I’m super disappointed when I finally meet Butch the next morning.

Not because he doesn’t look capable or anything, but because…well, he’s not James.

I know James and I are doing the right thing getting someone else, but it sucks not having him a short distance away; I realize how comforted I felt that he was nearby.

Butch will be doing the exact same thing he did—sitting outside and keeping an eye out for suspicious behavior, accompanying me on any errands—but it just doesn’t feel the same.

I still feel vulnerable for some reason, which is dumb because Butch looks exactly like how you’d expect a bodyguard to look—he’s about six feet, strong build, bald, and has unblinking cold gray eyes—not someone to be messed with at all. He looks super disciplined and focused, screams competency in every way and yet…

Guess I should just accept it—I’ve become super attached to James.

Obviously, I’m still underplaying it, deceiving myself a bit longer, but the truth is, I think I’m actually in love with him.

I always miss him when he’s not around, in a way that makes it clear that there’s no way things can go back to the way they were before.

It even makes me question our previous interactions.

Could we have ever been ‘just friends?’ Even without the complication of Leonard?

For example, if I had met James separately from everything—in a bar or whatever—would our chemistry have been so natural and easy? Would we have quickly torn each other’s clothes off, with me inspired to have a one-night-stand for the first time in my life?

Was I always attracted to him sexually but I was so committed to being a good girlfriend that I never recognized how I felt about him until it was staring me in the face? Until he was staring me in the face more specifically—that one dance we had at the wedding almost illuminated everything, but I quickly convinced myself of a different narrative at the time. It was just the soft lighting, the romantic music, the way I seemed to fit in his arms, the relief at being rescued from the embarrassment of my boyfriend’s abandonment; I’d simply been seduced by a fantasy come to life.

But could it really be that all this time…?

No. I couldn’t have missed it.

But how else do I explain how quickly James got to me, how deeply he has already embedded himself inside me? He’d been chipping away at me all this time, and I simply hadn’t been aware—or more likely, I blinded myself to what was in front of me once again.

And like a beaver or termite colony, there he went, chomping away at parts of my foundation and then one day, the entire carefully constructed structure came crashing down and I became vulnerable to him.

Shit.

I can’t be with a guy like that—he lives in such a dangerous world.

He did imply he had other options, though, and I think… no, I definitely want to explore them with him.

Maybe the next time I see him we can talk about it—our future.

No use putting things off longer.

I’ll invite him in once he and Butch switch tonight and we’ll have a serious talk; I’ll let him know how I feel.

* * *

Butch is accompanying me to a coffee house this morning.

It’s just me this time—no friends or industry people to meet.

I like being outside every now and then, taking time to relax in open air, people-watching behind my shades.

I get some of my best ideas when not trying hard—like how showers suddenly provide answers when you’re taking a break from actively brainstorming a solution.

I’m on my second mocha when my phone buzzes with a text.

I smile, thinking it’s from James, but I quickly realize it’s from an unfamiliar number.

You have angered me. You were supposed to save yourself for me. You will pay.

Alarm rises in me.

This phone number is definitely not listed anywhere—I have a specific number set up for my business as Lailah.

I had my number changed after college, and only people who actually have a relationship with me—friends and family—have it.

“He sure does love you,” a masculine voice says near me, and it takes me a second to realize it’s the new bodyguard.

He’s looking in my direction, but with his dark shades, I’m not one hundred per cent sure he’s actually talking to me.

“It’s been a long time too. Did you know that?” Butch says, his stoic face still turned in my direction.

I’m pretty sure now that he’s talking to me, but I still don’t know what to say—it’s weird to have him suddenly speak like this.

My alarm bells are ringing loud and off-key.

“I took pleasure in knowing he was pining after you,” Butch continues.

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about...” I begin but I’m interrupted by a flurry of action near my parked car—two guys fighting.

Butch springs to action.

“Let me get you out of here,” he says as he leads me toward his.

My mind is swirling.

Too much is going on between processing the strange text, the fight near my car, and Butch’s odd line of conversation.

“There she is!” I hear one of the guys say, but Butch is soon opening his back door for me and shoving me in, slamming the door behind me.

It takes me a second to realize someone else is in there, and by that time, Butch is already in the driver’s seat, and the other guy is reaching for me.

I hear the sound of doors locking as the strange guy holds something over my nose and mouth.

* * *

When I come to, I notice immediately that I’m sitting in a chair with my arms tied behind me.

Shit, my jeans are gone.

But the good news is that my panties are still on, as well as my top, so I’m still covered outside of my thighs and calves on display. Could’ve been worse.

I’m not panicking just yet; emotion is what disadvantages people at crucial times.

I need to stay calm and catalog everything, figure out things I can use in my favor and against the people behind this. Which I think includes Butch?

I shake my head, blink my eyes, then look around, my eyes slowly adjusting to the room.

It’s kind of cold in here.

The room is empty except for me in my chair, and a couple of dudes off to the side, their faces hidden behind ski masks.

Oh, and the tripod and camera opposite me.

One of the guys moves to stand behind the camera.

“Hey, Angel. You look beautiful as ever.”

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I say as the voice registers and the mask comes off. “You?”

“In the flesh, baby. You missed me?” Leonard says with a wide fake smile showing off perfectly straight, perfectly white teeth; his vanity would allow no less, and his bank accounts can certainly feed it.

“This can’t be real,” I say, shaking my head. “You can’t possibly be serious.”

“Oh, it’s very real. Didn’t I tell you I’d come for you soon? And now here we are, and there you are ‘helpless to my desires.’ I’ll blindfold you, as promised. I just needed you to take a look. I didn’t do all of this not to get credit.”

“What exactly is your plan here?”

“I’m going to film what will no doubt be your most viewed video ever!” he says happily. “Your followers will love it—you, finally stripped down instead of teasing. Piece by piece we’ll remove your clothing—it’ll be sorted out in edits—and everyone will see the real you fully revealed. It will be epic.”

“How the hell do you expect to get away with this?”

“Easy. You don’t think I’ll be on camera, by any chance, do you? ‘Cause it’s definitely all about you, baby—attention-whore extraordinaire. Once that camera is on, you won’t hear a peep from me either. Once we’re done, no sign of me will be found here. None of you either. My alibi’s already in place, so you can rant all you want about your ex being behind it.” He sighs dramatically. “It’s sad really, that you got so desperate for more views and subscribers that you staged a kidnapping, and even went so far as to give people a little more skin in a way that ensures you end up smelling like a rose. That is, if it wasn’t so transparent what you were doing. Once everyone has seen all you have to offer and witnessed your batshit desperation, then what, Angel?”

“You’re telling me you had nothing better to do than stalk me? Then, in addition to the colossal amount of time invested in watching my business, you actually spent money to do all of this? How much did you pay these other guys involved? Enough to keep their mouths shut forever? You sure they won’t turn on you if someone offered them a bit more? Like Butch?Something tells me he’s a weak link.”

“He’ll be long gone. He’s getting deployed again in two weeks, so good luck tracking him down to vouch for you before then. Why would he even help you? Or James? I paid him nicely.”

“How did you even know you could buy him?”

“Apparently, he has beef with James and he’s been holding a grudge for years. I heard just about everything that went on in your apartment, Angel, and once James mentioned Butch, I intercepted him and offered him a deal he couldn’t refuse. I’ve been listening in on you for a while—among other things. Hey, you’re not so bad when singing to yourself.”

“Wow. I figured out you were controlling, hence why I left your ass, but I had no idea you were this insane. Let me get this straight—I thwarted your wishes, ignored your messages, blocked you in every possible way, making it clear I never wanted to hear from you again, that I had no need for you and was no longer fooled by thinking I had feelings for you, so now, to get control back...” I shake my head in disbelief. Not just at him—at myself; I should’ve guessed.

But it’s really hard to think someone who’d been close to you could go off the rails and work so hard to harm you.

It’s one thing to intellectually comprehend the idea of the closest people to you being the most potentially dangerous, quite another to put it to work.

“You don’t know what’s good for you,” Leonard spits. “You act like you’re so strong and independent, pretend like you’re smart, but you’re neither. You play like you’re classy and modest, but I’m glad others will see you’re none of those things. You won’t look so respectable once your relationship with James comes to light.” He makes a frustrated gesture. “By the way, how could you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I actually watched you guys once. By the way, you should know by now that practically anyone with some skill can hack your computer camera. For crying out loud, at least close your computer if you’re gonna fuck my friends. I can still hear but at least not watch you in your slutty glory.” He pauses, his eyes raking over my body. Then he smiles a reptilian smile. “You see, I can help you, baby. Show you all the ways you failed to protect yourself. I can help protect you.”

“You...you watched us?”

Somehow, that freaks me out almost more than the rest.

I feel so colossally violated, spied on in the most intimate of moments.

“Well, as you know, it takes two,” I say lightly, pretending to recover. I do not want to give him the satisfaction of horrifying me. “Damn, no matter what, the woman gets blamed. Your friend was your friend before I was your woman, so...” I shrug. “Maybe figure out why no one considers you worthy of loyalty.”

He makes a hissing sound. “I really don’t want to leave a mark on your cheek before we start filming. Watch yourself.”

It’s obvious he’s not going to kill me, so he can go fuck himself—I’m happy to let loose.

“You know what? This all makes sense; you’re petty as fuck, always been. I mean, you’re actually going to risk your reputation, your freedom on showing me what? Your power to disturb my peace? You really think you’ll bring me down with this stunt? My god, how did I not see how pathetic you were from the get-go?”

“Okay, that’s it.” He makes a gesture toward one of the guys, and it’s clear I’m about to be gagged.

Whatever. He can shut me up all he wants, but my words are already in the air, stinging him with truth.

He’s so pathetic, he’s trying to make sure I don’t thrive without him after dumping him. His ego has made him batshit!

The guy who gagged me pulls out a knife and cuts through my blouse before I realize what’s happening.

He doesn’t stop until it’s in tatters on the floor and I’m sitting there in my bra.

Then he cuts that off too.

Fuck.

“Almost there!” Leonard says in an exaggerated excited voice. “Wow, I’ve missed those tits. You want me to suck ‘em? Get those nipples nice and hard for their worldwide debut?” he says as he adjusts the camera. “I might just do it anyway for my own pleasure. Maybe tug my dick while doing it.”

I cuss like a sailor behind the gag and he laughs.

“Don’t forget to arch your back for maximum perkiness!” he says.

The goon with the knife slices through my panties.