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I reach out, pulling her into a hug. She resists for a moment, then sags against me, her body shaking with sobs. I hold her tight, my heart aching as I listen to her cry.
"It's okay," I murmur, my hand stroking her hair. "It's okay, Sasha. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
And as I hold her, as I feel her body pressed against mine, I can't help but feel a shift. It's like something inside me has cracked, something that's been slowly breaking down ever since I met her.
I'm not just her bodyguard anymore. I'm not just the guy who's supposed to keep her safe. I'm...more. I'm her friend, her confidant. And, if I’m lucky, maybe I could be something more.
The thought is both terrifying and exhilarating, a dizzying mix of fear and anticipation that leaves me feeling off-balance. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, to regain some semblance of control.
I'm going to catch this son of a bitch. I'm going to keep her safe. And I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure she never has to feel this way again.
Because I'm Axel Creed, and that's what I do. I protect the people I care about. And whether she realizes it or not, Sasha is one of those people.
"Sasha, I promise you, I'm going to catch this son of a bitch," I say, my voice low and steady. I can feel her trembling in my arms, her fear a palpable thing. The thought of someone doing this to her makes my blood boil.
She looks up at me, her eyes wide and filled with unshed tears. "I know you will, Axel," she whispers. "I trust you."
And there it is. That word. Trust. It's a heavy thing, a burden and a gift all at once. I can't help but feel a sense of pride, knowing that she trusts me. But at the same time, it's a reminder of what's at stake. I can't afford to mess this up. I can't afford to let her down.
I give her a small smile, trying to reassure her. "I won't let you down, Sasha," I tell her. "You have my word."
She gives me a shaky smile in return, and for a moment, everything feels... right. It's like we're in our own little bubble, just the two of us. The rest of the world fades away, and all that matters is her.
But then, something catches my eye. A shadow, moving outside the window. I tense, my instincts kicking into high gear.
"Axel?" Sasha says, her voice filled with confusion. "What's wrong?"
I don't answer her. Instead, I move towards the window, my eyes scanning the darkness. But there's nothing there. No movement, no sound. Just the quiet hum of the night.
I let out a slow breath, trying to calm myself. I'm being paranoid, I tell myself. There's nothing there.
But even as I think about it, I can't shake the feeling that we're being watched. That someone is out there, just beyond the reach of the light.
And then, my phone buzzes. I pull it out, my heart sinking as I read the message.
unknown
I’m closer than you think.
The words steal the breath from me. It's him. The stalker. And he's been watching us the whole time.
I turn to look at Sasha, my heart racing. She's still sitting on the couch, her eyes wide with fear. I can't let her down. I won't.
9
SASHA
The flashing lights blind me as Axel and I step onto the red carpet. I feel his hand in its usual place at the small of my back, guiding me through the sea of cameras and microphones. It's a touch that's both reassuring and electric, sending shivers down my spine despite the warm LA night.
"Sasha! Axel! Over here!" a reporter calls out, waving us over. I plaster on my best smile, the one I've practiced in the mirror a thousand times. It's the smile that says "I'm happy, I'm in love, and everything is perfect."
But everything isn't perfect. Far from it. As Axel and I pose for the cameras, his arm around my waist, I can't help but feel like a fraud. This isn't real. None of it is. We're just playing a part, putting on a show for the world to see.
And yet, there's a part of me that wishes it were real. A part of me that craves the warmth of Axel's touch, the steadiness of his gaze. A part of me that wants to believe that the smiles and the laughter and the whispered words are more than just an act.
"You okay?" Axel murmurs, his lips brushing against my ear. I suppress a shiver, nodding quickly.
"I'm fine," I whisper back, my voice a little too high, a little too bright. "Just... it's a lot, you know?"
