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?"

running from one place to

who was making a soft cooing sound like I do for her

more tears running

while when my heart was content that my daughter was safe and unharmed in front

my tears and put a smile on my face, "I brought you

lowered and her nose

were you crying,

"Because I missed you?"

huffed and pointed a finger

"No lies.

Remember?"

her up in my arms as I used my other hand to

and flung her arms in an effort

smiled and picked up the bags I had dropped as we made our way to

darted to my bedroom and cold fear

to live in, maybe close

would save me time and also I couldn't just

I didn't sleep.

I couldn't.

room, with a knife clutched in my hand under the blanket that was on my lap, while mom

which were three boxes and

here and I was waiting for the sun to

"Elsa…"

turned my head to look at my mother, my eyes

she said, "Did you

I swallowed.

that if we go back to Black Mountain after so many

and time makes the

sometimes distance and time festers the wound more,

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

no one

that was because the man that would've been

My new boss.

"I don't know."

her words before she said, "Anna shouldn't suffer

should live in

"Mom, please."

up and walked to

on the bed, I said, "I

the salary at the end of the month, everything

to spend

veins were standing out and her skin

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

"Elsa…"

what price

I shook my head.

"It's my job.

free health care for their

was one I had been thinking about for the last two days, since I knew that Kristian would take care

believed him because he hated me, not

shouldn't have to be

rasped, her eyes shimmering

sit up and hugged her

made me strong, without you I wouldn't have

my face and kissed

all the happiness you deserve and your prince charming will come

I chuckled.

stopped dreaming about a prince

charming looked at me like the villain of the story but then again he wasn't as charming as one would think to begin with, he

in his cold grey eyes

have

the bed to

head and slowly pulled her up into my

grumbled as she wrapped her

"Wake up, Angel…."

said in a soft voice

there's my good

while my mother