around. “You look at the new ones I just brought up and we will be back in a flash.”
“Thank you.”
Chanel, Hermes, Prada, Vera Wang. I was surrounded by all of the greats, lost in the lavish draping of designer fabric and textures.
Instantly the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Whipping around, I find myself inches away from Scarface. My heart starts pounding in my neck as I try to catch my breath.
“Looks like the princess is getting ready for a ball. How sweet,” he snarls, thumbing a Dior gown to his left.
“What do you want?” I hiss, trying to stand my ground on shaking knees.
How the fuck did he find me? Why is he still following me? Wasn’t the accident enough to scare the life out of me? What could he possibly want with a high school kid this badly?
“Tell your father that things aren’t happening fast enough for our liking and if he wants to keep what he has left, he’d better show us that he can deliver. It’s time for him to get his head out of his ass and understand that my boss actually means business.” His voice rakes over my skin as he inches closer to me. “Next time I find you, you won’t just have a banged-up head. You’ll be tucked in nice and close to that beloved brother you miss so much.”
I swallow hard. “I don’t even know what you mean. I have nothing to do with my father’s business.”
Cocking his head to his side, he narrows his eyes at me. “I don’t care if you’re involved. I care about the message you’re going to deliver to Daddy Hawthorne. And believe me, I’ll know if you don’t follow through. Have a nice day, Charlotte.” He nods his head over to the pile of dresses. “Oh, yeah. The Vera Wang one is my favorite.”
And as quickly as he appeared, Scarface turns and stalks away, masked by racks and racks of designer dresses.
Falling into a chair behind me, my hand flies up to my chest. My heart feels like it is going to explode as his threatening words roll around in my mind.
What in the fuck just happened? I dig my phone out of my handbag, my fingers trembling as they hover over the screen.
“Char?” Ellie asks, pulling on my arm, startling me.
I let out a yelp, fear and panic gripping me. I jump up from the plush couch. “We have to go,” I bark out, grabbing my bag and yanking Ellie behind me. “I’ll take the Prada dress, Brett. The navy one. Can you have it delivered to my address on file by tomorrow morning?”
“Of course.”
“Just put it on my mother’s account. Thank you!”
“Have a nice evening, ladies,” Brett calls after us as I grab Ellie’s wrist, pulling her behind me.
Running down the sidewalk, I dive into the back of Rolland’s Town Car, ignoring Ellie’s questions until we are safely with my bodyguard.
“Drive,” I yell. “We need to get home right away.”
Rolland doesn’t even think to ask me why I’m so frantic, so intent on getting away from the expensive store. Instead, he just pulls out into traffic and starts to make his way back to our side of the bridge. I push the button to slide up the divider partition before sinking into the seat next to my friend.
“Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?” Ellie hisses, her arms crossing over her chest.
And the words just tumble out into the air before I consider the fact that maybe I shouldn’t involve my friend, that somehow it could put her in danger, too. My chest tightens, pulse pounding out of control as I recount the threat.
“Someone is stalking me. He found me in the shop while you were getting coffee with Brett. Threatened me and my family.” I can’t believe the words that are spilling out as I try to catch my breath. If we weren’t sure about Scarface stalking me before, we sure as hell are now. There is no other explanation. He’s made it clear that my dad needs to do something for him and he’s not working fast enough. My fists clench as a gaggle of tears catches in the back of my throat. What in the fuck does my father have to do with scumbags like this?
Questions start erupting in my brain as Ellie’s hand lands on mine.
“If someone is threatening you, we need to go to the cops.” Her eyes search