She Thought Family Protected Everything... Until She Touched a Captain’s Daughter / Chapter 9 / 15

Chapter 9 - Cornered in the DarkMy heart slammed into my throat. The parking lot was dimly lit, and the nearest car was fifty yards away.

Marcus was wearing a dark hoodie, his hands jammed into his pockets, a cruel, mocking smile stretched across his face.

"Marcus," I said, trying to keep my voice steady as I reached into my purse for my pepper spray. "You're violating a restraining order by being near me."

"I don't give a damn about a piece of paper," Marcus sneered, taking a slow step toward me. "Your high-and-mighty husband put me in a holding cell on Christmas. Cost me two grand in bail."

"You assaulted a police officer!" I shouted, backing up against my SUV, my fingers frantically searching through my purse for the small metal canister.

"Lauren's losing her mind, Sarah," Marcus chuckled, stepping closer. "Your parents are cutting her off financially because of all the legal fees. She's desperate. And when Lauren gets desperate, she gets mean."

"Get away from me!" I yelled, finally wrapping my fingers around the pepper spray nozzle.

Marcus snapped. He lunged forward, reaching for my coat collar.

I whipped the pepper spray out and blasted him straight in the eyes.

Marcus shrieked in pain, grabbing his face and staggering backward, cursing violently. "You crazy bitch!"

I didn't hesitate. I sprinted toward the grocery store entrance, shouting for help at the top of my lungs. "Help! Call the police!"

Store managers came running out through the automatic doors. Marcus, blinded and screaming in agony, stumbled through the parking lot, managed to scramble into his truck, and sped away into the night, tires screeching against the asphalt.

Twenty minutes later, James arrived at the scene alongside three police cruisers.

He pulled me into a tight embrace, his heart beating fast against my cheek. "Are you okay? Did he touch you?"

"I sprayed him," I sobbed into his chest. "I sprayed him right in the face."

"Good girl," James whispered, his voice trembling with rare emotion. "That's my girl."

The police detective on scene stepped up to us, his expression grim. "Mrs. Walker, we've issued an emergency warrant for Marcus's arrest for felony stalking and violation of a protection order. But we can't find your sister. She cleared out of her apartment an hour ago."