Page 21 of Claimed By My Stalker

I pull out a box without hesitation and open it to reveal a giant diamond ring. It's a ring I have had all along, since I learned of us being betrothed, knowing she was the only one for me.

"I've waited to give this to you all these years." I confess "Marry me, Carrie."

Tears welled up in her eyes. “I hate what you did but I… I still love you. I’m crazy about you so much it scares me.”

The tears are flowing freely now, she stretches her hand out to me. I take this chance and slide the ring onto her finger. I draw Carrie closer to me, kissing her tears away and whispering how much I love her. Tears well up in my eyes too.

Epilogue

Carrie

It's been a year since I married the man I love. A gold band on my wrist bears the initials “CC”. I unclasp it and place it on a table before heading to the nursery to pick up my crying baby. He has a gold allergy. I discovered this the hard way, and made a mental note not to own another gram of gold after the gold band.

Eight-month-old Gustavo murmurs lightly as I rock him to sleep. Gustavo didn't sound like a name that matches my baby's appearance but Carlo wanted to name his first son after his grandfather. I wipe off a stream of drool I find at the side of his mouth. He has most of his father's features; olive skin, short hair, and a pair of huge black eyes.

An explosion outside rattles the window frame and car alarms ring outside.

Gustavo's eyes jolt open, he stares around frantically and bursts into tears.

“Shhh, go back to sleep.” I try to quiet him down. He is always sensitive to noise, Carlo has done his best to soundproof several parts of the house without concealing the window but most times, the impacts of these explosions break a glass or two, not to mention the aftermath is something we have to contend with.

Today’s aftermath is the constant singing of those sirens.

Carlo walks into the bedroom, his clothes and face covered in soot and his hands covered in blood, he heads for the bathroom and soon I hear nothing but the sound of running water at high pressure for the next few minutes.

The sound has perhaps done the trick for Gustavo, he starts to drift back to sleep again.

Carlo emerges from the bathroom, looking squeaky clean except for his clothes.

“Landmine?” I ask.

He nods in the affirmative. “Yes, I’ve taken care of it.”

He kisses me on the forehead and leaves almost as fast as he came in.

Extended Epilogue

Carrie

“Drop your weapon!” I yell.

The children gasp.

“Marco dropped his weapon for the woman he loves.” I make a mock gesture of surrender. “He never knew if his brother would keep his word by letting her go. It was all that mattered to him. His brother gave him a wicked smile…”

“Ohh, he’s going to shoot!” Maria screams.

“Quiet! Let her finish the story,” Robert snaps.

The curious eyes look at me expectantly. “Marco hears a bullet go off, but to his surprise, his brother hits the floor. Behind his wicked scheming brother is a man in a cop uniform holding a smoking gun.”

“So, what happens next?” Maria inquires.

“That’s the end of the story Maria.”

“Tell us another story” she yells.

“Not today, it’s past your bedtime,” I reply.

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