Page 20

EIGHTEEN

clodagh

"Lisa," I say quietly, trying to keep my voice steady. "Don't look now, but I think that man is watching us."

I'm at the park with Lisa. There’s a man in a baseball cap sitting on a bench, pretending to read a newspaper. But his eyes keep flicking toward us.

Lisa casually glances over then turns back to me, her face serious. "How long has this been going on?"

I swallow hard. "I've had a feeling all week. There was a car outside school, and now this..."

Lisa stands up, taking my hand. "Come on, we're going to Tammy's. Now."

As we hurry out of the park, I can't shake the feeling that we're being followed. Is it Emmanuel, making good on his promise to watch over me? Or is it something more sinister?

As Lisa and I hurry out of the park, my heart pounds in my chest. I can't help glancing over my shoulder, half-expecting to see the man in the baseball cap following us. But the path behind us is empty.

"Do you think it's Emmanuel?" Lisa asks in a low voice as we speed-walk down the sidewalk.

I shake my head. "I don't know. Maybe? But why wouldn't he just approach me if it was him?" It’s been a while since I’ve seen him, and the thought of meeting him again has my stomach flipping. I’m not sure when I started to develop a crush on him, but I have and I’m not sure how to deal with it.

Lisa's grip on my hand tightens. "I don't like this, Clodagh. We need to tell Tammy."

I nod, feeling a mixture of fear and guilt. After everything that's happened, I should have said something sooner. But part of me hoped I was just being paranoid, that the feeling of being watched was all in my head.

We reach home in record time, both of us slightly out of breath. I quickly unlock the door with shaky hands, and the moment we’re inside I lock the door behind us and take a breath.

"Tammy?" I call out. "Are you home?"

We hear footsteps and Tammy appears from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. Her smile fades as she takes in our worried expressions.

"What's wrong, girls?" she asks, her voice laced with concern.

I quickly explain about the man in the park and what’s happened this past week. Tammy's face grows more serious with each word I say.

"Okay," she says when I finish. "First things first, I'm calling the police."

As Tammy makes the call, Lisa and I sit on the couch, both lost in our own thoughts. I can't help but wonder if this is somehow connected to my past. Has Jacob escaped? Is someone seeking revenge? The possibilities swirl in my mind, each one more terrifying than the last.

Suddenly, there's a sharp knock at the door. We all freeze, exchanging worried glances. Tammy puts a finger to her lips, signaling us to stay quiet. She creeps toward the door and peers through the peephole.

"It's a police officer," she whispers, relief evident in her voice.

As Tammy opens the door, I feel a mixture of relief and apprehension. The officer, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, introduces herself as Detective Sarah Moore. She listens intently as we recount the events, jotting notes in a small pad.

"We'll increase patrols in the area," Detective Moore assures us. "And I'll have someone look into the car you saw outside the school. In the meantime, I want you girls to be extra vigilant. Travel in pairs, vary your routines, and don't hesitate to call if you notice anything suspicious."

As the detective is about to leave, a thought strikes me. "Wait," I blurt out. "Could you... could you check if Jacob is still in prison?"

Detective Moore's eyebrows furrow. "Jacob? You mean Jacob Dellinger?"

I nod, my throat suddenly dry. She obviously knows who I am and who Jacob is and what he did to my family.

"I'll look into it," she promises, her expression softening. "Try not to worry too much. We'll get to the bottom of this."

After she leaves, Tammy pulls us both into a tight hug. "It's going to be okay," she murmurs, but I can hear the uncertainty in her voice.

That night, I lie awake in bed, my mind racing. The shadows in my room seem to shift and move, and every creak of the house makes me jump. I can't shake the feeling that something big is coming, something that will change everything once again.

* * *

I slowly make my way downstairs. I've barely slept. The events of yesterday keep replaying in my mind on a loop. I’m terrified. I have no idea who the hell is following me and I feel groggy and on edge.

I slide onto the stool and Tammy slides me a cup of tea.

“It’s going to be okay,” she says, her voice not hiding her own fear.

She’s trying to maintain a sense of normalcy, but I can see the worry lines creasing her forehead.

"I've called the school," she says, placing a plate in front of me.

On it are two slices of toast with chocolate spread.

My stomach rolls at the thought of eating it.

"They're aware of the situation and will be keeping an extra eye out. "

I reach for the tea. "Should I even go to school today?"

Tammy sighs. "I think it's best to try and keep your routine as normal as possible. But if you feel unsafe at any point, you call me immediately. Understood?"

I nod. God, I hate this so much.

An hour later and I’m on my way to school, a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I can’t help but think that every passing car, every person on the street, seems like a potential threat.

Lisa’s running late. Usually, she’d meet me at my house and we’d walk together, but she messaged me saying she’d just woken up.

As I approach the school gates, I spot a familiar figure leaning against the wall. My heart skips a beat. God, he’s so handsome.

"Emmanuel?" I call out, my voice a mixture of relief and confusion.

He straightens up, his dark eyes meeting mine. "Clodagh," he says, his voice low and urgent. "We need to talk."

I swallow hard. "Is this about what's been happening?"

Emmanuel nods grimly. "It's worse than you think..." he pauses, glancing around nervously. "Not here. What time do you finish school?"

I shake my head. “You’re crazy if you think I’m letting you walk away without telling me what’s going on. Emmanuel, I need answers. Please?” I plead with him. I’m losing my mind. I need to know the truth. I’m far from stupid. I know something is going on.

He runs a hand down his face and sighs. “Come,” he says, holding out his hand. “Let’s get this over with and get you back to school where you’ll be safe.”

I scoff. “That’s not actually true and you know it. When am I ever safe?”

He looks at me, his eyes intense and filled with promise. “No one,” he growls thickly, “is going to hurt you again. I won’t let that happen.”

For some fucked up reason, I believe him. I don’t know why, but I do. I reach out tentatively and take his hand. The second his fingers close around my hand, I feel a sense of calm wash over me. I know he’s going to protect me. With him I feel safe.

Emmanuel leads me away from the school gates, his grip on my hand firm but gentle. We walk in silence for a few minutes, heading toward a small park nearby.

Finally, we reach a secluded bench, hidden from view by a cluster of trees. Emmanuel sits down, motioning for me to join him. I perch on the edge, my body tense and ready to bolt if necessary.

"Jacob's out," Emmanuel says without preamble, his voice low and urgent.

My blood runs cold. "What? How?"

Emmanuel's jaw clenches. "He’s got some backing, some powerful people backing him. He escaped."

I feel like I'm going to be sick. "And he's... he's the one who's been following me?"

Emmanuel shakes his head. "No, those men are mine. I need you to be safe. The people Jacob’s working with are extremely dangerous."

My heart pounds in my chest. "What do you mean?"

"Jacob's made some... connections while inside. We don’t know how, but he’s got some serious backing."

I struggle to process this information. "But why? Why now?"

Emmanuel's dark eyes meet mine. They’re filled with a mixture of determination and something else I can't quite place. "Because of his sick fascination with you."

I shake my head, my stomach rolling. "I don't understand. I thought this was over. I thought I was safe."

Emmanuel reaches out, hesitating for a moment before gently taking my hand. "I'm sorry, Clodagh. I should have protected you better. But I promise you, I won't let anything happen to you. We're going to keep you safe."

As I look into his eyes, I want desperately to believe him. But a part of me knows that nothing will ever be the same again. The past I've tried so hard to escape has come back to haunt me, and this time, the stakes are higher than ever.

"What do we do now?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Emmanuel squeezes my hand. "We need to figure out what will be the best course of action. How many months have you got left in school?"

I sigh, trying my hardest not to let the tears that are threatening to escape fall. God, this is way too much for me to deal with. Way too fucking much. “Four, then I have my exams, so about five.”

“We’ll figure something out to keep you safe,” he promises me.

I shake my head. “How?” I ask, my voice hoarse. “How, Emmanuel? How can you do that? He escaped a fucking prison, for fuck’s sake. What’s stopping him from getting to me?”

Emmanuel holds me tightly as I sob into his chest, his strong arms providing a brief escape from the terror that threatens to consume me. For a few minutes, we stay like that. The only sounds are my muffled cries and the rustling of the trees blowing in the wind.

Finally, I pull back, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. "I'm sorry," I mumble, embarrassed by my breakdown.

"Don't apologize," Emmanuel says firmly.

"You have every right to be upset. But, Clodagh, listen to me.

" He gently tilts my chin up, forcing me to meet his intense gaze.

"Jacob may have escaped prison, but he doesn't have the resources we do.

I work for some of the deadliest men in the world and we have connections that go beyond what you can imagine. "

I take a shaky breath. "But how can you protect me all the time? I can't... I can't live like this, Emmanuel. Always looking over my shoulder, jumping at shadows."

He nods, his expression grim. "I know. That's why we’re coming up with a plan. A way to keep you safe without completely disrupting your life."

"What kind of plan?" I ask, hope filling me. Maybe he can find a way to stop Jacob from reaching me.

Emmanuel runs a hand through his hair. "We have a few options. We could set up a safe house, somewhere Jacob wouldn't think to look. Or we could arrange for you to finish your schooling remotely, with round-the-clock protection."

I shake my head. "No, I can't just disappear. My friends, Tammy... they'd be worried sick. And I don't want to give up my life. I've worked so hard to build something normal."

"I understand," Emmanuel says softly. "Then we'll have to be more creative. We'll need to beef up security at your home and school, for starters. And you'll need to learn some self-defense techniques."

As he speaks, a thought occurs to me. "Wait. What about using me as bait, to lure Jacob out?"

Emmanuel's eyes flash with anger. "Absolutely not. It's too dangerous."

"But if we can draw him out, maybe we can end this once and for all," I argue.

Emmanuel shakes his head firmly. "No, Clodagh. I won't risk your safety like that. We'll find another way."

I'm about to protest when my phone buzzes. It's a text from Lisa:

Where are you??? Class is starting!

Reality crashes back in. "I have to go," I say, standing up. "I can't miss class."

Emmanuel nods, rising with me. "I'll walk you back. And Clodagh?" He places a hand on my shoulder. "We'll figure this out. I promise. No matter what happens, Jacob won’t get to you."

As we walk back to school, I can't shake the feeling that this is just the beginning of something much bigger. The safety I've fought so hard for is crumbling, and I'm terrified of what’s coming next.