As Keith walked away, I lay there, shivering and broken. The physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional wreckage left in his wake. I pulled the tattered remnants of my dress around me, feeling the sharp sting of betrayal and self-loathing.My legs were weak and shaky but I managed to pull myself up and stumble towards the bathroom attached to my bedroom. Each step felt like a mile, but I made it to the bathroom and filled the bathtub with hot water, the steam rising to meet my tear-streaked face.As I sank into the water, the heat enveloped me, but it couldn’t wash away the filth I felt inside. The events replayed in my mind like a horror movie, each scene more unbearable than the last. Keith's voice echoed in my ears, his touch lingering on my skin like a brand.I closed my eyes, trying to drown out the memories. The water lapped gently against me, its warmth a stark contrast to the cold emptiness I felt within. How did we end up here? What twisted path had led us to this p
KEITH POV I stormed into my room, slamming the door shut with a force that rattled the frame. In a fit of rage, I punched the wall, leaving another mark among many. "Ungrateful," I snarled, clenching my fists. "How could she let anyone touch her, insult her like that?" My mind raced with thoughts of Jenna as I paced the room, muttering under my breath. "I'll kill anyone who tries to touch her, or even look at her the wrong way," I vowed, my voice shaking with anger. "If that's what it takes to keep her as mine."My phone buzzed, breaking through my fury. I answered it, my voice taut with tension. "What?""Sir, we've found and monitored Raphael closely for the past few days. He's not the one sending those threatening texts to you, and he's not getting any closer to your home or working area."My grip tightened on the phone. "Then who is it?""We still don't know, sir."Frustration bubbled inside me, and I squeezed my eyes shut, taking deep breaths to calm the storm brewing within. "
The police arrived, their lights flashing red and blue, casting an eerie glow over the scene. Officers surrounded us, their radios crackling with urgent chatter. Paramedics quickly assessed Keith's condition, loading him onto a stretcher and rushing him to the ambulance. I followed closely, my heart in my throat and hands stained with Keith's blood.***At the hospital, I paced the waiting room, tears streaming down my face. An hour felt like an eternity as I replayed the events over and over in my mind. Finally, a nurse emerged, her expression plain. I rushed to her, desperate for news, but the nurse walked past without a word, her focus elsewhere.My breath caught in my throat as I spotted the surgeon, still in scrubs, stepping out from the ER. I ran to him, my voice trembling. "Is he going to be okay?""He's going to be fine, ma'am. The bullet missed his heart by an inch. He's stable now and will need some time to recover, but he's out of danger."Relief washed over me, my legs
"Leaving? Keith, you need to rest. The doctor said—""Screw what the doctor said," Keith interrupted, his voice firm despite his weakened state. "The longer I stay, the more in danger you will be. We're going back home now.""Keith, you're in no condition to go anywhere right now," I argued, my heart pounding with worry. "You need to recover. Forget about my safety for now and-"Keith stood up slowly, wincing but appearing strong. "I can rest later. Right now, we need to stay ahead of whoever's after us. They won't stop until they get what they want."I hesitated, torn between the need to protect him and the fear of what might happen if we left the safety of the hospital. But looking into his eyes, I saw the same man that had saved my life."Alright," I said softly."But only if you promise to take it easy," I added, my voice resolute. "No heroics, Keith. I need you in one piece."He nodded, the look in his eyes tempered with the exhaustion he couldn't fully hide. "Deal."We moved qui
The sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room as I stirred awake. I attempted to slip out of bed, but Keith's arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back into the cocoon of our shared warmth. His head nuzzled into the curve of my neck, and he inhaled deeply."You smell so good," he murmured against my skin before his lips began to trail soft kisses along my neck, sending shivers down her spine. As his mouth found a sensitive spot, he sucked gently, making my nipples harden in response. I sighed in pleasure, my voice a breathy whisper, "I'm hungry."Keith's hand moved up to cup my breast, his thumb brushing over my hardened nipple. "I'll make breakfast," I managed to say, trying to rise from the bed, but his grip on my neck came in a firm but harmless choke. He guided me back down, our eyes locking as soon as I looked at his handsome face. Tell me once more, how did I manage to get such a man to marry?Keith's hand moved with deliberate slowness,
KEITH POVI flipped the last pancake onto a plate, the aroma of cinnamon and vanilla wafting through the kitchen. As I wiped my hands on a towel, my phone rang. I slipped it out of my pocket and answered. The voice on the other end was urgent."Mr Clementine, we've identified the stalker and his location.""Who is it?" I asked what is the main topic for me."Sir, it's..."On hearing the answer, the name hit me like a punch to the gut. Rage ignited within me, a fire I hadn't felt in years. My jaw tightened, and I gripped the phone so hard I thought it might shatter.Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. I knew exactly who it was and she came to me at a very wrong time. I was in no mood to smile. Not when someone who is after Jenna's life is still alive."Smells amazing," Jenna said, wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her cheek against my back. Her warmth usually brought me comfort, but today it barely registered through the haze of fury.I began to turn, my movements st
WRITER POVYohan pushed open the door to his apartment, his phone pressed to his ear. The hallway was dim, the only light coming from the streetlamps outside. He stepped inside, feeling the familiar creak of the floorboards under his feet. As he shut the door behind him, he kicked off his shoes, letting them clatter against the wall."Yeah, I'm just getting in," he said into the phone, his voice echoing slightly in the stillness of the apartment. "I'll call you back in a bit."He ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket. With a sigh, he reached for the light switch on the wall. The fluorescent bulbs flickered to life, casting a harsh light over the room. And then he froze, like the blood in his body had turned to ice. His lips quivered and his voice stopped working at that split second."You didn't think you'd be this easy to find, did you?" Keith's devilish eyes moved from the floorboards to Yohan Farrell's face.In the middle of the living room, Keith was seated on a w
KEITH POVIndeed, for a man like me, there was nothing more satisfying than watching another human's life slip away.The blood. The cries. The agony they feel right before they cross over to hell. Those were the things I lived for.Or at least, I used to live for.I've tried so much to leave that life behind but it haunts me every day. Lately, it's been getting worse. I've become more bloodthirsty. Especially each time Jenna's life is on the line.I can't help it. I love her that much. I've never loved to this point ever since my late wife died and maybe I just desperately don't want to lose the only love I've found since then.I don't care anymore. It doesn't matter how far I have to go and how many bridges I have to burn down.I WILL KEEP HER SAFE.Cecilia tapped frantically on Keith's hand to set her free as she struggled for breath.My grip tightened for a moment longer before I released Cecilia, causing her to fall to her knees, gasping for air."You'll regret this, Keith," she