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

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

more tears

daughter was safe and unharmed in front of me, I

and put a smile

lowered and

you

"Because I missed you?"

pointed a

"No lies.

Remember?"

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

arms in an effort

I had dropped as we made our way to the

my bedroom and

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

would save me time and also

I didn't sleep.

I couldn't.

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

which were three boxes and two small

out of here and I was waiting for

"Elsa…"

my head to look at my mother, my eyes reluctant to

she said, "Did you think about going

I swallowed.

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

distance and

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

the man 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

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

My new boss.

"I don't know."

off and then thought of her words before she

live in a women

"Mom, please."

stood up and walked to

bed, I said, "I have

when I get the salary at the end of

need to spend

how her veins were standing out and her skin was so

my tears back as I said, "And

"Elsa…"

what price I would've

I shook my head.

"It's my job.

care

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

believed him because he hated me,

to be this

rasped, her eyes shimmering

to sit up and hugged her

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

face and kissed

will have all the happiness you deserve and your prince

I chuckled.

about a prince charming

prince charming looked at me like the villain of the story but then again he wasn't as charming

in his cold grey

"We have

rounded the bed

slipped my hand under her head and

grumbled as she wrapped her

"Wake up, Angel…."

voice as

there's my

smiled while my mother shook her