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.

me with dark desire and betrayal in them just this morning were exactly the same as

"What is his name?"

didn't even have to know who she

was her father she wanted to know

lips and replied, this time

closed her

my body and asked her next question, "Will

around her and

"Good night, Mama."

looked up to

my lips and brushed it

"Good night, my angel."

I 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 his office like some dirty

forget the look in

furious and vulnerable like he hated how much I

held me in his arms, cared for me

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

jostling the little angel attached to me and picked up my

unlocked it, his text appeared

"Open the door."

the

if I

would think that I was asleep and

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

my reply, "Are you insane? It's close

mother just

Go away."

"I am waiting."

my teeth and looked at the sleeping

bed and tucked the blanket

up the robe from the chair and pulled it on over my camisole

went out into the hallway and made

peeked through the peephole and

door, little

know you're standing

at his deep voice and the way he

"Little girl…"

Oh god.

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

can't let

don't want you

"Not in your

which made

He was talking oddly.

I want to take you upstairs

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

"Little girl?"

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

I opened the door and my eyes fell on

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

are you

asked, "And why are

up on a gasp as his strong arm

"Kristian!"

your mother to wake up,