Ughhh I shouldn’t respond. I should delete his number, block him, and pray he doesn’t show up here. But my thumb hovers over the keyboard. I have to respond… otherwise he’ll freak out. I can imagine him throwing Molotov cocktails through the windows just to get my attention.
Me:Don’t worry, I am lol. Just having a chill day with the fam.
Within seconds, the typing bubbles flicker, then vanish, then—
King:Chill day, huh? Sounds boring. You missing me yet?
King:I can’t stop thinking about you…
I can’t stop thinking about him either, but for all the opposite reasons. I need an ounce of space. The slightest buffer to give me the room to breathe. A sliver of distance from the Evans bloodline. What did I do to deserve this obsession?
I stare at the messages, feeling trapped and wanting to flee at the same time. Getting devoured by a pack of wolves doesn’t sound too awful right now. But if I run, he’ll find me. Somehow, somewhere.
Okay… let’s give him a morsel to be satisfied.
Me: Of course I miss you King. But today is family day. See you tomorrow, maybe?
The dots flash rapidly, my phone chirps.
King:Don’t worry, I’ll be there soon… be ready for me.
Fuck me… so much for a chill day with the fam. Why won’t this man takenofor an answer? Charlie was right, his brother is a certifiedmenace. All fun and games until you want to be out of his sight and he wants to yank the leash tight.
The house begins to feel small. Windows closing in on the periphery of my vision. Shadows appearing in the corners.
Then the doorbell rings.
The echoing chime makes me flinch. The girls don’t look up from their devices, their eyes are glued to the screens, fingers frantically clicking the little buttons. My sisters lost in their adolescent innocence.
My heart races, drops of sweat dripping down my torso as my feet drag closer to the door. How is this going to go…
When I pull the door open, it’s a middle-aged woman that greets me with a polished bleach smile and faded blonde hair tucked back in a ponytail.
“Hello! I’m Martha. You must be Austin! Your father has told me so much about you. He’s really proud of you, you know."
For a second I’m lost in shock. My father talks about me? Proudly?
“Uh… nice to meet you too,” I stammer, letting out a heavy exhale, my chest relieved by her presence.
Martha laughs in an easy professional manner. “Yeah, during the wedding planning process, you really get to know your clients. Your father has been one of my favorites to work with!” She says, as she makes her way inside the house to the patio doors.
I linger in the threshold, my hand gripping the doorknob. My gaze searching for a silhouette hiding in the hedges, but nothing yet… I click the deadbolt into place before one can appear.
It should bringrelief. But it doesn’t. It only ratchets my anxiety to a higher cliff.
Drew wants me. He won’t stop until I satisfy him. But will he ever be satisfied?
I know he’ll keep on chasing me until I bend over to his will. He owns me with his brand. A silly mistake that I should’ve rejected, but his trance over my mind at that time fucked up my head. He was my savior in the moment that I needed one. And now he wants to lock me in a cage and only let me loose with his permission.
My phone buzzes again—
King:I’m here. Parked on the street.
My heart flutters like a hummingbird’s as I read the text. I can either go to him or wait until the inevitable plays out at the doorstep. But I’d rather spare the girls from witnessing whatever chaos may transpire.
Me:Okay! Be there in a minute.
I shove my phone into my pocket, summoning a deep breath to flood my blood with some fresh oxygen. My pulse starts to race as I step out to the front yard, increasing with every step closer to his pitch-black Range Rover.
