The Eyes On Me

Chapter 27: The Calm Before the Storm

The wind outside howled, rattling the windows like a warning. But inside the dimly lit room, there was a momentary stillness—a fragile peace that I hadn’t felt in days.

Zane sat across from me, his jaw clenched, eyes darting toward the window every few seconds, but I could see it—the weariness in his posture, the weight he carried. The weight of protecting me.

I shifted closer to him on the couch, the soft crackle of the fireplace filling the silence between us. "Zane," I whispered, my voice barely cutting through the quiet. His head turned slightly, but he didn’t meet my eyes.

"You can’t keep this up forever," I said, placing my hand gently on his arm. His muscles tensed under my touch, as if he were holding everything in, afraid to let go.

He finally looked at me, his eyes dark and serious. "I don’t have a choice, Emilia," he said softly, his voice rough. "Ethan isn’t going to stop. He’s getting closer. Every move we make, he’s watching."

I swallowed hard, the mention of Ethan sending a shiver through me. Even now, his shadow seemed to stretch over every moment of my life, tainting even the smallest comforts.

But Zane was right. Ethan wasn’t going to stop until he had what he wanted—until he had me.

"I hate that you’re in danger because of me," I whispered, my voice cracking as I spoke the words I’d been holding in for so long. "You shouldn’t have to protect me like this."

Zane’s eyes softened, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I saw a flicker of vulnerability in him. He shifted closer, closing the distance between us.

His hand reached up, gently cupping my face. "I’m not doing this because I have to," he said, his thumb brushing against my cheek. "I’m doing it because I need you safe. Because I can’t imagine a world without you in it."

His words hung in the air between us, heavy and full of meaning. I felt the tears burning at the back of my eyes, but I blinked them away, trying to stay strong.

We couldn’t afford to break down now, not when Ethan was lurking in the shadows, waiting for his moment.

"I don’t want you to get hurt," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I’m so scared, Zane. I don’t know what Ethan’s capable of anymore."

Zane’s hand moved to the back of my neck, pulling me gently toward him. His forehead pressed against mine, and for a moment, the world outside disappeared. It was just us. Just this.

"We’ll get through this," he murmured, his breath warm against my skin. "I promise you, Emilia. I won’t let him take you. Not now, not ever."

The certainty in his voice gave me strength, even though the fear still lingered in my chest. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that we could find a way out of this nightmare, that Ethan wouldn’t tear us apart.

But deep down, I knew the storm was coming.

I closed my eyes, resting my head against Zane’s shoulder, and for the first time in what felt like days, I allowed myself to breathe.

The tension between us was still there—an undercurrent of desire that hadn’t been fully released—but tonight wasn’t about that. Tonight was about survival.

"I don’t want to lose you," I whispered, the admission slipping out before I could stop it.

Zane’s grip on me tightened, his lips pressing softly against my hair. "You won’t," he promised. "I won’t let that happen."

But as the wind outside picked up, howling louder than before, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the storm was closer than either of us wanted to admit.