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

"What is his name?"

even have to know who she was talking about, I knew

was her father

replied, this time with

her eyes and

to pressing her face into my body and asked her next question, "Will I

her and I replied,

"Good night, Mama."

and looked up to

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 had

couldn't forget the look in

furious and vulnerable like he hated how much I had

then he had held me in his arms, cared for me until he had gone back to being

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

around without jostling the little angel

I unlocked it, his

"Open the door."

the three words on the

if I should

that I

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

fingers shook as I quickly typed back my reply, "Are you insane? It's

just fell

Go away."

"I am waiting."

teeth and looked at the sleeping angel

bed and tucked the blanket around her small

picked up the robe from the chair and pulled it on over

out into the hallway and made my way

peeked through the peephole and yup there he

the door, little

you're standing

at his deep

"Little girl…"

Oh god.

my throat and

can't let

you to let

in

scoff which made

He was talking oddly.

little girl… I want to take you upstairs to

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

"Little girl?"

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

and my eyes fell on him, I was

without a shirt, wearing only low hung pajamas looking like he had just

are you doing

"And why are you

as his strong arm circled my waist and

"Kristian!"

"Hush… We don't want your mother