Chapter 3: Athena’s Pov

“Donnovan.”

His name left my mouth.

The call had ended, but I remained beside the door with my phone pressed to my ear, staring at the screen as though the caller might ring again and explain what the hell was going on.

Donnovan had found me.

It was the only explanation that made sense. He humiliated me in front of the entire pack and made it clear that he never wanted to see me again.

I have done everything possible to stay away from Ashari.

Perhaps he wanted to drag me back and finish whatever he had started that night.

I tried calling the number back.

But It didn’t go through.

“Of course,” I muttered, lowering my phone.

After dragging a chair across the floor, I placed it beneath the door handle. It wasn’t much protection, but it made me feel a little better.

I picked it up the photograph again, turned it over, and read the words on the back again.

She left before they could kill her.

Who was they?

And why would anyone want me dead?

I couldn’t afford to sit there all night trying to answer questions I didn’t have the answers to.

 I had work in the morning, Lia to take care of, and a life that had taken me two years to put together.

Whatever was happening, I couldn’t allow it to ruin everything I had built.

I folded the photograph and slipped it into the pocket of my trousers just as someone knocked.

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

“Athena? It’s me.”

Devonye.

I hurried to the door, removed the chair, and opened it. She stood outside with a takeaway bag in one hand and a bottle of water in the other.

“You weren’t answering,” she said. “I thought you might have fallen asleep, but then I remembered you were supposed to tell me about your day.”

“Sorry. I must have forgotten.”

She looked at me before stepping inside. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You look like you’ve seen something you weren’t supposed to see.”

I forced a laugh and closed the door behind her. “I’m just tired, Dev.”

“So start sleeping properly. You can’t keep working late and waking up early every day. Your body is going to give up on you.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“That’s what you always say.”

She placed the bag on the table and pulled out a container of food.

She probably noticed I didn’t have dinner.

“I brought you food,” she said. “Don’t thank me, it’s what besties do..Plus I cooked so much food, you’re basically helping me get rid of it.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“I know, but I’m generous, so it balances out.”

I smiled.

For a few minutes, we talked about ordinary things. Devonye complained about the price of groceries, told me about a woman who had argued with her at the supermarket, and asked whether Lia had enjoyed her ice cream.

“She talked about it the entire way home,” Devonye said. “Apparently, chocolate ice cream is the greatest invention in human history.”

“She gets that from you.”

“Excuse me? I’m a woman of refined taste.”

“You ate noodles for breakfast yesterday.”

“And I enjoyed every bite.”

I laughed, and for a minute there, the tightness in my chest eased.

That was the thing about Devonye. She could make an ordinary conversation feel like the most important thing in the world, and I was grateful for that she was part of the life I had built here, someone I could count on without having to explain every part of myself.

Which was exactly why I couldn’t tell her what had happened.

She wouldn’t understand the full story.

Devonye opened the container and handed me a fork. “Eat. You look exhausted.”

I sat down and obeyed, mostly because arguing with her would take more energy than eating.

“So, how was work?”

“Busy.”

“And how was your customer?”

I paused with my fork halfway to my mouth. “Which customer?”

“The handsome one you told me about.”

“I didn’t tell you anything about him.”

“You didn’t have to. You mentioned a man who came in near closing time, and suddenly you couldn’t remember what you were doing when I asked you about your day.”

“That proves nothing.”

“It proves you like him.”

I rolled my eyes. “His name is Darion.”

Devonye’s eyebrows rose. “You know his name already?”

“He told me.”

“And did you tell him yours?”

“Yes, because that’s usually how introductions work.”

She laughed. “All right, don’t bite my head off. I’m only asking.”

“There isn’t anything to ask. He ordered coffee, we talked for a few minutes, and he left.”

“Did you think he was attractive?”

I concentrated on my food.

Devonye gasped. “You did!”

I shook my head, but I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my mouth.

The truth was that I had noticed him. I noticed his smile, the way he looked directly at me when I spoke, and how easily he carried a conversation. There had been something reassuring about him.

That didn’t mean I knew him, and it certainly didn’t mean I was ready to trust him.

Besides, I had more important things to worry about.

Devonye leaned back in her chair. “I’m just saying that you deserve to have a little fun. You spend all your time working or looking after Lia. When was the last time you went on a date?”

“I don’t remember.”

“Exactly.”

“And I’m perfectly happy with my life.”

“I know you are.” Her voice softened. “I’m not saying you need someone else to make it better. I’m saying you don’t have to close yourself off from everything because life hasn’t always been kind to you.”

I looked down at my plate.

She didn’t know how close her words came to something I spent two years trying to forget.

“I’m not closing myself off,” I said quietly. “I’m just being careful.”

“Then be careful. Just don’t convince yourself that every good thing comes with a price.”

If only it were that simple.

After our little chat, Devonye helped me check on Lia, who was still asleep in her room, and then returned to the sitting room to collect her bag.

“I’ll take her tomorrow morning if you need me to,” she offered.

“Are you sure? You’ve already done enough.”

“Athena, it’s fine. I like spending time with her.”

She hugged me before she left, then pulled back to study my face.

“Seriously, though. If something is bothering you, talk to me.”

She waited, perhaps expecting me to say something , but I only smiled and walked her to the door.

“Get some sleep,” she said. “And don’t spend the entire night thinking about that man.”

I laughed as she stepped into the corridor.

“Goodnight, Devonye.”

“Goodnight, Thee Thee.”

I locked the door behind her and stood there until I heard her footsteps disappear down the stairs.

The apartment felt different once she was gone.

I returned to the table and took the photograph from my pocket. I kept studying the faces in the picture, searching for something that might explain why it had been sent to me.

I spent a long time telling myself that leaving was the best decision I ever made and I still believe that.

I had Lia now. I had a job, a home, and people who cared about me.

So why was I still allowing the possibility of his return to frighten me?

I folded the photograph and placed it inside the back of a kitchen drawer, beneath a stack of old receipts. I wasn’t going to spend the night staring at it.

Tomorrow, I will go to work, take care of Lia, and I would carry on with my life.

If Donnovan had somehow found me, I would deal with that when I had to.

For now, I needed to sleep.

I checked on Lia before going to bed. She was curled beneath her blanket, one hand tucked under her cheek, her little mouth slightly open. I brushed a strand of hair away from her face and kissed her forehead.

“Everything is fine, sweetheart,” I whispered, though I wasn’t sure whether I was reassuring her or myself.

She stirred but didn’t wake.

I left her door slightly open and returned to my bedroom.

For the first time that evening, I allowed myself to consider Darion again.

 I wondered whether I would see him at the café tomorrow, if he would order another coffee, and whether he would look at me with that same easy smile.

The thought brought a small, unexpected warmth to my chest.

Then I remembered the photograph and the warning that had followed it, and the feeling faded.

I didn’t know who had sent it or what they wanted from me.

I don’t know if Donnovan had anything to do with it. I only knew that I couldn’t let fear take over the life I worked so hard to build.

I switched off the bedside lamp and pulled the blanket over myself.

Whatever waited for me tomorrow could wait until tomorrow.

Tonight, I was going to rest.