"Behind Closed Doors"

The Other Side

Devin's POV:

Chapter 8:

Devin sat in his car, his fists clenching and unclenching around the steering wheel. His whole body buzzed with anger, his chest heaving. He couldn't believe Kayla had pulled that stunt on him. After everything he'd done for her, after all the times he'd let things slide, she thought she could just disappear on him?

"Nah," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. "She think this some kinda game."

He had gone to her place, ready to talk it out, to smooth things over like he always did. Sure, he was pissed, but that was only 'cause she kept actin' like she didn't care about him no more. Ignorin' his calls, not answerin' his texts—that wasn't how things were supposed to be.

When he kicked in the door, he hadn't planned to go that far. But Kayla had forced his hand. He wasn't about to let her keep pushin' him away, makin' him look like a fool. She needed to know who was in charge, who had her back.

And then that girl, Lena, had shown up. Acting all tough like she could handle him. He almost laughed at the thought of it now. "She don't even know," he mumbled, a sneer curling his lips. He could've snapped at any second, but he didn't. He let it go. 'Cause he wasn't the monster they thought he was.

Devin drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, his mind racing. He'd given Kayla space. He'd tried to be patient, to let her come around on her own. But she was playin' with him now. And he didn't like games. Not when his heart was involved.

The memories of their early days together flashed through his mind. How she used to laugh at his jokes, how she looked at him like he was everything. He'd never forget the first time he saw her smile—that smile that made him feel like he was somebody, like he wasn't just some dude from the block. He had never been with a girl like her, and he wasn't about to lose her now.

"I been good to you, Kayla," he whispered under his breath, gripping the wheel tighter. "Ain't nobody else gonna treat you like I do."

He glanced at his phone, Kayla's name still saved under "My Queen." He had texted her so many times, called, even showed up at her place, and she still wouldn't listen. She still wouldn't come back to him.

Devin punched the steering wheel, the sharp pain in his knuckles barely registering as his mind spun. He wasn't ready to let go, but something in his gut told him that Kayla was slippin' away. And if she kept pullin' away from him, he didn't know what he was gonna do.

"She ain't just gon' leave me like that," Devin muttered, his chest tight with frustration. "She owe me that much."

But he couldn't deny the truth staring him in the face: Kayla wasn't the same girl she used to be. She wasn't letting him in like before. It was like she was building a wall around herself, and every time he tried to knock it down, she just rebuilt it higher.

He needed to think, needed a way to fix this before it was too late. Because the last thing Devin could handle was losing control—losing her. She was his, and nobody else would ever understand her like he did. Nobody else would care for her like he did.

He picked up his phone, staring at her name on the screen. He could feel the rage building inside of him again, but he pushed it down. No, he had to play this smart. Kayla thought she could outsmart him by keeping her distance, but Devin knew her better than that. She was scared, confused. She didn't know what she wanted. But he'd remind her.

He'd remind her that he was the one who loved her.

Devin tapped out a message, his fingers trembling slightly.

Devin: We need to talk. I ain't playin'. You know where I'm at.

He pressed send, staring at the screen like it held all the answers. He was giving her one more chance. One last shot to make things right between them.

But if she didn't listen this time?

Devin's jaw clenched, and he tossed the phone onto the passenger seat. If Kayla kept pushing him away, if she kept acting like she didn't need him, then she was gonna find out just how far he was willing to go to make sure she stayed by his side.

He wasn't giving up that easy.