Twisted Veil of Devotion

Part 5

Thoughts collide, they twist, they tear,

I'm drowning in the thick of air.

My mind's a blur, my body's still,

Frozen by a nameless thrill.

I cannot speak, I cannot move,

Lost in fear I cannot prove.

The silence roars, the darkness near.....

I'm trapped inside this cage of fear.

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Zane POV:

I sat in the darkness of my car, hidden from view behind the flickering lights of the opposite office building, the weight of my binoculars pressing into my palms. Anger boiled within me as I watched Stella and that pathetic excuse for a man, Ryan, standing far too close for comfort.

How dare he try to convince her? How dare he think he could worm his way into her life, into her heart? I could barely contain the fury coursing through me.

Through the lens, I focused on them, watching every minute detail. Ryan's hands moved animatedly as he spoke, his face a mask of concern, oblivious to the danger he was courting. It made me sick. The way he leaned in closer, the way he tried to touch her, to comfort her, it was all wrong. He had no right to touch her. She was mine.

And I would make sure she knew it.

I tightened my grip on the binoculars as they stood there, her expression shifting between fear and desperation. She was trying to tell him to stay away, to push him out of her life, but he wouldn't listen. It was infuriating. The fool didn't realize he was digging his own grave, and I would be the one to bury him.

I had already decided how I'd handle this. There was no need for packages and postage when I had my dogs waiting at home, eager for a fresh meal. The thought of Ryan's body feeding my loyal companions sent a thrill down my spine. It would be a satisfying end for him—no need for the theatrics of mailing pieces to Stella. I'd give him a much more fitting farewell.

As I continued to watch, a twisted sense of satisfaction filled me. I could see the turmoil in Stella's eyes, the conflict as she wrestled with her fear and her feelings for this worthless man. She was so close to succumbing to his charm, to letting him think he could save her. It made my skin crawl.

But she would learn. She would learn that no one could save her but me. I was her protector, her savior. She just didn't realize it yet.

The moment she finally turned her back to him, a spark of hope ignited within me. She was pushing him away. She knew. Deep down, she understood that he was a threat, that his kindness was nothing but a trap. I smiled at that. Maybe there was still a chance for her to see the truth, the truth that I was her only option, her only salvation.

As the elevator doors opened and Ryan's face fell in defeat, my heart raced with excitement.

"Soon," I whispered to myself, imagining the moment I would confront Ryan. The look on his face when he realized the true nature of his danger would be priceless. "Very soon."

I adjusted the binoculars again, taking one last look at my beloved Stella. She was mine, and I would do whatever it took to keep her safe from scum like Ryan. The thrill of the hunt coursed through my veins. I felt alive.

With a final glance at the door Ryan had just walked through, I backed out of my parking space, my plan already forming in my mind. This was only the beginning.