Some of you might be wondering why stay?, if he screams danger.
But that was what made him more attractive.
So I stayed.
The next day, I went to my shift like nothing happened.
Like I haven't been pressed against the wall by my handsome stalker who happens to be an undercover.
But everything felt different.
At the cafè, I observed some fishy moves because the bad guys were still on the loose.
Every ring on the doorbell made my ghost leave my body.
Every customer looked suspicious.
But he didn't show up.
Not the next day.
Not three days after.
Everywhere felt safe.
But at the same time, I missed him .
I questioned myself why didn't you show up.
One week later they bell above the door chimed.
Four weird men walked in.
They were on black all through.
They looked scary.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw them.
Their eyes scanned the room like they were looking for something.
Which made me even more scared.
I bent down at the counter above me.
I didn't know what to do.
In confusion, I decided to call James .
Then I realized he didn't ask for my number.
"That was rude of him", I said.
I stood up with boldness but they were already learning on the counter.
I gulped.
One of the men smiled at me.
"Good afternoon", he said.
I stiffened.
Couldn't say anything.
Just staring with fear.
" You work here everyday?",
I nodded my head in response.
"(Yes)".
Still mute.
He smiled, "you know a man that comes here everyday".
" Dark".
" Tall".
"Sits at that Conner".
I forced a smile.
"Emmmrrr….; Lots of guys come into this cafè every day and most sit at that Conner", I said.
His smile faded immediately.
"He talks to you".
My eyes widened.
The man's eyes sharpen as he grins.
"There it is", he said.
The door opened again and this time it was him.
Looking like he came straight out of heaven.
But not the regular James .
Not the calm, mysterious magazine James.
He was different.
Focused.
Dressed in black like he came out of the shadows.
He looked at me then the men leaning at the counter.
His eyes widened.
Fear.
Not for him but for me.
That was when I knew danger was at the door.
"Well well well we got company boys", the man said.
James didn't answer.
Neither did I.
The cafè felt too small, too quiet and calm like no one was there.
"Let her go now!!She has nothing to do with this, " James said.
The men laughed.
"But she's not tied up",one of them said
James signaled me to come out from the counter.
His hand suddenly gripped my wrist before I could leave the counter door.
My heart kept beating fast .
The man blocked him.
I got scared and hid behind his back. He turned a little and gave me an assurance smile ,then faced the men.
Fist tightened.
"If you touch her I'm going to kill you", he said to their master.
He smirked.
"What are you going to do?", he said.
"She's too useful to us, so that's why I'm not going to let go".
He signals one of his boys towards James .
As dashed towards James and he smirked.
Like he knows he's going to win the war.
He grabbed the man's hand and twisted it behind his back as he pushed him towards his boss.
The boss's face faded in anger.
He pulled out a gun behind his back.
Shot it ,making the customers scream and run.
I stumbled backward, heart pounding like I have been running a marathon all day.
"Run",he said.
I just froze there .
Like my legs were bodies of their own, I couldn't move .
One of the men grabbed me behind.
I screamed.
He placed one of his hands on my mouth, the other in my neck with a knife.
The room became calm .
James's eyes widened.
But he couldn't do anything at that moment.
I screamed in silence as tears rolled down my cheeks.
"There it is",he said .
Through clenched teeth and a smirk,"leverage".
James got furious with deadly eyes.
"If you dare touch her ",he said, "I promise you you won't leave this city alive".
The man holding me got the knife closer.
"You should have stayed away".
"You should have never talked to her", he sneered.
"Rocky mistake you made there", "huh?", he laughed.
Rocky mistake.
Because he cared.
Because I matter to him.
James slowly raises his hands with no sign of evil intentions, his eyes clock unto mine.
"Nooo!!", I whispered.
He gave me a look of; trust me
The guy dragged me towards the door.
"If you want her", "you know what to do james.
"The drive", he said.
He tosses his card containing some numbers towards James.
If you change your mind, call me .
He was about to leave the cafè as sirens blew all round the building .
They started panicking. They had nowhere to go.
James took the opportunity to knock the guy holding me out in silence.
Then broke the second guy's hand alerting the boss.
He pointed his gun at me with fear. "Don't move", his jaw stiffened.
The police came into the cafè with a rush.
He dashed his way through an exit door at the back of the counter.
" I will be back", he said as he was leaving.
The other guy was caught before he made it to the exit.
I felt his hands on my shoulders in comfort, "I am safe now".
Silence returns slowly.
Broken glasses, chairs destroyed, heavy breathing.
I started crying like a baby.
The next thing I know, he hugged me.
It felt like the world between us stopped for a second.
"Are you hurt?" he said, in his calm voice.
"Nooo",i said as I sob more.
"I am so sorry for leaving you", "for not protecting you in time".
I hit his chest continuously.
"Where were you?". "Why did you leave me?", I said in my crying tone.
He hugged me even tighter. I am sorry he said continuously.
Eventually his face turned pale.
"They know".
"Know what?",I asked.
"That you matter to me".
The word hit me harder than the knife had.
"And that makes you dangerous to them".
" What of you?", I asked.
He hesitated for a second.
"Yes I am dangerous to them as well", "but if they want to hurt me, they know that they can do it through you".
"Are you saying I am your weakness?", I asked .
His face turned red.
He looked away.
"Yes".
"Maybe you are"....