Page 3 of Rose

His grin was slow, wicked, loving. “Oh, you’ll get that, but first we gotta hurry up and wash up before the food gets cold.”

But she wasn’t trying to hear all that.

“You denying me my dick?” she asked sweetly, her pout playful but dangerous.

He laughed, but before he could answer, she guided him inside her in one smooth motion, her body already soaked and aching for him.

A moan slipped from both their lips as they connected, the world outside the bathroom forgotten.

Ahzii rose on her toes, riding him slow but deep, her hands braced against his shoulders as the water rippled around them. The sounds of their pleasure filled the bathroom, echoing off the marble walls.

William groaned, gripping her thighs before standing effortlessly, still buried deep inside her, carrying her as he turned on the shower.

Warm water cascaded over them, steam filling the space as he pressed her against the cool tile, his thrusts growing harder, deeper, faster—pushing them both to the edge until their cries melted into one perfect release.

Afterward, they washed up—gentle touches replacing the hunger from before. By the time they made it downstairs, laughter and the smell of food filled the air again.

William had made salmon, mashed potatoes, and asparagus, plating it beautifully like he always did.

Ahzii hated cooking, but lucky for her, William loved it—and he was damn good at it.

They sat together, talking and laughing between bites, their world small, safe, and filled with love.

For now.

After dinner, they curled up in bed, a movie playing softly in the background. Wrapped in each other’s warmth, the world outside didn’t matter. But somewhere between laughter and stolen kisses, sleep stole them both away.

Night fell deep and quiet, the kind of quiet that could make you forget monsters still existed.

It was close to midnight when it happened.

The sharp crash of breaking glass sliced through the silence like a blade.

Ahzii’s eyes flew open, her body tense in an instant. She’d always been a light sleeper, and tonight was no different.

She sat still, straining to listen, praying it was nothing. Maybe something fell outside. Maybe she imagined it.

But then—

Bang.

Another loud crash downstairs.

Her stomach dropped. No way she was imagining this.

“Babe…” she whispered, barely loud enough to carry through the dark as she gently shook William’s arm.

“Will.”

He stirred, groggy and disoriented, blinking against the sleep.

“Yeah, baby? You okay? The baby okay?” His voice was thick with concern even in half-sleep, his first thought always her and their daughter.

Her heart thundered against her ribs, panic curling in her throat. The room was eerily quiet now, but she knew what she heard.

“Someone’s in here. I heard glass breaking. Twice. I think they’re breaking in.”

Her voice shook, low but sharp with fear.

And then, like confirmation, another shattering crash echoed through the house.

William shot up, his body moving on instinct now. He sprinted to the closet, punched in the code to the safe, and grabbed his gun.

Ahzii scrambled to throw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, her hands trembling as she dressed.

“Stay right here,” William ordered, voice firm, pulling on his sweats.

She looked at him like he’d lost his damn mind.

“Boy, you crazy as hell if you think I’m letting you go out there alone,” she shot back, her fear battling her stubbornness.

But William wasn’t playing.

“Beautiful, you carrying my daughter. If something happens to y’all, I swear to God—” his voice cracked, just a little, but he pushed through it—“I’ll kill whoever’s out there. But you ... you are not leaving this room. Not tonight. This ain’t the time to be stubborn.”

He stepped closer, cupping her face, his thumb brushing away the tears already pooling in her eyes.

“I love you, baby. Stay here.”

He kissed her, soft but desperate, like it might be the last time.

“Please be careful,” she whispered, barely holding it together.

He nodded, jaw tight, and slipped out of the bedroom, leaving the door cracked behind him.

And just like that, the quiet came back, but it wasn’t comforting.

It was terrifying.

Ahzii sat on the bed, rocking back and forth, trying to breathe through the fear strangling her. Her fingers trembled as she ended the call with the cops, barely able to form the words— home invasion, send help fast. She fired off frantic texts to Kyre and A’Mazi, her only lifelines.

Knowing them, they'd beat the cops here. God, she hoped so.

The house fell silent again. No more glass breaking. No more footsteps. Just the pounding of her heartbeat crashing against her chest like a warning bell.

And then—

Gunfire. One shot. Then another.

“William.”

She didn’t think. Her body moved before her mind could stop it. She flew out the bedroom, down the stairs, heart racing faster than her feet.

The first thing she saw nearly sent her collapsing.

A man, masked, laid sprawled at the foot of the stairs—his skull blown open, blood pooling like a nightmare. She gagged, hand flying to her mouth, fighting back the dinner threatening to rise. But there was no time.

Where was William ?

Then she heard it—a voice, low and cold, not his.

She crept around the stairs, her stomach twisting tighter with every step.

And there he was.

William.

On his knees in the middle of the living room. Hands raised. Vulnerable. Helpless.

Another masked man stood over him, gun pointed at his head like it was nothing.

Tears blurred her vision, burning hot against her cheeks. She wanted to scream, wanted to run to him, but she bit down on the panic choking her throat. She couldn’t let the man see her.

She slipped into the kitchen, hands shaking violently as she searched for anything, anything to protect the man she loved.

Her fingers closed around the sharpest knife she could find.

The man’s voice drifted from the living room, distracted by whoever was on the other end of his call.

“I got him. Raz is gone.”

He hadn’t heard her. Not yet.

Heart pounding, steps soft as prayers, she crept closer—every second a lifetime.

William saw her. His eyes went wide, tears falling fast as he shook his head, silently begging her— No. Don ’ t.

But she couldn’t stand by and watch him die.

She had to try.

Ahzii surged forward, driving the knife deep into the man's shoulder. He let out a sharp cry of pain, staggering—but his reflexes were fast, too fast.

Gunfire exploded between them.

She felt it instantly—the white-hot burn tearing through her body. Her legs buckled beneath her.

“NOOOO!” William’s voice cracked as he lunged for her.

But before he could reach her, the man turned and fired again.

William dropped.

Right there, in the middle of their home.

Ahzii’s scream ripped from her soul as she collapsed beside him, her blood soaking the floor.

Her hands clutched her stomach, terror filling her chest.

The baby...

“My baby...” she whispered, breathless, as her eyes found William’s face, still gasping for air.

“Fuck!” the gunman cursed, scrambling in panic. He grabbed a gas can, dousing the house without hesitation, like he’d done this before.

Flames erupted fast, licking the walls and floors, smoke choking the air.

But Ahzii’s world shrank to just William.

His lips trembled, barely moving.

“I love you...” he mouthed, his voice gone, his strength slipping away.

“No, baby... please... stay with me,” she sobbed, struggling to breathe as the bullet scorched her from the inside.

But it was too late .

His eyes closed.

Gone.

The flames raged around her as the gunman fled, leaving them to burn like they meant nothing.

They came to steal from them... and they stole everything .

Her husband. Her peace. Her future.

And maybe, her baby too.

Tears blurred her vision as she collapsed beside him, the heat closing in.

All she could do was hope this was a nightmare. That she’d open her eyes and find him smiling beside her, alive, safe, whole.

But deep down, she knew.

The love that once filled this house was gone—burned to ashes along with their dreams.

And as her eyes drifted shut, her body weak and broken, she knew this was the end for her too.