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.

this morning were exactly the same as hers but hers were

"What is his name?"

who she was

a 'him', it was her father she

lips and replied, this time with the

her

to pressing her face into my body

arms tightened around her and I replied,

"Good night, Mama."

looked up to kiss

puckered my lips and

"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

the look

so furious and vulnerable like he hated how much

arms, cared for me until he

closed my eyes only for them to pop back open when my phone

around without jostling the little angel

unlocked it, his text appeared

"Open the door."

widened at the three words on the

if I should reply to

would think that I was

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

typed back my reply, "Are you

mother just

Go away."

"I am waiting."

my teeth and looked at the

out of the bed and tucked the blanket

chair and pulled it

the hallway and made my way

through the peephole

the door, little

standing right behind this

his deep voice and the way he

"Little girl…"

Oh god.

I cleared my throat and said, "Mom

can't let

don't want you to let

in your

soft scoff which made me frown in

He was talking oddly.

little girl… I want to take you upstairs to

he slapped his hand on the door, it wasn't loud but it made me jump

"Little girl?"

I fumbled to unlock the door or he would start banging loudly and wake up both the other residents in

I opened the door and my eyes

without a shirt, wearing only low hung pajamas looking like he had just walked out of the bedroom half

are you

why are

a gasp as his strong arm circled

"Kristian!"

don't want your mother to