Kayden stayed in the bathroom with me while I bathed. The hot water initially stung my ass cheek, and I still can’t believe he marked me—and Ilikedit.
Once I was done washing my body, Kayden helped me out of the tub and dried me off. His attention was unlike anything I’ve experienced. He’s caring and thoughtful, yet dark, intimidating, and dangerous. If I were a wiser woman I might question some of the red flags I’m noticing now that he’s gone. Like for instance, how did we get into my apartment building when he hadn’t even asked for my keys until we reached my apartment door? I was so caught in the moment I hadn’t realized it until I replayed the entire afternoon in my head. I’m convinced now that he owns the building, which was always a suspicion with the low rent, but I always overlooked that. Now it’s slapping me in the face. I don’t like feeling like I owe anyone anything, and right now, Kayden is starting to feel like a sugar daddy. Not only that, but the puzzle pieces are coming together, and I’m confident Kayden is my stalker. Do I confront him about it?
I contemplate all of this while I cuddle on the couch with Amzee. Kayden left a bit ago, only after I insisted numerous times that I was fine and that Melody would be here tonightanyways. The man is over the top, that’s for sure, but in the most desirable way.
The sun has finally set and Melody still isn’t back. I send her a quick text asking when she’ll be back as a knock at the door interrupts me—it’s about time!
Scooting Amzee off my lap, I make my way to the kitchen and swing the door open. “Girl, it’s about t?—”
Before I can finish my sentence, Derek puts his hand violently against my mouth and shoves his way into my apartment. “Shut up and don’t even try to scream.” I slam into the table and a sharp pain erupts in my lower back, shooting up my spine. I cry out but it’s useless. Derek slams the door shut behind him and pushes me further back against the table, my back screaming in protest.
“Shut up, Dani. You’re going to listen to me very carefully,” he says as he brings a gun to my head. My eyes widen and my bladder threatens to loosen, but I hold it together, just barely. Derek seems strung out—his hair is a mess, his clothes are rumpled, and his pupils are blown wide open. Not only that, but his entire face is bruised and he’s missing a front tooth. What the fuck happened to him?
“I’m going to remove my hand, and you’re not going to scream or make a single sound unless you want a bullet to the brain. Do I make myself clear?”
I nod my head frantically. My thoughts are jumbled as I try to figure out a way to get out of this mess.
Derek removes his hand and I straighten against the table, taking a step forward. My back thanks me. Derek lets loose a string of curses, and I hiccup back a cry trying not to make a single sound. He paces in my small kitchen, pulling at his hair as he mumbles to himself. Did he have a mental break?
“This isn’t how things were supposed to be, Dani. We were meant to be together,” he says more to himself than me as hecontinues to pace. He waves the gun in my direction, forcing me back against the table. As I bump into it, I wince in pain, the sensation traveling down my legs this time.
“If you hadn’t broke things off, things wouldn’t have escalated to this. This is all your fault,” he says as he rounds on me again, spit flying from his lips and hitting me in the face. He takes out his cell and I think he’s about to place a call, but instead the flash of the camera blinds me for a second.What the fuck?He must send the picture to someone because a few seconds later his phone rings. I can’t hear what the other person is saying, but Derek smiles—and it’s not a pleasant one.
“You’re doubling the payment? Understood, I’ll bring her right away,” he says just before he hangs up the phone.
“This is your fault,” he repeats, putting his cell away and tapping the gun against my cheek. The cold metal bites into my skin, causing my body to tremble in fear.
“You did this to yourself, Dani. You had numerous chances to right things between us. We would have been so good together. I would have taken care of you.”
“Derek, you know that’s not true,” I whisper.
“SHUT THE FUCK UP!”
I stand up straighter. I can’t—no, I won’t—let this man or any man, put me in that place of fear ever again. If he shoots me, so be it. I don’t fear death—not anymore. Kayden would probably say I have a death wish, and for a moment, I have a pang of regret. If I die today, I won’t get to see where things go with Kayden. The man that holds my heart without even realizing it. I spent three years dreaming of him, and he ended up being everything I hoped for. I don’t think I’m destined for a happily ever after, though.
Accepting my fate, I fight through my fear and take a step into Derek’s space, causing him to step back as I get in his face.
“You don’t deserve any part of me, Derek. I’m not a possession that you can own. When I said we were done, I meant every single word. You want to shoot me?” I ask, my eyes narrowing as I see him raise the gun to my head again. “Go ahead, do it. I fuckingdareyou.”
Faster than I thought he would be capable of, he smashes the gun against my temple, and my world erupts in a bright flash of light as everything tips. I land on all fours, my hand immediately raising to my temple. My trembling hand comes away wet with blood.Fucking asshole.
“Fuck, no, no, no. I was supposed to bring you in unharmed. FUCK!”
Bring me? Bring me where? I peer up at Derek, confusion pulling my eyebrows together as I try to make sense of his words.
“What are you talking about, Derek?”
He peers down at me, eyes wide, hands shaking. “I was supposed to bring you to him, not a scratch on you. He’s going to sell you, part of paying back my debt. Fucking hell. He’ll have my head for this. What the fuck do I do…”
He paces again and I rise to my feet, my knees trembling, my stance unsteady.
“He can’t know it was me. What do I tell him… I’ll just tell him it was that fuck boy you were with at the club. That’s right… I saved you, came in to find him beating you, and then I shot him.”
He’s delusional—out of his fucking mind.
Derek whips around and lands a punch to my right cheek, and I feel the moment the skin splits open.
“I’m sorry, Dani, I’m so sorry. I have to make it believable. You don’t understand what he’ll do to me otherwise.”
