Blackmailed For Love

I entered the apartment with one last look over my shoulder, making sure that Kristian didn't follow me.

My heart beat like crazy in my chest and my whole body still hummed from his closeness, the way he had pressed into my body reminding me of the nights we had spent in each other's arms, in secret- grabbing forbidden moments away from public eyes.

Losing ourselves in each other.

My innocent love and his fierce possession.

We had burned for each other.

Two poles desperate to connect.

But the universe had its way and pulled us apart.

4 I took a deep breath to control my emotions and took a step further into the apartment only to pause when my foot landed on something.

When I looked down I found a white envelope without any markings.

Cautiously, I picked it up and shuddered at the way the back of my neck tingled with foreboding.

I tore the envelope and upended its contents in my palm.

All the breath left my lungs as the three photos landed in my palm.

One of me in the diner.

The other with Anna outside this building.

And another that sent a shiver of revulsion and fear through me, it was of me sleeping in my bed with my daughter.

2 The photos slipped from my nerveless fingers as apprehension gripped me, only to up in its intensity when my eyes landed on the back of one of the photos.

"You should have gotten rid of her.

I don't like the reminder of the fact that someone had you before me.

Don't worry, I have a solution for it."

2 I swallowed the bile, my throat closing up and a new kind of terror tore through me as an anguished cry left me.

"Anna!"

Footsteps echoed and then two pairs of legs came in front of me.

I hadn't realized I had dropped down on my knees.

"Mama…"

My sweet angel touched my cheek with her small hand and I looked up to find her grey eyes staring back at me with concern.

"Mama, you are crying."

I grabbed her and hugged her tight to me.

"Anna… My angel…"

I cupped her face and kissed her, my emotions going out of control.

I had thought I had left the sick stalker behind when I changed cities.

He had left veiled threats before but now he was openly threatening my daughter.

I didn't know who it was and why he had targeted me but I couldn't let him harm my daughter.

Even the thought broke me apart.

"Hush… Mama, no crying."

She frowned down at me, admonishing me.

I sniffled on hearing her tight voice.

My little domineering angel.

A soft hand caressed my head and I looked up to find my mother standing thëre looking frail and tired in her blue nightgown.

She only asked one thing, "Again?"

one place to another,

was making a soft cooing sound like I

act had more tears running

my heart was content that my daughter was safe and unharmed

put a smile on my face, "I brought you ice

and her nose

were you

"Because I missed you?"

and pointed

"No lies.

Remember?"

and pulled her up in my arms as I used my

in an effort to get away from

picked up the bags I had dropped as we made

to my bedroom and

to live

and also I

I didn't sleep.

I couldn't.

my hand under

our things which

I was waiting

"Elsa…"

turned my head to look at my mother, my

troubled as she said, "Did you think

I swallowed.

notion that if we go back to Black Mountain after so many years Kristian would've forgiven

her, distance and time makes

tell her that sometimes distance and time festers the wound more, not giving it a chance to completely

she thought would help us was the same man who had brought me to my knees twice in the last two days in the name of the payback that he

no one

how much true that was because the man that would've been

My new boss.

"I don't know."

trailed off and then thought of her words before she said, "Anna shouldn't suffer

should live in a women

"Mom, please."

and walked to

her on the bed, I said, "I

get the salary at the end of the month, everything will be

need to spend

how her veins were standing out and her

back as I said,

"Elsa…"

what price I would've to pay

I shook my head.

"It's my job.

care for their

had been thinking about for the last two days, since I

him because

shouldn't have to be this

eyes

helped her to sit up and hugged

And you made me strong, without

cupped my face

all the happiness you deserve and your prince charming will come

I chuckled.

had stopped dreaming about a prince

me like the villain of the story but then again he wasn't as charming as one would think to begin with, he was always intense and more

now he was the devil with vengeance in his cold grey eyes and hate in

have

the bed

hand under her head and slowly pulled her up

as she wrapped her arms around

"Wake up, Angel…."

said in a soft voice as

there's

and I smiled while my mother shook her