Page 9 of Under His Protection

I lean in, his lips catching mine in a tender and demanding kiss. He tastes of dark chocolate and something wilder, something untamed. His hands move over me with a familiar confidence, exploring the contours of my body, igniting a familiar fire within me.

“Michelle,” I whisper, pulling away. My voice is raspy. “What happened?”

Alexander’s brow furrows. He’s a man of few words, a man who keeps his secrets close.

“Someone called from Rockford Rehab,” he says, his voice low and gravelly. “They told me she was gone. Escaped.”

“Escaped?” I echo, taking a step back. “Michelle wouldn’t do that, would she? Isn’t she fragile?”

I have never met her, but I feel I already know her from Alexander’s stories.

“She’s stronger than you think, Ava,” he says in a steely voice. “She’s been through a lot.”

He pauses, his gaze hardening. He looks at me, a flicker of something dark and raw in his eyes.

“She almost killed herself; it was years ago. It was terrifying. I was younger then, but the fear felt like it would swallow me whole.” He says it almost as a statement, a confession, an admission of a past that still haunts them both.

“You never told me that—” I say, my voice catching.

“It was a reckless act, a cry for help, a need to be seen.” He says it almost to himself, his gaze distant, lost in the memories of a past he can’t escape. “That’s Michelle, always testing boundaries, always pushing limits. She nearly succeeded.”

His voice tightens. “I had to watch over her, keep her safe. That’s all I ever wanted. Even back then, I knew she was vulnerable, and the world was a dangerous place.” His words, usually confident and strong, are shaky and on edge. The faint scent of rain and the sound of distant thunder amplify his tension.

He pauses. “I need to find her. Now.”

His eyes are dark and intense, fixed on me, but I sense a storm brewing within him. “I just needed to see you before.”

“I understand,” I say, reaching for his hand. He cups my face in his hand, his thumb tracing the curve of my jaw. He leans down, his lips brushing against mine in a fierce kiss, a silent promise.

“I’ll be back,” he murmurs.

He turns, his presence filling the room. And just like that, he’s gone again.

I stand there, my heart heavy, crushing me. I turn to look at the boxes, the evidence of his presence, his need to pull me into his world. But as I see the faded picture of my parents, the memory of their love, my eyes well up with tears.

I need you, mom and dad.

I can almost hear their voices. They were taken too soon, ripped from my life by another car crashing into them, sending them flying off a bridge. The pain of their loss still stings. It’s like a sharp, persistent ache that I haven’t quite learned to live with.

I sink to the floor, tears streaming down my face. The past, the present, the uncertainty of the future - it all swirls around me. Wiping away my tears, my gaze hardens. I won’t let this overwhelm me.

I will find a way.

I stand, brushing the dust from my jeans. This place needs a good cleaning. But first, I need answers. Harvey is the one who can help me understand this world Alexander has thrust me into. To understand him, I need to learn his ways. And who knows his ways better than Harvey?

Besides, I wanted to ask Harvey about The Raven anyway. This is two birds with one stone.

I remember my first meeting with Harvey after Tyler, and I had broken up. Harvey's features were weathered, and his eyes looked like they’d seen too much. He was kind to me, offering a haven after the supposed Veles crackdown.

I reach for my phone and type out a message. ‘Harvey? Can we meet?’

My jaw clenches as I wait for Harvey to answer. I know he is still grappling with the aftermath of the Veles Network investigation, still wrestling with the crimes that have touched his life. But I need his help. I need to unravel the threads of this mystery.

The city lights outside my window glitter like a million stars, promising both beauty and danger. My journey is far from over. I know that as I take a deep breath, my resolve hardens. The whispers of doubt have only fueled my determination. I will find the truth, protect myself, and find a way to love Alexander, even if it means facing the darkness.

Chapter 5

The Revelation

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