"Behind Closed Doors"

Tension Building

Kayla's POV:

Chapter 16: Tension Building

Kayla sat in the living room of her mom's house, feeling the heaviness in the air. She'd been here for two days now, and while it was supposed to make her feel safe, the constant tension in her body refused to go away. She couldn't relax. Every time she looked out the window, she half-expected to see Devin's car parked on the street, waiting for her.

Isaiah and Jordan had been keeping close watch. Isaiah barely left the house, always pacing or checking the locks on the doors. Jordan, though usually the more relaxed one, had been quieter than usual, his eyes always watching, waiting for something to happen.

Kayla felt guilty. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. Her brothers had their own lives, but now they were both wrapped up in her problems. Problems she couldn't seem to solve on her own.

"You need anything?" Isaiah asked, stepping into the living room. His voice was calm, but Kayla could see the tension in his eyes.

She shook her head. "No, I'm good."

Isaiah nodded, but he didn't leave. Instead, he stood there for a moment, his arms crossed, looking like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure how.

Kayla knew what was on his mind. Devin. He was waiting, just like she was, for the next move. And she hated that. She hated that they were all stuck in this holding pattern, waiting for Devin to strike.

Finally, Isaiah spoke. "You heard from him again?"

Kayla shook her head, her stomach tightening at the thought. "No. But that doesn't mean he's gone."

Isaiah clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing. "He better be gone, Kay. If he shows up again, I'm not holdin' back this time."

Kayla bit her lip, feeling the fear creeping back in. She didn't want things to escalate, but at the same time, she knew Devin wasn't the type to just disappear. "I don't want you getting into trouble because of me, Zay."

Isaiah's eyes softened, but there was still steel in his voice. "I ain't worried about trouble. I'm worried about you. Devin's dangerous, Kay. We all know that now. I just don't want him pushin' things to a point where we can't come back from it."

Kayla looked away, not wanting to think about how far Devin might go. She had already seen glimpses of it—the controlling, the anger, the possessiveness. But even she didn't know what his breaking point was. And she wasn't sure she wanted to find out.

Later that afternoon, while Isaiah was out running errands, Jordan sat down next to Kayla on the couch, breaking the silence that had settled over the house.

"You doin' alright?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.

Kayla shrugged. "As good as I can be, I guess. It's just hard, you know? Bein' here, waitin' for something to happen. I don't know how long I can keep doing this."

Jordan nodded, leaning back against the couch. "Yeah, I get that. But you gotta remember, we ain't gonna let him get to you. You're safe here, Kay."

Kayla appreciated the reassurance, but she couldn't shake the anxiety gnawing at her. "I just wish it was over. I thought leaving him would be enough, but it feels like he's still controlling everything."

Jordan sighed, shaking his head. "That's how dudes like Devin work. They make you think you can't move on, even when they ain't around. But you stronger than that. I've seen you push through harder things. This is just one more fight you gotta win."

Kayla nodded, but she still felt the weight on her chest. She wanted to believe she was strong enough, but Devin's presence—his shadow—loomed over everything, making it hard to see a way out.

Jordan watched her for a moment, then leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "We'll figure it out, Kay. We always do."

Kayla smiled a little, grateful for Jordan's steady support, but even with her brothers' reassurance, there was a part of her that knew this wasn't over. Not yet.

That night, Kayla lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The house was quiet, but her mind was loud. She kept replaying everything in her head—Devin's threats, the way he'd shown up at Lena's apartment, the way he made her feel like she was trapped, no matter where she went.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling her out of her thoughts. She hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding, before reaching for it.

It was a message from Lena.

Lena: You good over there? Been thinkin' about you.

Kayla exhaled, feeling a small sense of relief. She hadn't talked to Lena much since she came to her mom's house. It wasn't that she didn't want to, she just hadn't had the energy to keep explaining how she was feeling.

Kayla: Yeah, I'm good. Just tryna get through this.

Lena's reply came quickly.

Lena: You will. You got this. And if that fool comes near you, you know Isaiah and Jordan ain't playin'.

Kayla smiled a little, despite the anxiety still twisting in her stomach. Lena was right. She wasn't alone in this fight, even if it felt like it sometimes.

Kayla: Thanks. Just ready for it to be over.

Lena's response was short but reassuring.

Lena: It will be. Soon.

Kayla set her phone down, closing her eyes and trying to calm her racing mind. But just as she started to relax, a soft knock at the door startled her.

"Kay? You up?" It was Isaiah.

Kayla sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Yeah, what's up?"

Isaiah stepped into the room, his face serious. "Just got a call from one of my boys. He said he saw Devin hangin' around the neighborhood earlier today."

Kayla's heart dropped, fear surging through her veins. "What? How—why didn't he say anything?"

Isaiah shook his head. "I don't know. But he's been keepin' tabs. Devin's not gone, Kay. He's still tryin' to find a way in."

Kayla's breath caught in her throat, the weight of her fear crushing down on her again. She had thought she was safe here, but now... now she wasn't so sure.

"We need to tighten things up around here," Isaiah continued, his voice calm but firm. "If Devin shows up, we'll be ready. You don't need to worry about that."

But Kayla was worried. Because as much as her brothers wanted to protect her, she knew Devin. And she knew that when he wanted something, he didn't stop until he got it.