Blackmailed For Love

My mother was back home.

She was feeling a little drowsy from all the medicines but no one woul even guess that from how Anna and her Gammy had greeted each other.

One would think that instead of just a day they had been separated for a month.

1 I smiled as Anna regaled her grandmother with all the details of what she did downstairs with Bianca.

was pleased to know that my daughter had hit it off with her babysitter, who was really a nice girl.

"Come on, it's time to go to bed."

I said as I stood from the chair I was sitting on while my little angel went on and on about the new friends she made.

Walking to my mother, I kissed her forehead and whispered, "Good night."

I looked at my daughter and said, "Tell Gammy good night and come here."

Anna pouted even though she was blinking hard and there was exhaustion in her eyes.

"But, Mama, I missed Gammy."

"And, she will be here tomorrow.

Come on, then…"

I rounded the bed and held my arms open for her.

She pouted but turned to her grandmother and kissed her forehead.

"Good night, Gammy."

"Good night, my angel."

My mother replied, caressing her head in a loving gesture.

Anna stood up on the bed and padded toward me.

I engulfed her in my arms and she said, "You know, Mama I'm too big now."

I kissed her cheek, pretending to eat her soft cheek.

She let out a high pitched giggle and I said, "My angel will never be too big…"

1 She circled her arms around me and laid her head down on my shoulder.

I could feel that she was going to fall asleep in the next ten minutes.

When we reached the bedroom, I made my way straight to the bathroom.

I sat my angel down on the counter and said, "It's brush time."

Without saying anything, she held out her hand for her toothbrush like the good girl she was.

It was when we both were sliding under the covers and she had her face buried in my chest, she asked, "Mama, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, baby…"

I caressed her dark hair, marveling at the gift god had given me even though most of the time he ignores my prayers, I will always be grateful for her.

She looked up and met my eyes.

in them just this morning were exactly the

"What is his name?"

I didn't even have to know who she was talking about, I knew

she talked about a 'him', it was her father she wanted to know

lips and replied,

closed her eyes and

went back to pressing her face into my body and asked her

around her and I replied,

"Good night, Mama."

and looked up to kiss

my lips and brushed

"Good night, my angel."

felt exhausted my eyes refused to close and fell asleep, all I could think about was him as my mind played out what had happened in

the look in his

looked so furious and vulnerable like he hated how much I had

in his arms, cared for me until

pop back open when my phone indicated

jostling the little angel attached to me and picked up

it, his text

"Open the door."

eyes widened at the three words on the

if I

he would think that I was

then, "Open the door or I'm going to ring the doorbell

quickly typed back my reply, "Are you

just

Go away."

"I am waiting."

my teeth and looked at the sleeping angel by my

slid out of the bed and tucked the blanket around

picked up the robe from the chair and pulled it on

went out into the hallway and made

through the peephole

the door,

you're standing right behind this

sucked in a breath at his deep voice and

"Little girl…"

Oh god.

my lips, I cleared my throat and said, "Mom is

can't let you

you to let

in

scoff which made me frown in

He was talking oddly.

to take you upstairs to my

hand on the door, it wasn't loud but it made me jump all the

"Little girl?"

would start banging loudly and wake up both the other residents in

opened the door and my eyes fell on him,

low hung pajamas looking

you doing here,

"And why are

as his strong arm circled my

"Kristian!"

your