C161 Won't Get Near You

Annabelle fidgeted with her phone, her fingers brushing over Natasha’s name in her contact list.

Guilt gnawed at her like a persistent ache.

She hesitated for a moment, staring at the screen.

The memory of Natasha’s near-death experience haunted her, and the thought that she could have done something, anything, to prevent it weighed heavily on her.

Taking a deep breath, she pressed the call button.

It rang twice before Natasha’s familiar voice answered.

“Annabelle?” Natasha sounded hesitant as if bracing for bad news.

“Hey,” Annabelle said softly, her voice cracking. “Can we talk?”

There was a pause on the other end before Natasha replied, “Sure, what’s up?”

“I just...” Annabelle’s breath hitched, and she forced herself to continue. “I wanted to apologize, Natasha. For not answering your call that day. If I had..."

Natasha cut her off. “Stop right there.” Her voice was firmer now, resolute. “Annabelle, it’s not your fault. You didn’t know what was happening. I was going to call 911, you know." She added with a wan chuckle. "I shouldn’t have even relied on a phone call. That’s on me.”

“But if I’d picked up...”

“You couldn’t have stopped what happened,” Natasha insisted. “Jake made me report it to the police, and I gave them everything...the guy’s description, his voice, his mannerisms. They haven’t found anyone who matches. It’s like he’s a ghost.”

"Can you...I am sorry because this might cause you some pain again but can you please tell me everything you remember about him? His face and all?"

After a pause, Natasha started a vivid description of her attacker like he was standing right in front of her.

Then she stopped talking as suddenly as she had started.

By the time she was done, Annabelle had tears gliding down her face.

Annabelle swallowed hard, her heart sinking. “He’s not a ghost, Natasha,” she said quietly. “He’s... he’s someone connected to me.”

There was silence on the other end, thick and heavy.

“What?” Natasha’s voice was a whisper, laced with confusion.

“I don’t know why he targeted you,” Annabelle confessed. “But I think it’s because of me. I don’t understand it either, but I’m so sorry. You got hurt because of something tied to my past.”

Natasha exhaled sharply. “That doesn’t make sense. Why would someone come after me if they wanted you? Why not just go straight to you?”

“I don’t know,” Annabelle admitted, her voice trembling. “But I’m going to figure it out. I promise.”

There was a long pause before Natasha spoke again. “Don’t beat yourself up over this. It’s not your fault, Annabelle. You didn’t ask for any of this.”

Annabelle wanted to believe her, but the guilt was unrelenting.

********

Later that evening, Annabelle sat with Dante in his study, the fire casting flickering shadows across the walls.

She had just told him about Natasha’s revelation.

Dante’s jaw tightened as she spoke, his dark eyes glinting with fury. “This is not just about you. He must be pissed that he could no longer get to you now that you belonged to me. He went after Natasha just because she’s connected to me. I know I should have killed that piece of shit when I first laid my hands on him,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

Annabelle looked down, unable to meet his gaze. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “If I hadn’t...."

“Don’t,” Dante interrupted sharply. He crouched in front of her, taking her hands in his. “Don’t you dare blame yourself for this. None of this is your fault, Annabelle.”

Tears welled in her eyes as she shook her head. “But it feels like everything Tad does is because of me. He’s ruining everything. Dante, maybe we should put the wedding on hold until this is over.”

Dante’s expression darkened, his grip on her hands tightening. “No.”

She blinked in surprise. “What?”

“I said no,” he repeated, his voice resolute. “Tad doesn’t get to dictate our lives. He doesn’t get to take anything else from us. I won’t let him.”

“But...”

“No buts, Annabelle,” Dante said firmly. “We’re moving forward. Together. That bastard won’t win. Not this time. I will handle him,”

Annabelle bit her lip, her heart aching at the conviction in his voice.

The following day, Annabelle told her mother about the wedding still being on.

Mauve was overjoyed, and Annabelle was grateful for her mother’s excitement.

But she couldn’t bring herself to share the full truth about Tad. She didn’t want Mauve to carry the same weight of guilt she did.

Later, she found herself lying awake in bed, the darkness pressing in around her.

Dante’s steady breathing beside her was the only thing grounding her.

Her mind refused to quiet.

Every shadow seemed to hide a threat, every creak of the house a sign of impending danger.

Images of Tad haunted her.

His smirk, his cruelty, and his ability to evade them at every turn.

And then there was Natasha, tied to a bed, helpless and afraid.

Annabelle closed her eyes tightly, willing the images away.

But when sleep finally claimed her, the nightmares came instead.

In her dream, she was running through a dark, eerie forest, Tad’s laughter echoing behind her.

She stumbled, her heart pounding in her chest.

When she turned, he was there, his face twisted into a grotesque mask of glee.

“You can’t escape me,” he whispered, his voice dripping with malice.

Annabelle jolted awake with a gasp, her chest heaving. Dante was instantly alert, his arms wrapping around her.

“Annabelle,” he murmured, his voice heavy with concern. “What’s wrong?”

She clung to him, tears streaming down her face. “It’s him, Dante. He’s in my head. I can’t... I can’t stop thinking about him.”

Dante held her tighter, his voice a low growl. “He won’t get near you. I promise you that. I’ll protect you, Annabelle. Always.”

Annabelle buried her face in his chest, her tears soaking his shirt.

She wanted to believe him.

She wanted to feel safe.

But deep down, she knew that as long as Tad was out there, the nightmares would never end.