God of Strength (Light of Obsession #1)

Chapter 23

Vaughn

As I settled into her room, feeling the warmth of her presence envelop me, I couldn't help but smile. My Alicia, with her kind heart and sweet spirit, made everything feel lighter, even in the midst of my tangled thoughts and the weight of my world. She was like a beacon in my otherwise shadowy existence, and the devotion I felt for her surged through me, warmer than the summer sun.

Gazing at her, I reveled in the serene beauty of the moment. Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, framing her face in a way that made her look even more ethereal. A small sliver of moonlight spilled across the room, illuminating her features just enough for me to drink in every detail. The way her brows knitted in concern, the way her lips pursed slightly as she admonished me to be quiet—it was all incredibly endearing.

"Quiet as a mouse, I promise," I whispered, exaggerating my own stealth as I eased myself closer to her. My heart raced with each inch I moved, driven by a sweet intensity that was so uniquely Alicia.

"Just for a little while," I added, wanting to spend as much time as possible in the comfort of her company. Every second spent with her felt like a precious gift I was willing to protect at all costs. No one else saw the world the way she did; she breathed light into every dark corner of my life.

My Alicia rolled her eyes, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "You're impossible," she said, her tone feigned exasperation but her eyes twinkling with warmth.

"I'm just here to protect you," I replied, pretending to puff out my chest. "That's my designated role, after all." I shifted closer, capturing her gaze with mine, allowing the gravity of our connection to pull us nearer.

"But sneaking in through windows can't be part of the protection plan," she teased, her voice lightening the atmosphere between us.

I chuckled, the sound hanging in the air like music. "Well, maybe it's a new layer of protection. You know, one that adds excitement to your otherwise mundane evening," I suggested playfully, knowing full well that mundane wasn't in Alicia's vocabulary.

"Maybe. Just don't make it a habit, okay?" she replied, brushing her fingers through Mochi's fur. "We can't have you being a regular nighttime intruder. My dad will flip if he finds out."

Her concern warmed me, but it also sent a sharp pang through my chest. "I'll keep my visits top secret," I promised, though a part of me yearned to shout our secret from the rooftops. I wanted the world to know how precious she was—my kukolka, my beautiful little doll.

"Okay, Mr. Top Secret," she replied, her smile brightening the room more than any moonlight ever could. "Just be careful, alright? I don't want anything to happen to you."

That brought a more serious expression to my face, and I reached out, taking her hand in mine and squeezing it gently. "I promise I'll always be careful. My only worry is losing you, Kukolka. You mean too much to me."

The moment hung between us, filled with unspoken words and emotions swirling like the night outside. I felt her heart through our entwined fingers, its rhythm matching my own. It occurred to me that there might come a time when I'd need to prove this kind of fervor to her—show her just how far I would go to ensure her safety and happiness.

"I just want you to see me for who I really am," I declared softly, unable to hide my vulnerability. "I'm not the monster everyone thinks I am. Not when it comes to you."

Her eyes widened, deepened pools of trust and understanding glimmering back at me. "I know that, Vaughn," she reassured me, leaning closer as if to knit our souls together in that still moment. "I see you. I really do."

In that second, everything in my world shifted. The shadows, the whispers, the worries—they all faded away until there was only My Alicia and me, caught in our private universe. I leaned forward slowly, my heart pounding in my chest, and softly pressed my lips to her forehead, a tender gesture filled with promise and resolution.

As I pulled back, I saw her blush, the rosy hue painting her cheeks, making her look even more radiant. I couldn't help but chuckle, feeling my own cheeks warm in response. "Now you'll be the one with the secret to keep," I teased playfully.

"Oh, absolutely not! Your secret window visits are going to be the talk of the town if I have anything to say about it," Alicia shot back, laughter spilling from her lips like music.

"Bring it on; I'll take on the world for you, kukolka," I proclaimed, my words a vow whispered between us, a sacred promise that transcended our reality.

The night stretched ahead full of endless possibilities, and no matter what shadows loomed outside her window, inside this room, we were safe—and I would do everything in my power to make sure it stayed that way.

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Alicia

Vaughn snuck out of my room early in the morning, I will say that I missed his presence the moment he left.

     I plan on telling my grandparents tomorrow when they come over for dinner, which is a conversation I'm dreading.

     I can only imagine Grandpa Jonathon's face as he eggs on daddy to get him more mad at Vaughn.

      Yeah, my family is a treat.

       Shifting in the backseat as the driver hits a small bump, I look out the window, trying to ignore the two bodyguards that daddy insist accompany me everywhere.

     I'm going to an audition, about 20 minute car ride away, but he always says it's better to be safe.

       The car comes to an abrupt halt, confusing me and the two men next to me.

       One of them reaches to the front, opening the little window between the seating area and the drivers area.

       Only to be greeted with a bullet to the head.

       I scream, the sound loud and panicked. Oh God, oh God, oh God.

        My other bodyguard pulls out his gun and shoots the driver in the front, and I feel a ram into the side of the car.

       My screaming only grows louder and louder as the car begins to topple onto the side. My remaining bodyguard, now weak and cut with glass, attempts to reach closer to me to shield me.

     Someone yanks open the window and throws a knife right into his throat.

     And that face. Eyes wide with terror and steel through this throat? I'll never forget it.

     I scramble to get out of the car, the same man yanks my leg, pulling me back.

      The last thing I remember is my world going black.

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A/N:
Hiii! I apologize in advance for any emotions you may feel in the following chapters, they won't be nice ones ;D
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