Unknown: Hi, Harper.
Ice-cold dread hit me then.
That note. Silas had found my car parked at my new workplace. And now he’d found my new cell number.
Did he seriously think disguising himself behind an unknown number would fool me into thinking it wasn’t him? But Silas loved to play head games.
Maybe it wasn’t him though. Maybe it was just a robo call?Please let it be.
I sat up slowly, the sheets pooling around my waist as I stared at the screen.
Me: Who is this?
Unknown: Who do you think it is?
Unbelievable.
Itwashim. It was so like Silas to answer a question with a question.
The absolute balls on this man.
I could practically hear Silas’s smug voice in those words.Who do you think it is?Like this was some game. Like I wassupposed to play along, beg him to leave me alone, give him the satisfaction of knowing he still had power over me.
Not anymore.
I thought about the girl who fled his apartment in the dark. Scared and weak. The girl who flinched at her own shadow. Who changed her number. Who moved hundreds of miles away just to escape him.
I didn’t want to be her anymore.
And honestly? After watching Knox—who still found ways to protect people, who still refused to cower, even when the system had every advantage over him—flex his strength, something hot and reckless surged through my chest. Maybe it was stupid. Maybe I should have just blocked him and been done with it. But I was so tired of letting him think he had some control over me.
I wanted him to know I wasn’t afraid anymore.
Even if that was only half true.
Me: I’m going to tell you one last time, Silas. Leave me the fuck alone.
Me: You’re manipulative. Controlling. Abusive.
Me: You hit me for the last time. I will NEVER take you back.
My fingers were shaking now, but I couldn’t stop. Every word felt like a brick I was laying between us. A wall he couldn’t climb.
Me: You might have gotten away with it before. The cops believed your bullshit story about me “falling.” But I will screenshot this entire conversation and send it to them. Along with your fucking note. I’ll get a restraining order. I’ll do whatever it takes.
Me: Stay the fuck away from me.
I was breathing hard, my pulse pounding in my ears.
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
I waited, hoping he’d send a written threat so I’d finally have the proof I needed to get the law on my side here.
Finally, a message came through.
