed, falling asleep.

I am very tired of the long plane flight. Therefore, I needed to rest and gain strength.

I walked along the embankment with Riley next to me.

The water shimmered beautifully in the sun. The birds complemented the coziness with their songs. I breathed in the sea air and ran forward. Straight into the water.

Pulling off my jacket on the way, I threw it to the ground and ran on.

"Whose jacket is this?" shouted the girl, interrupting the sound of the sea.

Ignoring her, I took off my T-shirt and jeans and jumped into the sea.

Water splashed my face, and I grimaced.

"Whose jacket is this?" continued to shout my friend.

The wave washed over my head, and panic covered me.

"Whose jacket is this?" shouted a voice, returning to reality.

I opened my eyes abruptly, inhaling deeply.

"Jacket, Hale! Oh, God!"

Riley stood beside me, holding an empty glass in one hand and the stranger's jacket in the other. She closed her eyes, trying to catch her breath.

"He's coming for her!" a moment, and the jacket flies to the side, flopping against the wall, and later falls to the floor.

I began to feel the water through my clothes, dropping my eyes to the bed; I screamed, rising quickly.

"Damn it, Ryle! Why pour water on me ?! "I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom.

"Stop!" the girl followed me.

When I reached the bathroom, I slammed the door right in front of her face.

"Came out of there! Faster! I haven't finished speaking with you yet!" heavy blows of steel are applied to the door.