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?"

were running from one place to another, 1 nodded with

making a soft cooing sound like I do for her as she rubbed

had more tears running down my

was content that my daughter was safe and unharmed in front of me, I pulled

smile

lowered and

were you crying,

"Because I missed you?"

pointed a

"No lies.

Remember?"

I curled my arm around her and pulled her up in my arms as I used my

arms in an effort to

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

bedroom and cold fear slithered down my

have to find a new place to

would save me time and also I couldn't just

I didn't sleep.

I couldn't.

hand under the

all of our things which

here and I was waiting for the sun to rise so we

"Elsa…"

at my mother, my eyes reluctant to

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

I swallowed.

notion that if we go back to Black Mountain after so many years

distance and time makes the heart

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

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

is no

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

My new boss.

"I don't know."

off and then thought of her words before she said, "Anna

I should live in a women shelter

"Mom, please."

stood up and walked

on the bed,

salary at the end of the month,

to spend

her veins were standing out and her skin was

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

"Elsa…"

knew what price I

I shook my head.

"It's my job.

provides free health care for their

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

because

have to be

her eyes shimmering

her to sit

right? And you made me strong,

cupped my face and kissed

the happiness you deserve and your prince charming will come

I chuckled.

about a prince charming

wasn't as charming as

was the devil with vengeance in his cold grey eyes and hate in

"We have to

and rounded the bed to wake my

her head and slowly pulled her

wrapped her arms

"Wake up, Angel…."

said in a soft voice

on, there's my

while my mother shook