Chapter 3: Caged In The Devil's Arms

"Five years... Destiny is truly a bitch, right?" Denzel throws his head back and laughs maniacally.

I check my surroundings once more, but I can't find the slightest trace of humanity. Denzel continues to laugh but stops when he notices me staring into the distance, not heeding him.

The next thing I know, both his arms slam down on either side of me, caging me between him and the wall. His chest aligns with my face. Even with the shirt on, I can imagine his muscles just by their outline.

My face feels hot.

"Why did you come back, little rose? Aren't you afraid of the consequences I can make you suffer?" He angrily slams his hands on the wall, talking through gritted teeth. He takes my chin in his grip and tips my head up to meet my eyes.

My heart is beating frantically. I can't stare off into the distance to ask for help. I can only crane my neck and gaze at his handsome face and let the fragrance of his shaving cream overwhelm me.

The scent catches me off guard when I recognize its brand.

"Mint Chocolate? You still use that?"

I want to slap myself in the face as soon as those words leave my mouth. Denzel's forehead creases and confusion overtakes his earlier fuming expression.

Seriously? Five years of separation and the first thing I ask my ex is why he still uses the same shaving cream that I bought him for his birthday. Especially, when he's threatening to ruin my future.

Please, just let me bury myself in a hole.

"Well," he begins with a cough. "The product turned out more reliable than the sender."

He gives me a side-eye and I look away. I find my heart has calmed down a bit and my nerves are quiet. I don't feel as uncomfortable as I did at first.

We're still inches apart from completely pressing against each other. I feel his gaze boring into my face before icy fingers graze my cheek. A shiver runs through my back. Next, he takes my left hand and I feel one of his fingers circling around my ring finger.

I turn my hand and notice him inspecting my hand. It happens really fast for me to think it's a mirage, but I can swear I see a smirk appear on his face just for a quarter of a second.

His phone rings.

I snatch my hand away once his face turns its usual cold. He reaches into his pants. And for reasons I can't explain, a thought crosses my mind. I stand on my tiptoes to catch a glance at the caller.

Denzel doesn't pick it up and puts his phone away. It makes me curious. And since he already searched for a wedding ring on me, it only makes sense that I know about his love life as well.

"Was it your wife?" I try to sound as nonchalant as I can, but my heart is throbbing nervously.

"Marry me and I might tell you."

I blink in surprise. I search for a hint of sarcasm or humour in his voice, but it's as stern as a mountain. Even his face is dead serious.

Why, after so many years, would he assume that?

"It's over between us, Denzel." Little by little, I back away into the hallway, taking one step at a time. "I'm not going to pick up a tragedy and read it when I know the ending. I want no more heartbreaks."

I turn around and walk away, but I have to stop abruptly when a hand wraps around my wrist.

"Everything we went through, Naomi... there were good times too, you know."

It's hard for me to tell his mood when his voice is as cold as ice. I can't tell if he's hurting or angry, if he's serious or sarcastic.

"I do," I sigh inwardly. I turn back around and stare into his straight, emotionless face. His fists ball firmly at his sides. However, I can't stall the matter anymore.

"But, the ending makes a vast difference."

I unwrap his fingers, gripping around my wrist one by one, and he doesn't stop me. Once I'm done, I head straight back on the way we came from.

During my flight, I call Marcus to ask him to meet us in the parking area. I take the lift and call to let Myra know I'm taking Ben.

When I arrive in the reception area, I go towards the room Ben is in. I'm standing at the beginning of the hallway when I notice a stranger approaching Ben, who's wandering outside the room.

However, another look at her dirty blond hair and I can tell she's not a stranger. She's far from a stranger. My heart jumps to my throat and all I want is to scamper there and block her view of Ben.

But I can't. Because it'd do nothing to help my case and instead, raise more suspicion. It's at this moment that I regret bringing Ben here.

If she finds the slightest whiff of me around Ben, she'll ask questions. She's currently crouched down before him, her family whom she hasn't met yet, talking to him in a baby voice.

I hide in a corner, making sure I'm blocked from her sight, and wait patiently for her to leave.

What seems like an eternity later, she departs. I wait until she's into the lift and then I run to Ben like I'm training for a marathon. I don't waste time and sweep him up into my arms. Ben looks tired, so he doesn't fuss about it.

I carry us both into the parking area and get into the car with Marcus. As soon as Ben hits the car seat, he falls sound asleep.

Marcus notices sweat coat my entire being.

"What's wrong?"

"I saw Chloe," my breaths are coming out heavily. I truly feel like I've run a marathon.

"Chloe, who?" Marcus focuses on driving and pays little attention until I mention her full name.

"Chloe Marissa Flynn. Denzel's little sister." A car drives towards us and Marcus swerves. He barely avoids a run-in with a tree on the sidewalk. 

I hiss.

"That's not the worst part." I gaze forward, but Marcus is looking my way in apprehension.

I decide to not stall even though telling him now is a bad idea. "I saw her talking to Ben."

A fearful silence engulfs the car and for the next half an hour of ride, neither of us says a word. I catch Marcus glance at Ben now and then, who's sleeping peacefully without a worry.

Marcus ultimately pulls at the building's parking lot. I carry Ben upstairs to the apartment, and Marcus follows suit.

Once inside, I tuck Ben into his bed, covering him with quilts. I peck his head, whispering a promise to myself.

I won't let anyone take you, ever.

When I come out of his room, Marcus is waiting for me at the dining table. I retrieve my laptop from my room and join him in the kitchen.

His entire figure is tense and he's fumbling with his fingers, trying to keep his mind busy. I perch my hands atop his on the dining table and calm them down.

He looks up at me from our intertwined hands and nods to the seat opposite him. After I'm seated, he doesn't waste a second before bombarding questions at me.

Not wanting to keep secrets, I tell him about the encounter with Denzel and then an almost bump-in with Chloe.

"Do you think we should tell him?"

I stare at Marcus in complete puzzlement. I thought after all the drama, he'd know what Denzel is like and what he's capable of.

"Are you kidding me, Marcus? The moment he finds out about Ben, he wouldn't bat an eye before filing a lawsuit to get Ben's custody."

Anger coats my voice, and my words pour out like venom. I can see Marcus visibly flinch, because I'm never a violent person. But today has been... a lot.

"Do you think it'd be worse than him finding out from someone else?"

I don't completely disagree with Marcus. But I'm still not revealing Ben to Denzel.

"I know it's selfish of me, but I don't want to share Ben." I look Marcus dead in the eye to make sure he understands how I feel.

At the same moment, lightning breaks in the sky and I see from the windows, rain pouring down. The weather looked foggy during our drive, but I didn't expect rain.

"Mommy!" I turn around to see Ben standing at the threshold of his room, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He's probably scared. He doesn't like thunder.

"I'll go to him." Marcus rises from his seat and takes Ben back to his bed before I can protest.

It still baffles me to think how much Denzel and Ben have in common. From appearances to appetite, likes and dislikes, the similarities amaze me. Whereas I like rain, Ben was born with a fear and dislike for stormy nights, like his father.

And then his thoughts cross my mind. What must be Denzel doing to pass the storm since I'm not there to accompany him? Does he have... Layla?

I shake my head and push his thoughts to the back of my mind. I open my laptop to check my inbox. There isn't much except for some spam and promotions.

I open the recent tab and an email pops up. It has a fake address and even though my brain is telling me to not open it, I just want to get this day done with.

I click on the email and goosebumps rise on my skin, but not from the cold—from the content.

'You look sexy for a mom. Can't wait to feel myself inside you and make you my little wh-'

I don't have the stomach to keep reading. I skip to the end, where there is an attachment. And again, I know I should just block this email. I still click on the attachment and d******d it.

It's a picture.

It's me in a black maxi in the reception area of the hotel. It's such a close shot that whoever took it must have been there in the lobby, keeping an eye.

There's another.

It's me again on the terrace with Denzel, his arms caging me between him and the wall. The person must have taken this shot from another rooftop. It comes with a comment that sends creepy chills down my back.

'Don't let another man touch my goods you bitch. I'll make you pay for every time you whore around with another dog.'

Creepy enough? I don't wait for anything else. I keep the email, shut the laptop and hop on my bed. Sliding under the covers, I try to sleep in, forgetting about everything that has taken place in the last twenty-four hours.

For the first time, I don't like the sound of rain and thunder.