Stalker: The Dimensions, #2

By Barbara Joan Russell

Stalker (Book 2)

Raven, Montana is a small town where nothing exciting used to happen. But forces from another world are pressing in, and those forces will make Raven anything but boring…

Jessica Riley now knows Steve Montgomery's secret. She knows why he says they can't be together. And logically, it makes sense. But one thing she's learned from her past relationships is that true love is rare. It's something that only happens once in a lifetime. So when someone finds it, they need to fight for it. And she's determined to fight for Steve, no matter what the cost will be.

While Steve loves her, he can't let her risk everything just to be with him. She doesn't understand how dangerous his father is. His father has plans. Dark plans. Plans that don't include Jessica. And he'll stop at nothing to get his way.

Steve Montgomery was trying to escape his past, but dark forces from another world have followed him to Raven. He wants to fight it, but how can he when those forces threaten the girl he loves?

Don't Miss Any of the Books in The Dimensions Series!

Book 1: Secrets

Book 2: Stalker

Book 3: Showdown

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barbara Joan Russell
• Release date: Mar 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386775287

Barbara Joan Russell

Barbara Joan Russell lives in Montana with her husband and four sons. She loves writing Young Adult Thrillers/Suspense and Fantasies. Usually, there is a romance somewhere in her tales.

Book preview

The Dimensions Trilogy: Book Two

––––––––

Stalker

Barbara Joan Russell

This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. This was originally published under Ruth Ann Nordin. Barbara Joan Russell is her pen name for YA fiction.

The Dimensions Trilogy

Book Two: Stalker

All Rights Reserved.

Cover Photos Copyright Dreamstime. All rights reserved – used with permission. ID 46466389 © Catiamadio | Dreamstime.com, ID 16786376 © Viktoriia Kulish | Dreamstime.com, and ID 13550434 © Lamica | Dreamstime.com

Interior Photo Copyright Dreamstime. All rights reserved – used with permission. ID 103951267 © Zucker66 | Dreamstime.com

Cover made by Stephannie Beman

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without expressed written consent of the publisher/author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

More Books by Barbara Joan Russell

Chapter One

Once Jessica Riley was safe inside the auditorium, Steve Montgomery’s father emerged from the shadows behind a tree. His father snapped for the panther to go to his side, and the panther, ever the dutiful slave, did as his father wished.

Steve braced himself for the unpleasant confrontation. It was bound to happen sooner or later. It might as well take place now.

Steve. My son. His father smiled. I don’t want to hurt you. You know that. But I will do whatever it takes to get my way. You will join me, and we will be rulers together.

No. You’re wrong, Steve replied. There was no way he would partake in his father’s violence.

I see you need time to think about it. I’m sure the shock of seeing Nathan’s dead body was too much to handle. I had to get rid of him. He was trying to create a wedge between us.

He wasn’t doing anything wrong. He was only being a friend. And he was right about you. You did kill Rachel.

I had to. She found out the truth about my business partner’s death. I couldn’t let her go to the police.

You’ll kill anyone who gets in your way.

His father grimaced. Kill is such a strong word.

Then what do you call it?

I merely protect my investments.

Steve shook his head in disgust.

I have a lot at stake. I know you care for Jessica Riley, but it would be wise if you didn’t have anything to do with her.

Of course not, Steve replied, not hiding his sarcasm. Why should anyone be allowed to get close to me?

It’s more complicated than that. You don’t understand how important you will be. I don’t want anything to jeopardize your destiny.

Though Steve knew he probably shouldn’t, he took the bite. Which is?

His father paused. Rulership of an entire world in the Seventh Dimension.

Steve rolled his eyes.

Ignoring his response, his father said, Jessica will hinder you from your destiny. You can’t be with her. You should see that other girl. Tina is her name, right?

Tina Havard? His father knew about Tina? Just how long had his father been spying on him? Had Steve had one single day in Raven without his father’s watchful eye on him?

Tina’s harmless. She won’t stand in the way of your destiny, and she will give you someone to date.

I don’t like her that way.

Which is what makes her perfect. You’re a teenage boy. You’re nearly a man. I know you need to date pretty girls. There’s nothing wrong with the way Tina looks. She might not be a striking beauty like Jessica, but she’s cute. Let her be the diversion you need until you graduate high school. Then you’ll be ready to leave this boring dimension.

No. I’ll never leave this dimension, and I’ll never go anywhere with you.

I suppose you can fight me, his father finally replied after a long moment of silence passed between them. But we both know you can’t always be there to protect Jessica. He patted the panther which purred. I’ll give you a little time to think things over. You’re in shock. You’re not thinking straight. I think once you get a good night’s sleep, you’ll see things more clearly.

He whistled to the panther, and the two turned in unison and headed down the pathway.

Steve knew his father meant business. He had hoped that by avoiding Jessica, his father wouldn’t threaten her. But it hadn’t worked. His father knew he cared about Jessica, and he was determined that she wouldn’t get between them.

Steve clenched his jaw. Didn’t his father realize that by separating him from the people he cared about, he was guaranteeing that he would never do what he wanted?  

Once his father and the panther were out of sight, Steve headed to his apartment. For now, Jessica was safe, and for now, that was enough.

***

The next morning, Steve finished his homework then got ready to go to work. He had just slipped on his shirt when someone knocked at the door. He stilled. Was it his father?

There was another knock. He frowned. Why would his father knock on the door when he could easily unlock the door and just walk in?

To make sure it wasn’t him, he went over to the door and looked through the peephole. It was Jessica.

The initial excitement he experienced at seeing her was quickly replaced by fear. He unlocked the door and waved her in.

I hope it’s alright that I came over, she said.

He closed the door and brought her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him in return, and tears came to his eyes. He couldn’t say anything for a long moment. All he could do was hold onto her, wishing he had some way of keeping her safe so that he wouldn’t have to let her go. But he knew he had to let her go. He couldn’t risk bringing her harm just because he was selfish.

Once he trusted himself to speak without breaking down, he released her. You can’t come over again. It’s too dangerous.

I tried to call, but you didn’t answer.

She was right. He hadn’t picked up the phone when it rang. He was too afraid his father was listening.

He’s watching, and for all I know, he’s listening, too, Steve whispered.

Who? she asked. The panther?

My father. He watches and listens through the panther.

Her eyes widened in surprise. But how...?

The panther is linked to him. They have a special connection. I don’t understand how it works. I just know they communicate with each other, so whatever the panther sees and hears, he relays that to my father. He led her away from the door, thinking it might be safer to be in the center of the room. It’s too dangerous for us to be together. My father doesn’t want anyone getting close to me. He has this insane notion that he’s going to take me to the Seventh Dimension after I graduate so we can rule that world together.

The Seventh Dimension?

It’s complicated. I don’t understand all of it, so I can’t even begin to explain it to you. But what I do know is that I can’t do what he wants. He was killing my friends because they were getting in the way of his plans. That’s why I had to leave Ohio.

She took a moment to absorb what he’d just told her. Where’s your mother? Is she dead?

She could be by now. One day I came home from school and she was no longer there. It’s been my father and me ever since I was five.

Do you have any idea why she left or where she went?

She left my dad a note. She said that she didn’t want to be tied down to a husband and kid anymore. She didn’t say where she went. She just wanted to disappear, I guess.

Oh.

Look, Jessica, my father has decided that he doesn’t want you near me. I’m not going to watch more people die because of me. Last night was proof that I can’t escape my father. All I can do is hope that he’ll leave you alone if I do what he wants.

But if you don’t stand up to him, then you’ll only teach him that he can manipulate you. He’ll get you to do whatever he wants.

He forced aside her comment. Deep down, he feared that she was right. But he couldn’t do anything to put her in danger, even if what she said was true. He’s too powerful. You have no idea what he can do.

You’re right, she admitted. I don’t know what he can do. But we need to try. If we don’t fight him, then we’ve already failed. When he shook his head, she cupped his face in her hands and turned his face so he had to look at her. One thing my parents told me is that when something is important to you, you do everything you can to fight for it. Sometimes you have to take the risk. I’m willing to take a risk for us to be together.

He studied her expression. She believed what she was saying. She thought if they stood their ground, they had the chance to win. But they didn’t. He knew they didn’t.

She hugged him, and before he could stop himself, he wrapped his arms around her. She was so wonderful to hold. For a moment, a very brief moment, he believed that it really was possible—that they actually stood a chance of winning. I love you, he whispered, his lips touching her hair.

I love you, too.

He brought his lips to hers and kissed