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?"

knew why we were running from one place to another, 1 nodded with

was making a soft cooing sound like I do

had more tears running down

heart was content that my daughter was safe and unharmed in front of me, I pulled back and looked into her angelic

my tears and put a smile

lowered and her nose

were you crying,

"Because I missed you?"

huffed and pointed

"No lies.

Remember?"

and pulled her up in my arms as I used my other hand to tickle her

giggled and flung her arms in an effort to get away

the bags I had dropped as we made our

and cold fear

to live in,

would save me time and also I couldn't

I didn't sleep.

I couldn't.

in mom's room, with a knife clutched in my hand under the blanket that was on my lap, while mom and Anna slept

which were three boxes

get out of here and I was waiting for the sun to rise so

"Elsa…"

at my mother, my eyes reluctant

pale gaze was troubled as she said, "Did you think about

I swallowed.

we go back to Black Mountain after so many years

distance and

and time festers the wound more, not giving

she thought would help us was the same man who had brought me to my knees twice in the

is no one

not telling her how much true that was because the man that would've been the reason for me

My new boss.

"I don't know."

words before she said,

I should live in a women shelter

"Mom, please."

stood up and walked

beside her on the bed, I

the salary at the end

need to spend a

mine, noticing how her veins were standing out and her skin

stung but I sniffed my tears back as I said, "And I found a way to have your

"Elsa…"

she knew what

I shook my head.

"It's my job.

free health care for their employees

last two days, since I knew that Kristian would take

I believed him because he

have to be

her eyes shimmering

helped her to sit

has to, right? And you made me strong, without you I wouldn't

face and kissed my

the happiness you deserve and

I chuckled.

stopped dreaming about a prince charming

but then again he wasn't as charming as one would

in his cold grey eyes and

"We have to

the bed to

and slowly pulled her up

she wrapped her arms

"Wake up, Angel…."

a soft voice as I caressed her

on, there's my good

an annoyed sound and I smiled while my mother shook her head