Aurelia
"Your villain wants a meeting. Come alone to the closed butcher shop. Bring your guard dog, and we start sending you pieces of your best friend, Freya to your penthouse"
Then he's gone. Leaving a frozen smile, a half-signed book and a racing mind in his wake. My eyes darted towards the shadows. He stepped out of the shadows and his pair of amber eyes ran into mine. He saw it. I could see it with the way his eyes turned a cold shade of amber. The monster is provoked. He typed something from his phone and I felt mine buzz on my laps. I checked.
"The event is over" four words and it's done.
I turned to Lara, giving her an urgent excuse to cut the event short. I apologized to the fans promising to reschedule another book talk as soon as possible. They all compiled and it ended. All filing out.
Jayvion pulled me towards the back exit.
"Wait... Freya..!"
"Trevor would take care of her" he cut me off. His voice a cold steel that sent chills down my spine.
Then we were in the car. Jayvion slammed the door closed that instantly made me flinch. I was the one who got threatened but he's angrier.
"Those fuckers" he gritted, hands closing on the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.
Then he turned to me
"What exactly did he say to you?"
"Your villain wants a meeting. Come alone to the closed butcher shop. Bring your guard dog, and we start sending you pieces of your best friend, Freya to your penthouse" I said, my writer's mind already memorizing the whole threat.
"Freya... she's in danger" I whispered, voice shaky.
He cradled my face. His hands unsteady, his eyes blazing with anger.
"No she's not, Little Writer. No one will touch you or your loved ones" I took a deep breath and looked away. I'll cry if I keep looking at him. Freya is in danger. I know that. They wouldn't pose empty threats like that. If I didn't comply, they'll truly dismember her.
I didn't speak again until we were back to the looming beast of a penthouse.
Jayvion
I went to my study, trying to call Vincent. He picked up as though he had been expecting my call.
"They made a move, right?"
"Did you know?" I bit out. Our questions collided. He paused.
"What?" He sounds confused.
"The threat. A member was at the book talk. Close to her. Whispering a threat. She's now the major target" I bit down every word, clenching my fist at my side.
"I didn't know of it. I did tell you not to lose your guard" right, he was blaming me.
"He disguised as a fan and got too close. Then disappeared before Trevor gets him" I said. That's the part that angers me the most.
"I'll look into it and get back to you. Let your men search too" he ended the call. Hell yes, my men will turn this fucking city upside down to look for the man who got too close to scare my woman. I'll fucking make him pay for terrorizing her safe place. Her literary world is the only safe haven she had. Now, it was tainted with my shadows.
A knock at the study door and turned. It could only be her. I went to the door and unlocked it. She stood, eyes brimming with something I couldn't name.
"I am going" she said. Her voice was decisive.
"Don't you dare think about it. You will not go. You will stay. I will deal with it" I stepped closer, my voice dropping an inch colder.
"Seriously? Freya is in trouble and you expect me to sit back and watch?" She fucking scoffed at me. I understood the language.
Fear. Fierce protectiveness. Choice. Loyalty. All these were transformed into a woman with brown eyes standing in front of me.
"No" I took a step closer. Close enough to see the tiny sparkles in her eyes.
"I expect you to follow my command. For your safety. For your best friend" my voice was knife and I was so sure it cuts exactly where I wanted it to.
She stepped back with a defeated scoff.
"If she gets hurt..." Tears welled up her eyes. My heart clenched at that. She shouldn't be crying when I'm risking my own life and Trevor's to save hers and her best friend's.
"You will pay for it" then she was gone.
I shut my eyes, letting the words sink in. This is bitter and more painful than any threat I'd ever received. Any planned accident that I'd escaped. More painful than any gun being pointed at me. This...is deeply personal.
My phone buzzed with a phone call from Trevor.
"The plan is all set, Sir"