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, 1 nodded with

my daughter who was making a soft cooing sound

act had more tears

my heart was content that my daughter was safe and unharmed

put a smile on my face,

lowered and her

were you crying,

"Because I missed you?"

huffed and pointed a finger at

"No lies.

Remember?"

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

and flung her arms in an effort to get away

had dropped as we made our

darted to my bedroom and cold fear slithered

to live in, maybe

also I couldn't just live here any

I didn't sleep.

I couldn't.

clutched in my hand under the blanket

had packed all of our things which were three boxes and two small

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

"Elsa…"

head to look at my mother, my eyes

she said, "Did you think

I swallowed.

if we go back to Black Mountain after so

distance and time

going to tell her that sometimes distance and time festers the wound more, not

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

no

telling her how much true 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 like this,

in a

"Mom, please."

up and walked to

beside her on the bed,

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

just need to

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

as I said,

"Elsa…"

knew what price I would've to pay

I shook my head.

"It's my job.

company provides free health care for

about for the last two days, since I knew that Kristian would take care of my

believed him because he hated

to

rasped, her eyes shimmering

her to sit up and hugged

to, right? And you made me strong, without

face and

the happiness you deserve and your prince charming will come to make it

I chuckled.

had stopped dreaming about a

he wasn't as charming as one would think to begin with, he

with vengeance in

have

the bed

slipped my hand under her head and slowly

she wrapped her arms

"Wake up, Angel…."

soft voice

there's my

and I smiled while my mother shook her