Chapter 107

I missed You

Jace didn’t take me staying home with Reece very well. He wanted me with him, but I couldn’t take

another night being bored. I was only allowed to stay once I told him that all the excitement of Jude and

Beth coming over had taken a bit of a toll on me, and I was a bit exhausted. I informed him that I

wanted to go to bed before midnight, and he agreed, but not until he had Owen promise to stay inside

the apartment until he got home from work, even though Malik would be on shift as well.

He’s taking my safety seriously, and I love him more for it, but it’s a bit too much for me. I will never tell

him that, though. He would think that I wasn’t being careful and punish me once more like he did the

last time, and I definitely don’t want that. It’s not that I don’t take my safety seriously; the last thing I

want is to get stabbed again or worse, but it’s how he goes about trying to protect me. Daddy pays

good money for my guards and it’s their job to protect me, but Jace thinks he needs to take it upon

himself.

I’m just finishing up getting ready when there is a knock on the front door. I open it to a smiling Owen, “I

come bearing my own popcorn.” He chuckles.

giggle at him, “Reece is bringing popcorn.”

“Yes, but I eat a shit ton, so I figured I’d bring my own.” He comes in and goes to the kitchen, “Besides,

this popcorn comes straight from the movie theater in town. How can you not eat it?”

“You can buy popcorn for takeout from the theater?” I ask surprised.

“Of course, you can. Money is money to them.” The guard states, “I did forget M&M’s though.” He

sulks.

“Well, you’re in luck because I have those.” I pick up the tray that I have prepared with a bunch of

goodies and carry it over to the coffee table in the living room.

Another knock sounds and I recognize it as Reece’s special knock just before she walks in carrying a

big bag of popcorn. I look between her bag and Owen’s bag and burst out laughing.

“Looks like you both had the same idea. We shouldn’t run out of popcorn tonight, that’s for sure.”

“Great minds think alike!” Reece pipes in as she grins up at Owen.

The guard is already looking at my friend, and I can’t help but wonder if he has a thing for my loud,

sassy friend. She will be on cloud nine if that’s the case, but then I’ll have to worry on how well he will

do his job if he’s got his head in the clouds over Reece. I will have to think on this before I can allow

anything to happen between them. I hate to be a cockblocker, but my life is at stake here.

The movie is almost over, and I have to admit that it’s been a good time. There has been no

awkwardness with Reece and Owen sitting right by each other on the couch. Reece, who is usually the

one to flirt with anyone cute, has been on her best

behavior. I don’t know if they realize that they have to keep it platonic for now or what, but I’m grateful.

A funny part of the movie is playing when my phone buzzes with an incoming text. Jace is the only one

who texts me this late when he’s working, so I look at it right away. I don’t want him worrying about me

needlessly just because I want to watch a funny part of a movie.

| swipe on the screen and click on the unread message, not even noticing the name, but then I freeze

once it opens.

UNKNOWN: I missed you tonight, Ella.

ME: Who is this?

UNKNOWN: I think you know who this is.

ME: What is your name?

UNKNOWN: You know I can’t tell you that yet, Ella.

ME: What do you want from me?

UNKNOWN: I want you, Precious. Jace doesn’t deserve you. I will treat you like you should be treated.

I can dominate you so much better than he ever can.

LE

UNKNOWN: I have to admit that it was so hot watching him get you off the other night, though…and

the way you made out with that woman? Had you looked over, you would have seen me jerking off to

you, because it was so hot. No worries, though. Soon enough, I will have you and you WILL submit to

me.

I can’t even answer him back, as I drop my phone and it slides

off my lap, landing on the floor with a thump. I gasp and between me and the noise from the phone

hitting the floor, both Reece and Owen look over at me. Owen going straight into bodyguard mode

pushes his bag of popcorn aside and comes straight to me, squatting down by my legs.

“What’s wrong, Ella?”

“H-He texted me…”

Owen picks my phone up and reads through the texts, his face hardening as he reads through each

one. He’s on his phone right away as he takes mine out to the hall to show Malik. I try listening to what

is being said as he talks to whoever he’s talking to on the phone, but his voice is low, and I only catch

the last of the conversation as he comes back into the room.

“Yes, she’s shaken up a bit, but she’s fine. I will stay here with her until you get home, but you may

want to try and come home sooner, she needs you.”

Jace.

I look up at him hopeful. I hate to be that girl who is a scaredy cat and can’t stand to be alone, but with

everything going on, and after everything the stalker said in his text, I’m really scared now and just

want Jace here to hold me and tell me that everything is going to be okay.

Owen finishes his call and glances at me, “Jace is going to find someone to cover him and then he will

be home. I’ll stay here until he gets here, and Malik is going to do a sweep of the building before

returning to his place outside the door.” He looks at Reece, “Would you like Malik to walk you down to

your apartment? I would, but I need to stay with Ella.”

“Yeah, that would be great,” Reece looks at me, “Unless you want me to stay too. I’m more than willing

to do that.”

I get up and hug her, “Thank you, but you should probably head home anyway. I will be fine with the

two guys.”

“Okay, if you’re sure.” She acts as though she doesn’t want to leave, and I would welcome her to stay,

but I’m too shaken up at the moment.

“Ella!” Jace calls out as soon as he comes through the door.

I’m still sitting in the chair that I was sitting in while watching the movie; l’ve yet to move since hugging

my friend goodbye, “Jesus, Ella!” Jace pulls me up and into his arms until Owen hands him my phone,

so he can read the texts.

“FUCK!!” Jace roars and starts pacing back and forth, “That fucker was there that night? He was that

close, and we didn’t even see him?”

“I don’t understand how he got passed us.” Owen states dumbfounded, “I’ve already called Kingsly and

informed him of the situation. He said he will be here in the morning with a new plan of action.”

“I need to go back to the club in the morning and look at footage from the hallway that night. I don’t

know how | missed it. If it’s me that pissed them off, then shouldn’t I have

recognized them?”

“Not if they changed their appearance.” Owen suggests.

Jace nods his head, “Thank you, Owen, for calling me right away, and for calling Kingsly. Are you able

to stay and sleep on the couch? I’m sure Ella would feel much safer knowing that the both of you are

here tonight.”

Owen looks at me and nods, “I’ll be happy to crash on the couch, it’s pretty soft.”

I remember the comment I had made to him earlier today, and I smirk once more, “You are always

welcome to crash in the spare room.”

The guard lifts a brow, “The one that you just warned me to stay away from if I didn’t want to get

embarrassed? Yeah, not thanks. I’ve seen bits and pieces of your lifestyle, so I can only imagine what’s

behind the door to the “spare” room.” He muses and Jace laughs.

“I don’t know why you’re so scared of going in there, Ella and I enjoy being in there, that’s for sure.” He

winks at me, and I smile.

“And that is the number one reason why I prefer the couch.” Owen stretches out on the comfy piece of

furniture.

I turn towards Jace and scoff out loud, “What, does he think the couch hasn’t been christened, too?”

Owen jumps up so fast that Jace and I burst out in laughter, “She’s joking, man, relax. I put towels

down first.” Jace then turns me and takes us to our room, leaving Owen cursing under his breath as we

go.

Oh…what a creeper!