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

focused back on my daughter who was making a soft cooing sound like I do for her as she rubbed my

more tears running down my

was safe and unharmed in front of me, I pulled back and looked into her

tears and put a smile on

lowered and

were you

"Because I missed you?"

pointed a

"No lies.

Remember?"

up in my arms as I

her arms in an effort

dropped as

my bedroom and cold fear slithered down my

have to find a new place to live in, maybe close to the

would save me time and also I couldn't just live

I didn't sleep.

I couldn't.

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

had packed all of our things which were three boxes and

and I was waiting for

"Elsa…"

look at my mother,

pale gaze was troubled as she said,

I swallowed.

go back

her, distance and

who was going to tell her that sometimes distance and time festers the wound more, not giving it

to my knees twice in the last two days in

no one there,

the man that would've been the reason for me to go back to that place was here

My new boss.

"I don't know."

thought of her words before

in

"Mom, please."

and walked to

on the bed, I

salary at the end of the

need to spend a

her hand in mine, noticing how her veins were standing out

I said, "And

"Elsa…"

she knew what price

I shook my head.

"It's my job.

provides free health care for their employees

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

because he hated me,

shouldn't have to be this strong,

her eyes shimmering with

to sit

to, right? And you made me strong, without you I

face and kissed

you deserve and your prince

I chuckled.

about a prince charming long

at me like the villain of the story but then again he wasn't as charming as one would think

the devil with vengeance in his cold grey eyes and hate

"We have to

the bed to

under her head and slowly

she wrapped her arms

"Wake up, Angel…."

a soft voice

there's my good

my mother shook her head