Coerced

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Mara's Pov

"Why is it necessary that I have to leave my place and come to your house? You can always use some fine security system and quality locks to get me and Amaira protected?" My voice came out a little more annoyed than what I expected. 

Shannon looked at me with a painful sigh and gave an overt reply. "Mara, first and foremost I want to let you know, I am not using your situation to my advantage. That monster in me died long back. Today my only stipulation is to keep my family safe.  Secondly even if I get the best locks fixed with an outstanding security system, I wouldn't be assured hundred percent of your safety.  You live in a very crowded not to mention a middle class locality. Sneaking into your flat through a window or adjusting the door of your balcony is a piece of old tackie for that sick gallant. He did not steal from your house any valuables or jewelry but your undergarments. These leeches are more dangerous than dacoits."  His pitch black utterance held a perilous caution. 

"Making you mine with coercion is a cushy number for me Mara, but I am not that asshole anymore. The moment your threat is gone I will allow you to go but given a choice, I would be happy to treasure you and our baby for the rest of my life." Shannon’s leer was held in compassion holding my shoulders in firmness. For a moment I contemplated if I could give our relationship a second chance? I saw a promise in his eyes and all my apprehensions about leaving my flat were taken care of by his reply. BHe is now a changed man. I held his hand that rested in his lap and spoke to him the words I truly meant. "I trust you Shannon."

There was a slight smile on his rims at my statement but moments later his eyes went dim and lost in some sort of cogitation. I slightly turned on my car seat and weighed his sudden anxiousness. "What are you thinking about?" 

He pinned his eyes on me in an unrivaled affection. "I am so sorry for everything that I did to you. If it wasn't for my arrogance and self pride, we wouldn't have been in a situation like this." 

Shannon's remorseful words of culpability incited desolation in me. I blinked away the tears in my eyes that were trying to find a way of our heart wrecking past but I was an open book that was studied by him long back.  

Shannon held my hand and squeezed it peering into my eyes, a silent consolation yet so strong that could clear every iota of uneasiness in me like a jingle of a magic charm.

“Don’t cry...”  His eyes held a plea almost in disruption.  Looking out through the window he continues in his usual narrative by clearing his throat. "I noted the figures in the number plate of the vehicle from the week back accident and ordered a background check on it." His breath was now in boiling displeasure. 

I try to soothe him by running my hand on his pale knuckles drinking in every bit of his dolorous reflection. "Everything about the car was a fraud including its number plate. I am not going to spare that bastard. Very soon his hair will be in my hands. Nobody should dare mess with my family and if one does, he is in for a lot of trouble." His dark words of aggressive incandescence felt like thunder before a storm.

The driver's words interrupted our further conversation. "Sir we are here." Shannon gets out of the car and the driver holds the door for me to come out. "Thank you" I make a soft gesture to him and Shannon takes my hand in his large rough one guiding us inside the apartment complex.