Chapter 106
CILLIAN
Why did die have to be so goddamn stubborn Erica Davis was infuriat
was infuriating in a way that got under my skin like no one else. She had made it her life’s mission to defy mr, to argue with me, to test my patience every chance she got. And this time, she had taken it too far.
Paring hack and forth in my office. I raked a hand through my hair, my mind running in circles. She had a stalker. A real, tangible threat that was getting bolder by the day. And what did she dot She walked out of here like she could handle it on her own. Like she didn’t need help. Like she didn’t need me
My jaw clenched as I replayed the look in her eyes before she left. She had been frustrated, sure, but I had also seen something else. Fear. It hul been fleeting, but it had been there. That damn envelope had changed everything. It wasn’t just a harmless admirer anymore. It was a predator Someone watching her, tracking her every move, someone who had taken photos of her in moments of vulnerability, moments when she hadn’t even realized she was being watched.
My stomach turned at the thought. Someone had been following her, documenting her routines, knowing exactly where she was at any given time. And if they had gotten close enough to take those pictures, they knew where she lived
That realuation sent a sharp wave of unease through me.
I stopped paring, my fingers curling into fists. My pulse thundered in my ears as I turned to my desk and slammed my palm against it. “Damn it. The sound echoed through the office, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside me. I had seen the photographs. I had seen the note. Whoever this sick bastard was, they were escalating, and I didn’t like where this was heading.
I needed to get to her.
my
1 huffed out a breath, pushing a hand into n pocket as I made my decision. I was done coddling her, done trying to reason with her. She wanted a bodyguard: Okay. She would have one. But she wouldn’t be alone. No matter how much she fought it, I would ensure that. I’d have a second security detail watching her from the shadows. She wouldn’t know about it, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t taking chances with her safety.
I reached for my phone and dialed may assistant. The moment he answered, 1 didn’t give him a chance to speak. “Cancel the rest of my meetings for
There was a slight pause before he responded. “Sir, you have a conference call with ”
“I don’t care” I snapped, already reaching for my jacket. “I pay you to do what I tell you. Cancel it all.”
of it, he said lastly, sensibly choosing not to press the issue.
I hung up and walked out of my office, already thinking ahead. I had to get to Erica’s apartment, now.
When I arrived at the lobby, my driver was already outside, by the shiny black car, He stood up when I came closer and opened the door. “Where
“Enca’s apartment” I replied as I got “Now”
The door shut behind me, and the car pulled into motion, merging into the busy city traffic. I tapped my fingers against my thigh, restless energy coursing through me. The thought of her being alone right now was gnawing at me, making my nuuscles coil with tension. I knew Erica was strong
-boo strong for her varn good soometimes—but she wasn’t invincible. And I wasn’t about to let her act like she was
The vehicle counted to a stop in front of Erica’s apartment complex, but I hardly waited for it to come to a complete stop before I was out of the car, running up the stairs two flights at a time. There was a sense of urgency gnawing at my gilt, sommeilung I couldn’t explain but couldn’t shake either. Something wacull. Truuld sense it in my bones.
I reached her floor and walked to her apartment and knocked. “Erica” My tone was crisp, authoritative. I waited for her to shout out or for the sound of footsteps coming towards ine. But nothing
I knocked again, harder this time Sall nothing. My jaw clenched, my pulse hammering against my skin. Something felt wrong
Without a second thought, I gripped dar door handle and twisted it. The kriols gave way too easily. It wasn’t locked.
That realization sent a sick feeling rolling through my gut. Erica wasn’t the type to leave her door unlocked, especially not after everything that hal happened.
janbed the door open and stepped inside. The apartment was quiet. Too quiet. My eyes darted anuund, scanning for anything out of place. The fying room looked untouchard, no signs of a break–itu, to overturned furniture. But that meant nothing
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-hands curled into fists as I moved forward, the silence pressing against me. Then I heard it—a faint, almost tunelible mITINGE
I tracked the noise, my heart pounding against my chest as I entered her bedroom And then I saw her
Erica was huddled on the floor, back against the wall, arms around herself. She was shaking incontrollably, rocking gently, lips moving mistered something to herself. Her face was white, her eyes unfocuses
Fuck
My breath lodged in my throat. I’d never seen
r seen her like t Never seen her look so small. So terrified.
“Erica. I forced my voice to stay steady, but she didn’t react. Didn’t even seem to register
that I was there
I stepped closer, crouching in front of her. “Erica.”
Sull nothing
A knot formed in my stomach.
“Damn it, Erica, look at me.”
I reached for her, grabbing her by the arms. The second I touched her, she flinched violently, her body jerking as if I’d struck her. Then she started lo fight
trying to pull away. Her breathing was erratic, shallow gasps between broken murmurs. Her nails dug into my arms,
She thrashed against my grip, tt but I didn’t let go.
“Erica, stop” I commanded, my voice low but firm.
She kept struggling, lost in whatever panic–stricken haze she was trapped in. My grip tightened, and I forced her to face me. “Look at me”
Her body went rigid.
Her wide, unfocused eyes finally met mine, and for a moment, she was completely still.
Recognition flickered in her gaze.
“Jesus, Erica,” I muttered, exhaling sharply. My hands stayed on her arms, holding her steady.
She Llinked, her expression shifting as the world slowly came back into focus for her. But the fear didn’t leave her eyes. It clung to her, so thick 1 could feel it in the air between us. She opened her mouth but no words came out.
“Look at me. You’re safe”
I don’t know if she could see how panicked I was right now. It felt like I’m going to have a panic attack myself. The urge to break something was so intense. I wanted to make this better for her but I didn’t know how.
I sat beside her and rubbed a soothing hand down her back. “Breathe for me”
Her lower lip shook. And then, suddenly, she fell apart. A strangled cry ripped from her throat, her whole boily shaking as she broke down before
me
“Fuck.” I gasped, and before I knew what I was doing. I had her in my arms.
She melted against me, her hands clutching at my shirt as she wept into o my chest. Heart–destroying, shattered sobs that made something twist
agonizingly within me.
I tightened my hold on her, wrapping her up in my arm, shielding her. “You’re safe,” I murmured against the top of her head. “You’re safe
She didn’t respond, just buried herself deeper into me, her entire body trembling against mine.
I swallowed hard, my jaw lacking as 1 Hier. I had never seen her like this. I had never seen Erica fall apart
And I fucking listed it.
The helplessness. The vulnerability
A slow–burning fury built in my chest, my grip tightening on her I wanted to destroy whoever had caused this. Whoever had made her feel this
way
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But teht now, that didn’t matter. Right now, all
mattered was
ber. So 1 held her. I let her cry, let her shake. Let her have this moment to break
B
