Unconventional

Strawberry

It had been six months since Jennifer had last seen Emilio, and she wasn't about to let that change today.

The fluorescent lights of the grocery store buzzed overhead as she pushed her cart down the aisle, her mind elsewhere, focused on the list of things she needed for Amelia. The clatter of other carts, the murmur of shoppers, the hum of the freezers—it all blended into white noise, offering her a small moment of peace.

But then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw him.

Her heart plummeted, a jolt of cold dread hitting her chest like a punch. Emilio. Just down the aisle, his figure unmistakable even from a distance. Her throat tightened as his familiar form registered—tall, with that same dark look in his eyes. His presence shattered her brief calm, and without thinking, she ducked her head, steering her cart sharply down the next aisle, away from him.

Her hands gripped the handle of the cart so hard her knuckles whitened. Panic raced through her veins, every instinct screaming at her to get out. She glanced down at Amelia, sitting in the baby seat attached to the cart, blissfully unaware of the danger that had just entered their world again.

Jennifer's breath came quicker, her pulse a wild drum in her ears. She had to go—now.

Without hesitation, she abandoned the cart, leaving the half-filled bags of groceries behind. She scooped Amelia up, clutching her close as she hurried toward the exit. The bright fluorescent lights flickered over them, casting sharp shadows as they moved past aisles of cereal boxes and canned goods. The store's chatter seemed to fade into the background, overtaken by the sound of her own heartbeat.

As she pushed through the automatic doors, the cool evening air hit her, but it did nothing to calm her racing heart. Her eyes darted around the parking lot, scanning for any sign of him. There was no way she was letting him take this life from her—not again.

Her fingers fumbled as she unlocked the car, practically throwing Amelia into the car seat and strapping her in. She slammed the door shut, her hands trembling as she slid into the driver's seat. She could still feel the weight of his presence, the terror that clung to her like a shadow.

She jammed the key into the ignition, her hands shaking as she struggled to steady her breath. The engine roared to life, but just as she fastened her seatbelt, she froze.

Emilio was standing directly in front of the car.

He wasn't just staring—he was waiting, eyes locked on hers with that same twisted intensity she remembered all too well. His dark figure was backlit by the parking lot's dim lights, making him look even more menacing in the twilight. The wind picked up slightly, stirring the litter on the asphalt, but he didn't move.

"Get away," Jennifer growled, her voice low, panic gripping her chest as her fingers tightened on the wheel.

But Emilio didn't budge. His lips curled into a chilling smirk. "Turn off the car," he ordered, his voice cold and commanding.

Jennifer's pulse pounded in her ears. She couldn't stay here. She couldn't let him control her again. She glanced at Amelia, then shifted the car into reverse, her eyes flicking between the rearview mirror and Emilio's imposing figure ahead of her.

That's when she heard the gunshot.

The sharp, deafening crack echoed through the parking lot as Emilio pulled a handgun from his coat and shot one of her tires. The car jerked violently as the front tire deflated with a hiss, the rubber shredded by the bullet.

"Jennifer." Emilio's voice cut through the night air like a blade. "Turn off the fucking car."

The shock of it froze her in place, her body shaking as the reality of the situation sank in. There was no way out now.