Amara woke before Daniel that morning, the apartment still wrapped in quiet. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, painting golden streaks across the floor. She slipped out of bed carefully, not wanting to disturb him, and padded toward the kitchen to make coffee.
The routine felt grounding—scooping the beans, listening to the machine hum, filling the room with the scent of warmth. But when she reached for a mug, her hand froze.
There was something on the counter that hadn't been there before.
A single folded piece of paper.
Her stomach dropped.
She glanced toward the bedroom, half-expecting Daniel to appear and explain, but he was still asleep. Slowly, she reached for the note, her fingers trembling as she unfolded it.
You can't hide from what's ours.
That was all it said. No name. No signature. But she didn't need one.
Her heart lurched violently in her chest. Chike.
The mug slipped from her hand, shattering against the floor.
Daniel was out of the bedroom in seconds, his eyes sharp, instantly alert. "Amara? What happened?"
She couldn't speak. She only held out the note, her breath uneven.
His gaze scanned the words, his jaw tightening with every second. By the time he lowered the paper, his expression was a storm barely contained.
"He's been here," Daniel said quietly. Not a question. A fact.
Amara's hands pressed against her arms, as though she could hold herself together by sheer force. "Daniel, how did he even get in? The door was locked. I checked—"
Daniel pulled her into his arms, steadying her trembling frame. "I don't know. But I swear to you, Amara, he won't touch you. Not while I'm here."
She nodded against his chest, though fear still clawed at her ribs. It wasn't just the words on the paper—it was the violation, the proof that Chike had been close enough to slip inside, to leave a piece of himself in their safe space.
Daniel's hand smoothed down her back, his mind racing even as he whispered comfort. He couldn't shake the image of the shadow he'd thought he'd seen outside days before. He hadn't been imagining it.
When Amara finally calmed enough to meet his eyes, he cupped her face, his voice firm. "I'm not letting him play this game with you. With us. I'll keep watch tonight. If he wants to lurk in the dark, then he'll have to do it knowing I'm waiting for him."
Amara wanted to argue, to tell him he shouldn't put himself at risk, but the words caught in her throat. Deep down, she knew Daniel was right. Chike wasn't going to stop—not on his own.
For the first time in weeks, she felt the full weight of what they were up against. This wasn't just jealousy. It wasn't just lingering feelings. It was obsession. Dangerous, relentless obsession.
And now it was right at their door.
Daniel pressed a kiss to her forehead, but his gaze remained hard over her shoulder, fixed on the window.
He had promised her safety, and he intended to keep that promise.
Even if it meant facing Chike head-on.