Page 29

Amari

It had been so good catching up with Tara a few nights ago.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had got all dressed up to go out.

It had been the perfect distraction from my inner turmoil.

When I went to make a cup of tea, I looked around for my Mum to ask her who was at the door but I couldn’t find her.

“Mum?”

I shouted out.

I walked out of the kitchen and went into the living room, which was empty.

That was when I saw the front door was ajar.

That was when I heard Stefanos’s voice.

It had been almost five weeks since he threw me out of his house.

I froze before I began to have heat palpitations.

What was he doing here? Oh, God, he was talking to my mother.

I opened the door a crack and listened to their conversation, word for word.

The more I heard, the angrier I got.

He made a mistake and he didn’t know jack shit before he dragged me into his fucked up games.

He was working his pretty words on my mother like a snake in the grass, trying to involve my sister in his games.

When I had enough, I yanked the door open to glare at him.

Damn him and his impeccable suits, but when my eyes reached his polished shoes, those I recognised.

When I lifted my head back to his eyes, I knew he wore them on purpose.

His eyes twinkled with amusement and satisfaction.

“Mum, go inside please,”

I said, my voice as frigid as I felt.

My mum didn’t say a word before stepping inside the house beside me.

“Amari—”

Stefanos said, but I slammed the door in his face and locked it.

“Fuck off back to your mansion and leave us alone,”

I shouted through the door, waiting and listening until there was no more sound from the other side of the door.

“Feel any better?”

my Mum asked quietly before I heard her chuckle.

“You know what, Mum? I actually do,”

I said, turning to face her while trying to control my shaking hands.

My mum gave me a big bear hug, squeezing the life out of me. “That's my girl,”

she said whispering in my ear.

I snuggled into my mother’s warm embrace, glad Alcina was at school and she didn't see Stefanos. My mind was reeling as I replayed his words in my head again and again. His explanations and apologies were too little and far too late.

***

Day 1

Unknown Number: Good morning, pet. What are your plans for today?

I stared at the message, trying to stop the shiver that came when I read the word pet.

Me: Leave me alone, Stefanos.

Unknown Number: Never.

“Arghhhhh,”

I screamed into my pillow.

For the rest of the day I fought the temptation to text him vile words full of contempt and anger.

Day 2

Unknown Number: Good morning, pet. I saw you in the park with Alcina yesterday. You're a good sister. Do you think that I would make a good brother?

Me: You're spying on me?

Unknown Number: *keeping you safe

Me: Who will keep me safe from you?

Unknown Number: I will never hurt you again unless you want me to.

I rolled my eyes and threw my phone on the bed, but I wondered what kind of a brother he would be to Alcina.

Could I separate my anger for the sake of my sister?

Day 3

Unknown Number: Good morning, pet. I saw a man flirt with you at the café yesterday. He was terrible at it. If you’re going to entertain suitors, at least pick ones who have all their teeth.

I snickered at the message despite myself. I remembered the ‘workie’ in the coffee shop.

Me: It is none of your business who I flirt with.

Unknown Number: Every breath you take. And every move you make. Every cane you break. Every step you take. I’ll be watching you.

I ignored the popular song lyrics that he bastardised until I remembered.

Oh, God, the tracker he stuck in my ass.

Me: How do I remove the tracker?

Unknown Number: Let me see you, and I will reveal everything.

Me: No, thanks, I would rather risk a fatal disease from the tracker.

Unknown Number: Pity, I miss seeing those beautiful eyes and stunning…

I started at my phone but no other message came through. He was fucking with me, again!

Day 4

Unknown Number: Good morning, pet. I dreamt about you last night. It reminded me of when I fucked you in your sleep. That was the best ass fuck of my life.

I groaned at his words.

Me: STOP TEXTING ME!

Unknown Number: Make me.

I blocked his number.

Day 5

Unknown Number: Blocking me, pet? I’m hurt but also impressed.

I ignored him but that didn't stop him from texting me.

Unknown Number: Fine. I will behave, for now.

He left me alone for a few hours until I got his subsequent text.

Unknown Number: Just so you know, I’m not going anywhere. You can slam doors, block numbers, and pretend I don’t exist, but I’m still here. And I’m not giving up.

I wrote out numerous messages and angrily kept deleting them because in the end he wanted me to respond to him.

I stared at the screen, with a tight feeling in my chest.

I hated how his words made me feel—seen, wanted, alive. I hated myself even more because part of me wanted to text back and surrender.

Day 6

Stalker: Good morning, pet. Do you know I still keep your collar beside my bed? It always makes me feel closer to you.

I read his message several times because I believed him.

More the fool me.

Day 7

Stalker: Good morning, pet. You left your scarf in the park. It smelled like you and I’m keeping it. Finders keepers.

Me: You are a creepy bastard.

Stalker: And you're my beautiful bitch.

I gasped at his message, but I remembered the tail, mask and collar—the way he would use it to choke me as I came.

Day 8

Stalker: I saw you feeding the ducks with Alcina before you took her to the playground. It made me wonder what kind of parents we would be to our children.

I blocked his number.

Unknown Number: I can do this all day, every day, pet.

Unknown Number: I would love to stick my hand inside of you and pull that IUD out so I could breed you. You know how deep I can cum inside you.

This asshole.

I stared at the screen, hating how his words made me react—angry, horny, hopeful and resentful. It was no good throwing my phone off the wall but now I was horny. For the first time since I left his house, I reached for my vibrator to seek some relief.

Day 9

I unwrapped my new phone, courtesy of Stefanos’s pay-off money.

For the first time I splurged on myself and got the latest model.

I was usually too practical and bought an older model to save some money. I smirked when I placed my new SIM card in it.

Since I was at the shopping centre, I picked out Alcina some new games for her console and got her a goth skeleton unicorn pyjamas.

For my mother, I got her a new bottle of perfume and flowers.

My family deserved the best.

For everything I thought about Christos, he had made extremely generous provisions for all of us.

It made me wonder why he made Stefanos the executor and trustee for Alcina. I decided that Christos was naive to think his son could handle the inconvenient truth.

Alcina would never get her father back but she could have a big brother to lean on.

I sure as shit didn't trust his mother.

This was something I would need to talk to my mum about. I mulled over the situation before wondering if the stalker had seen me go into the phone store.

Oh, shit.

I should have worn a disguise.

Day 10

Unknown Number: Good morning, pet.

You can run, but you can't hide.

I liked the new model of phone you picked out.

Your old one was ready for the recycling centre.

I sighed before I admired my new phone.

When I read his message, part of me wanted to respond because by him coming back to me was validating.

The only thing that stopped me was how easily he had crushed me.

The crippling pain had been worse than any caning or humiliating act he had me carry out.

There was so much that I was bursting to say to him, but I held it all back, shaking my head, I got out of bed.

Unknown Number: Did you have breakfast? Do you miss mopping up my cum off the floor before I fed you? My hand has blisters from rubbing my cock raw because I remember every single second, vividly.

I replay it in my mind like a porn flick.

I choked on my tea and quickly put my phone face down on the kitchen table.

“Are you okay?”

my mum asked with a frown.

“Yes, the tea went down the wrong way,”

I said feeling my cheeks burn up.

My mum gave me a knowing smile.

“You seem happier these days,” she said.

“Hmm.”

She wasn't wrong but I didn't have to like it.

The phone vibrated on the table, I continued drinking my tea, ignoring it.

Day 11

Unknown Number: Good morning, pet. What are you wearing? I miss holding you at night.

Unknown Number: I’m sorry, I messed up and I’m sorry it took me so long to realise what I let slip through my fingers. I was ashamed of how I treated you and how much I enjoyed it.

My fingers touched my neck, remembering the feel of his collar. I was ashamed for obeying him and enjoying all the sick, filthy things he did to me and made me do.

Unknown Number: Do you ever miss it? The simplicity of it? No decisions, no disorder—just you and me. I know I do.

Me: Why won't you leave me alone?

His answer was immediate.

Unknown Number: Because you are mine.

No, I wasn't and I would prove it. I pulled up the app store and downloaded a popular dating app.

Day 12

Unknown Number: Good morning, pet. Good luck with your date tonight. Wear the red dress, you looked spectacular in it.

I had no idea how he knew my plans because this was a brand-new phone. Then again, considering all the shit he pulled from when I first met him it shouldn't surprise me.

Me: f*ck off.

I sent my creative message.

Unknown Number: Fuck? Yes, I want to fuck you. I want to rip off your dress, bend you over my knee, and spank your ass hard. I’ll tear away those panties and fuck you right then and there until I hear you bark for me.

I closed my eyes despite myself and remembered how he fucked me like no other. The way he put everything into it, his power, dominance and control. Yes, it hurt but he made me cum so damn hard.

Unknown Number: I wake up every morning with a bone and nowhere to bury it.

I snorted despite myself and put my phone on silent.