Chapter 17 – The Storm Behind the Glass
Aria stared at the latest message on her screen like it might burst into flames.
"We warned you. You didn't listen."
Her throat was dry, her hands trembling. She pressed her palm against her stomach protectively, feeling the gentle flutter that had become her only source of peace. The baby. The only thing that mattered now.
The outside world had grown loud again. Even in the silence of her apartment, she felt the pressure. Watching. Waiting.
She forced herself to move, locking every window, checking the peephole twice before bolting the door. The shadow she thought she'd seen earlier — was it real? Or just fear taking shape?
She picked up her phone again and did the thing she swore she wouldn't: she dialed Kade.
He answered on the first ring.
"Aria?"
"There's someone outside." Her voice cracked. "I don't know if they're watching me or if I'm losing my mind, but—"
"I'm already on my way," he said, his voice tight. "Don't open the door for anyone. Not even me until I say the code word."
"Code word?"
"'Sugar.' You used to put sugar in my tea when I said no. Remember?"
She didn't respond. She didn't want to remember sweet things about him. But the word planted itself in her chest anyway.
Kade hung up, and she stayed frozen by the door, arms wrapped around her belly.
Fifteen minutes felt like an hour. Then, a knock.
She jumped.
"It's me," Kade's voice came through. "Code word?"
She didn't answer right away. "Say it again."
He did.
Only then did she undo the locks and let him in.
Kade stepped in like a storm — all protective energy and brooding focus. His eyes swept the apartment, checking every window, every corner, before turning back to her.
"You okay?"
She nodded, but he could see through it.
"Let me see the messages," he said.
She handed over her phone, watching as his jaw locked while he scrolled through them.
"They're escalating," he muttered. "Whoever this is, they're not just bluffing anymore. They were here."
"You said this place was safe," she snapped.
"It was. I had two different names shielding this address. No press, no links to me, no trace online. This—" he shook his head. "Someone is either working from the inside or following you closely."
Her heart sank. "Why me? I've stayed quiet. I haven't told anyone about the baby. I haven't gone anywhere public. I just want to be left alone."
Kade softened. "It's not about what you've done. It's who you are to me."
"That's exactly the problem," she said, pulling away. "I'm tired of paying the price for being attached to you."
There was pain in his eyes, but he didn't argue. He simply said, "Then let me help protect you."
"You think you can buy protection for everything?"
"I'm not trying to buy anything, Aria. I'm trying to keep the mother of my child safe."
Her hand dropped to her belly again, and for a long time, neither of them spoke.
Finally, she asked, "Did you look into the number?"
"I have my security team tracing it," Kade said. "They're combing through surveillance near the building too. If anyone's watching you, we'll find them."
She nodded slowly, the fatigue hitting her all at once. It wasn't just physical—it was emotional. Weeks of pretending to be strong, carrying a secret, hiding from headlines, and now… this.
"I don't want this," she said softly.
"I know."
"I didn't ask to be your mistake."
Kade stiffened. "You're not my mistake, Aria. If anything, I've only ever regretted losing you."
A beat of silence.
She looked at him, unsure of what to say. She hated how easily he could still get to her. But before the conversation could deepen, her phone buzzed again.
She grabbed it quickly.
Unknown Number: This is your final warning.
Her stomach churned. She showed it to Kade.
He pulled out his own phone immediately. "I'm increasing security. I'll move you tonight."
"No," she said quickly. "They already found me once. Moving again won't help."
He paused. "Then come to the penthouse."
Aria turned away, arms tightening around her midsection.
"I can't stay in your world, Kade."
"It's the safest place I can offer," he said quietly. "At least until we figure out who's doing this."
She hesitated, then finally nodded once. "Fine. Temporarily."
He didn't smile. He didn't look victorious. Just relieved.
"I'll arrange everything. We leave in an hour."
As he walked away to make the call, Aria looked out the window, a deep shiver crawling down her spine. Somewhere out there, someone was watching her.
Someone who knew her name.
Someone who wanted her gone.
But why?
And what would they do now that she'd ignored their "final warning"?
Across the city, a woman's red-lacquered nails tapped across a phone screen.
She zoomed in on the blurry security footage of Aria leaving the clinic weeks ago.
Her lips curved. "So... you kept it."
She hit send on a message to an encrypted number:
Phase two begins. Get her out of the way.