1
Lani
I am so excited to see my family. I haven’t seen them in god knows how long. I moved away for college with the intention of owning my own clothing store and designing clothes.
During that time I got picked up by an agent, and before I knew it, I was walking down runways as a plus size model. I have a huge contract with a huge clothing store, but that’s ending in, like, a week.
I’m tired of it.
I’m tired of the crazy fans, the paparazzi and people always being outside of my house. Because I was one of the first ever plus size models and I changed the industry, it exploded.
My life changed in an instant, everything I knew changed in an instant, but I also never stopped going to college. I wanted that degree.
I am twenty-three years old, finished with college and I’m finishing up my last shoot, then I’m going home to visit my family.
But after that I’m not sure what I want to do: do I stay in LA or do I move home? I’ll just let my path unfold as it happens.
I walk inside of the warehouse, taking off my jacket, and then I’m swarmed by everyone to get me dressed for the underwear and lingerie shoot.
“Hello, my darling!” Caesar the photographer comes up to me, kissing both cheeks as I sit in my chair.
“Hello Caesar.” I smile and take my hair down out of the messy bun I had twisted at the top of my head.
He studies me and his face falls. “I am going to miss shooting with you. Are you sure that you are quitting?” He takes my hand, like he’s trying to plead with me to stay.
The soft-hearted part of me wants to promise him that I will stay, but I’m so tired; this is not for me. I feel like I’m meant to have a small place and raise a family someday. I’m that kind of girl.
“You know how much I love you, I love all of you.” I look around at the girls that have been here since the beginning. They all come up and hug me, then Caesar hugs all of us together, and we all laugh as he squeezes us.
“Alright, we have a schedule to keep!” He lets us all go and claps his hands together cheerfully.
The girls get to work, and I text my brother. He’s met someone and he hasn’t stopped talking about her since the second he met her. I can’t wait to catch up with him once I get home.
Jordan is a member of the Devil Souls MC. He’s my older brother and a complete nerd. Recently he came out and set up the state-of-the-art security system in my house, and I was so grateful.
I close my eyes and relax, mentally preparing myself for the shoot. I always channel my inner hoe.
Three hours later I’m changed and walking out to my car, and the makeup artist, Julie, is following me out. “You looked so beautiful, girl,” she praises me, and we both stop dead when I see Freddy standing beside my car.
Fuck me.
Why can’t he leave me alone? He’s a fan of mine and it started when he would put letters in my mailbox and on top of my car, and then I noticed I would see him everywhere. Now he’s getting bolder and bolder and I’m low-key getting scared.
“Lani, how was the shoot?” he asks excitedly, but when I look into his eyes, I see they’re void of emotions. Something is not right with him.
“Freddy, what are you doing here? You know I have a restraining order against you…” I trail off, hoping he’ll get the hint and leave.
He drops his pleasant smile. “A piece of paper couldn’t keep you away from me, my beautiful Lani.” He groans in pleasure, looking me up and down, and I take a step back in disgust.
I look at Julie, who looks just as frightened as me, and take out my phone and text Caesar to call the police.
“Freddy, you should go. I don’t want you to come around me or my property. I’ve asked you so many times to give me my privacy, but I’m telling you now.” I put a little bit of steel in my voice.
His eyes flare and I can tell that I pissed him off. He takes three steps towards me before I can even blink and suddenly he grips my arm hard. “Take it back!” he demands and pulls on my arm, trying to get me to move closer to him.
So what do I do?
I swing with all of my might and punch him square in the face. No one ever touches me in a way I don’t want them to.
His eyes widen in shock, and he lets me go so he can grab his nose. I push him away from me and run back inside of the warehouse just as Caesar is running out.
He pulls me into his body and tries to calm me. I know I’m shaking. I’m really freaked out. I never expected that it would get this bad.
I hear a loud thump as Freddy pounds his fists against the door. I stop breathing, and Caesar takes ahold of the handle, keeping him from getting inside.
“Go hide, girls, now!” Caesar demands in a voice I’ve never heard him use before. I grab Julie’s hand and we take off towards the back of the warehouse.
My knees feel weak and my heart is pounding so fast that I actually feel sick. I can’t breathe, terror is filling every part of my body and it gets worse when I hear Caesar yelling. Then a gunshot rings out.
Julie looks at me, her eyes wild. I don’t bother hiding because that shit will only get you caught and I’m not going to let that happen.
So I head straight for another exit. Julie tries to take her hand from mine. “We need to hide!” she whisper-yells.
“No, I’m not going to be a fucking sitting duck.” I stop for a second, putting my finger to my mouth as we listen for footsteps.
When I hear someone running, I spot a bunch of chests and I form an idea. I run across the room where the exit is, slamming the door shut, then running back and ducking behind the chests. I pull Julie with me, putting my hand over her mouth so she doesn’t make a sound.
I peek up just as Freddy runs past, then duck my head. The door opens and slams shut. I peer over just slightly and see him walking outside, so I grab Julie’s hand and drag her out. “Come on, we’ve got to help Caesar!”
A hand reaches out and grabs my arm, and I start to fight then see it’s Caesar. I hug him tightly and notice blood on his arm. “Oh my god, did he shoot you?” I whisper-yell, and he nods. “He just grazed me though.”
That’s when I form an idea. I call my brother. He can hack into the cameras and help us stay hidden.
“Hello sister,” he says cheerfully, and I almost fall to the floor at the sound of his voice, I’m so scared.
“Jordan, I need your help.” I can hear the desperation in my voice. Julie clutches me, and Caesar holds the both of us.
“What’s the matter?” he demands, the lightheartedness gone in an instant.
“Remember the stalker? Well, he has finally cracked. He’s currently trying to find us in the warehouse where I had a shoot earlier. He shot Caesar, who was trying to protect me,” I rush out as loudly as I dare. I can hear my brother’s fingers tapping on his keyboard.
“I just alerted the police. Freddy’s currently coming in the front door of the warehouse.” He taps more. His voice is void of emotion and I hold my breath, scared.
“Let’s go get in my car and drive off!” I throw out an idea. We’re already close to the back entrance where I parked.
“Run fucking now! He heard you, Lani!” Jordan roars, and I grab both Julie and Caesar and tear out of the door. I unlock my car and jump in the front seat, hitting the locks the second everyone is inside.