Thug Love

11 - A Dangerous Game

The night was thick with silence, broken only by the distant sound of a police siren wailing in the distance, a constant reminder of the chaos that had just unfolded. Ayanna stood in the parking lot, her body shaking from the adrenaline of the escape, her heart pounding in her chest as she stared at Troy. His arms were wrapped around her, holding her close, but there was still tension between them. They both knew that this was far from over.

Damon wasn't the type of man to be easily beaten, and his threats echoed in Ayanna's mind. "You won't get away with this. I'll find you. You'll pay."

She shivered despite the warmth of Troy's embrace. "He's going to come for us, Troy," she whispered, her voice full of fear. "He won't stop until he gets me back. I know him. He's crazy. He'll hurt us both."

Troy kissed her forehead, his grip tightening around her. "Not if I can help it. I won't let him touch you again, Ayanna. I'll do whatever it takes."

She looked up at him, searching his eyes for any sign of doubt. But there was none. His expression was hard, determined, and his protective nature was something she had grown to depend on. Troy wasn't just a man who'd come to her rescue—he was her protector, her savior in this fucked-up world.

But the fear that Damon had instilled in her wasn't so easily shaken. Her heart ached, knowing that despite the relief of the moment, danger still lurked in the shadows.

"We need to go," she said, her voice urgent. "We can't stay here. Damon knows where I am, and I don't want to risk him coming after us again. We need to disappear."

Troy nodded, pulling her closer to him. "I've got a place. We'll go there. It's safe. For now."

Her heart fluttered with both relief and unease. Safe. Was anywhere truly safe now? But there was no other option. They had to keep moving, keep running.

The drive was long, the city lights flashing by as they sped down the deserted roads. Ayanna didn't speak much during the ride, lost in her thoughts, her emotions a tangled mess. She kept looking over her shoulder, half-expecting Damon to come out of the darkness, but the roads remained empty. It was almost too quiet.

Troy's hand rested on the steering wheel, his eyes sharp as he glanced at her from time to time. He could sense her unease. It mirrored his own. He had always been a man of action, but tonight, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was playing a dangerous game, one he wasn't sure he was winning.

He wanted to keep her safe. But Damon? Damon wasn't going to stop. And Troy was running out of time.

After what felt like an eternity, Troy finally pulled up in front of a small, nondescript house. It looked abandoned, like any other rundown house in the neighborhood, but Ayanna could tell from the way he looked around before getting out that he knew this place well. She followed him inside, her eyes scanning every corner, every shadow. The place smelled of dust, old wood, and stale air. It was quiet, eerily so, but it felt secure.

"We'll stay here for now," Troy said as he moved toward the small kitchen area, grabbing a bottle of water from the counter. He handed it to her, his eyes softening as she took a sip. "I'll keep watch. You need rest."

Ayanna didn't argue. She didn't know what was going to happen next, but for the first time in days, the weight on her shoulders felt a little lighter. She let herself relax, leaning back against the couch, letting the exhaustion finally catch up to her. Her eyes fluttered closed, but the peace didn't last long.

A loud bang echoed from outside.

Ayanna's eyes snapped open. Her heart leaped into her throat.

Troy was already on his feet, his face grim. He didn't waste any time. His hands were at his waist, where his gun was tucked beneath his jacket. He didn't pull it out yet, but she could tell he was ready.

Ayanna's pulse quickened as she stood up. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Stay here," Troy ordered, his voice low but commanding.

She wanted to argue, but something in his expression stopped her. He was already moving toward the door, slipping on his shoes, his eyes never leaving the window. He looked like a man ready to face whatever came at him.

Ayanna's thoughts raced. She felt like she was being dragged into something she couldn't control, and it terrified her. What was Damon doing? Was he already here?

Her breath caught in her throat as she heard a car pull up outside, the sound of tires screeching against the pavement. It was a sound that was too familiar now.

Damon.

Troy's face hardened as he turned to her. "Stay back. Do not move."

She nodded, but the fear gnawed at her, and her instinct was to follow him. She wasn't about to let Damon get the best of them again. Not after everything they had gone through.

Troy moved swiftly, his eyes narrowing as he crept toward the door. Ayanna could hear Damon's voice from outside. Low, angry, but unmistakable.

"You can't run forever, Ayanna!" Damon's voice called, the words cutting through the quiet of the night. "You're mine. And I'll take you back. I always get what I want."

Ayanna's blood ran cold. She was frozen in place, her heart racing. This was it. This was the moment she had feared—the moment Damon would make his move, no matter where they were, no matter how far they tried to run.

The door creaked open.

Troy was already there, standing between Ayanna and the outside world, his gun now in his hand, pointed toward the door. The tension in the air was thick, charged with the promise of violence.

Damon stood in the doorway, his eyes blazing with fury. He wasn't alone. Two of his men flanked him, their expressions cold and unreadable.

Troy's voice was calm but laced with fury. "I told you to stay away from her, Damon. This ends tonight."

Damon chuckled darkly, stepping closer, his gaze never leaving Troy. "You think I'm just going to let you take her from me? You're wrong."

Ayanna's breath hitched as she watched the standoff unfold. Damon was dangerous, but Troy wasn't backing down. She knew he wouldn't. He was ready to fight, to die if it meant keeping her safe.

"I will kill you before I let you hurt her again," Troy growled, his finger tightening on the trigger.

Damon smirked. "We'll see about that."

And with that, all hell broke loose.