Page 200 of His To Erase
Steven: Ani. Where the fuck are you.
Steven: You have five minutes to answer or I will come find you.
Steven: Don’t make me tear this fucking state apart.
Shit.
Of course he’d threaten to track me down. God forbid I slip the leash for half a second without him yanking it tight like it’s some kind of test I just failed. My grip tightens on the phone, while my jaw tightens at his audacity.
I know Frank’s probably the safe choice. The guy who plays nice and doesn’t growl when I breathe wrong.
So why do Steven’s words land like a hit I wasn’t bracing for? Why does every bone in my body go hot and hollow at the thought of him showing up? And why the hell do I suddenly want him to?
I shove myself upright, and the floor tilts a little, or maybe that’s just the war inside my chest. My phone feels radioactive in my hand, like if I look too long, I’ll say something I can’t take back.
I type a reply.
Delete it, then type again. Then delete it. Again.
Everything I want to say is wrong, and everything I should say is a lie. It’s not like he won’t know. He’ll for sure figure it out, somehow he always fucking does.
I can’t have him coming here. I just need to break things off with Frank so this doesn’t get messy.
I type out just enough to buy me some time, to keep him from blowing up the front door like some dark knight with a vendetta and a death wish.
I need space and I need to think. And I sure as hell can’t do that with him breathing down my neck.
Me: I’m fine. I need space before I drown in all the shit I’m feeling. I’ll talk to you when I can think straight.
Frank steps out of the cockpit all relaxed charm and polished teeth. “Ready to go?”
I stand up, pulse flickering. “Frank, listen… this was really thoughtful, but I think we should go back.”
His smile doesn’t drop, but something behind it wavers—just enough to chill the air between us.
“And go where?” he asks softly. “To whoever’s been keeping your attention lately?”
I freeze.
Fuck. There’s no way he knows…right?
“You don’t have to run every time things get hard, sweetheart,” he murmurs, brushing his knuckles along my jaw. “I’m not your enemy.”
But my heart’s already pounding. Why is it that two people have said that to me in the last 48 hours?
He smiles—smooth as ever—and steps back, giving me space. Pretty sure that was him making it crystal fucking clear that he’s been paying closer attention to me than I thought.
Walking down the steps in silence, I notice a black SUV waiting at the edge of the lot with the engine running.
Frank opens the door for me, but doesn’t say a word as I slide into the leather seat and buckle in. My skin’s still humming from something I can’t name as he rounds the front of the car and climbs in beside me, casual as ever—like we didn’t just spend the morning pretending this wasn’t a power play.
Then—my phone vibrates and I jump, blinking down at it like it bit me.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: You’re not safe with him.
Steven
Idon’t make a habit of fucking the same mistake twice.The words echo like gunfire in my skull.
