Lesser Evil

16| The Villain

I couldn't have left even if I wanted to after hearing how desperate her voice sounded, and how glassy her eyes had turned.

And I didn't want to leave in the first place.

My hand curled around hers over the table. "I won't, don't worry."

A smile broke out on her face that made my heart sing in happiness, especially knowing I was the cause. "It's just that I don't like being alone and I don't really have anyone else..." She was making excuses, we both knew that wasn't true.

"And that's why you basically jumped into danger with eyes closed to look for me, right?" I teased her, though I was anticipating her answer. Would she say the truth— the answer that I wanted to hear, or would she make excuses?

Her cheeks heated up and she poked at the eggs almost angrily. Adorable. "I didn't know they would be there." She shot back with as much bite as a baby.

"Sure, princess, keep telling yourself that."

She opened her mouth to say something but got cut off when the sound of the obnoxiously loud doorbell filled the air. I walked after her as she headed to the door after putting away my plate. No one was there but I saw her bend down to pick something up.

"What is it?" Could be a courier in her name or her father's name other arrived a tad too late.

I didn't get a reply, instead she stood there frozen except her trembling legs. I quickly ran over to her and grabbed her arms to turn her around, whatever she was holding silently fell to the ground.

I held her as she continued to shake in my arms, her face pressed tightly to my chest. I hadn't even seen what had her scared so much but I already have what it was and the person who sent it.

I let go of her long enough to bend to the floor and gather everything that fell from her hands before holding her once again.

Three pictures. One note.

The first picture was of her in her room, sleeping.

The second was of her in her car, seemingly taken yesterday.

The last, however, had me shaking in rage. It was a picture of us, with her hugging me from behind, obviously taken a few minutes ago only.

I scrambled to unfold the note, my suspicions coming correct.

You can run but you can't hide, Ayat.

I will find you.

That was the first part of the note, the one that had me worried the most.

Shaz, I will kill you in the name of betrayal and make her watch as I do so.

Mark my words and await your end.

"It's from him, isn't it?" She whispered softly, her voice almost wavering as she talked.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It is." I wanted to offer her some words of reassurance. Tell her that I'll fend them off for her, but Fariz wasn't one man. He had thousands with him and I alone was no match for him. That was the truth, no matter how hard to swallow.

"I'm scared, Shaz." I silently rubbed her back only. "What if they do something to you?" That had my eyebrows crinkling.

"You're worried about me?" I looked at her blankly, trying to wrap my head around what she said. She was worried about me instead of herself.