"Behind Closed Doors"

Lines Crossed

Devin's POV:

Chapter 22:

Devin stared at his phone, his eyes narrowing as he read the message from one of his boys. He had someone keeping tabs on Kayla, watching her moves, and now he knew exactly what she'd done.

Devin: They went to the cops. She's filing for a restraining order.

His jaw clenched, anger surging through him. Kayla had gone too far this time. She was trying to cut him off completely, make it seem like he was some threat to her. Like he was the problem. The thought of her sitting in that police station, telling them lies about him, made his blood boil.

"She really think she can get rid of me that easy?" he muttered to himself, pacing the small, dingy apartment he had been crashing in. His boys had been loyal, keeping him updated, but now he needed more than just eyes on Kayla. He needed to make a move.

His phone buzzed again, another message from the same guy.

Marcus: She's got her brothers with her. Isaiah and Jordan. You need backup?

Devin smirked. He didn't need backup. He didn't need anybody to handle this for him. He knew Kayla better than anyone, and he knew that deep down, she didn't really want this. She was scared, confused. Her brothers had gotten into her head, made her believe that she needed protection from him.

But that wasn't how this was going to end.

Devin typed out a quick response.

Devin: Nah, I got this. Stay close, but don't do nothin'. I'll handle her.

He shoved his phone into his pocket, his mind racing. A restraining order? That wasn't going to stop him. Kayla was his, and she knew it. This was just another game, another way for her to get attention, to make him chase her. But he wasn't done chasing.

Not by a long shot.

Devin paced the apartment, his thoughts growing darker with every step. He remembered the early days with Kayla—how perfect everything had been. How she had been the one to calm him down when the world seemed too much. She had been his peace, his reason for staying out of trouble.

But now, all of that was gone. She had pulled away, let her brothers fill her head with lies, made herself believe she didn't need him.

He punched the wall, the impact sending a sharp pain through his hand. But it didn't matter. He was done playing by her rules. If she thought she could shut him out, if she thought that going to the cops was going to protect her, she was wrong.

He was going to show her exactly why she needed him. He was going to remind her of who he was.

Devin grabbed his jacket and stormed out of the apartment, his mind set. He wasn't going to sit around and wait for Kayla to make the next move. He was going to take control. If she wanted to go to the cops, if she wanted to play that game, fine. But it wasn't going to end the way she thought it would.

As he drove through the streets, his knuckles white on the steering wheel, Devin's mind ran over every possibility. He had been keeping his distance, giving her space, but now it was time to close the gap. He knew where her mom lived. He knew where her brothers stayed. And he knew that sooner or later, Kayla would have to face him.

He pulled up a few blocks away from Kayla's mom's house, parking in a spot where he had a clear view of the street. He could feel the anger thrumming through him, but he forced himself to stay calm. He couldn't just rush in there and blow everything up. Not yet. He had to be smart about this.

For now, he'd watch. He'd wait. And when the time was right, he'd remind Kayla exactly why she belonged to him.

Devin sat in the car, staring at the house, his mind racing. He thought about all the times they'd spent together, all the promises she'd made, the way she used to look at him like he was the only thing that mattered. She couldn't just erase all of that. She couldn't pretend like none of it happened.

He pulled out his phone and sent one last message to her.

Devin: I'll see you soon.

He smiled to himself as he hit send, knowing that those words would make her heart race. She could try to hide behind her brothers, try to involve the cops, but in the end, she'd realize the truth. She couldn't run from him forever.

As the hours passed, Devin's patience started to wear thin. He hadn't seen any movement at the house, no sign of Kayla or her brothers. But he knew they were there. He could feel it. He drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, his frustration growing.

Finally, he saw it—a shadow moving behind the curtains. His heart leaped, adrenaline surging through him. She was there. Kayla was there, and she wasn't going to be able to hide from him much longer.

Devin glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It was getting late, and the neighborhood was quiet. This was his moment. He could feel it. He was going to end this once and for all. He wasn't going to let Kayla slip away again.

With a deep breath, Devin got out of the car, his footsteps silent as he made his way toward the house. He could feel the excitement building inside him, the anticipation of finally seeing her again, of making her understand that this was where she belonged.

When he reached the front of the house, he stood in the shadows, staring up at the window. He could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears, his breath coming in shallow bursts. This was it.

Devin reached for his phone, his fingers trembling slightly as he typed out one final message.

Devin: I'm here.

He sent the message and waited, a smile creeping across his face as he imagined Kayla's reaction. She would come to him. She always did.

And this time, there was no going back.