4. Jerome

Chapter 4

Jerome

A s I guided Raven outside into the cool night air, there was a shift in her demeanor. I stood protectively beside her. We walked along the winding path lined with blooming jasmine bushes.

"What's wrong, Raven?"

Raven hesitated for a moment, her brow furrowed. "Someone has been sending me dark messages. It started yesterday with flowers and an eerie letter, and now tonight with this message at my table."

My heart clenched as Raven's words hung heavy in the night air. I scanned our surroundings, hyper-aware of every shadow and rustle of leaves.

I clenched my jaw, my mind already racing with possibilities. Someone was targeting Raven. The thought sent a chill down my spine, knowing that we were walking into a dangerous game with unknown rules.

"We need to figure out who's behind this."

But even as the words left my lips, I couldn't shake the dread settling in the pit of my stomach. This was just the beginning. Stalkers didn't normally make themselves now and then scurry off into the dark. One thing was for certain, they always came back for more.

I noticed a flicker of fear in Raven's emerald eyes as she glanced over her shoulder, her usual confident demeanor wavering in the face of this newfound threat. The shadows seemed to stretch longer, wrapping around us like a sinister cloak as we continued down the path.

"I don't know who could be doing this, Jerome," Raven whispered. "But it feels like they're watching my every move."

My hand instinctively went to the holster hidden beneath my jacket, the weight of the gun a grim reminder of the danger lurking in the darkness. I had trained for situations like this, but nothing could prepare me for the protectiveness I felt towards Raven.

"We'll get to the bottom of this," I reassured her, my tone firm despite the uncertainty gnawing at my insides. "But we have to be cautious. Trust no one until we know who we're up against."

As we continued our walk, Raven's steps seemed lighter than before, yet I could sense the weight of her unease pressing down on her shoulders. I kept a vigilant watch, my senses on high alert. Raven sank onto a bench, her fingers nervously tapping against her thigh.

I settled beside her, my gaze fixed on the darkness beyond the treeline. "Do you remember me?"

Raven turned to look at me, her eyes searching mine. Recognition flickered. "Jerome Dawson. From all those years ago."

A wistful smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and for a moment, time seemed to blur as memories flooded back. I remembered the shy glances I used to steal in her direction, the unspoken words that lingered between us like an invisible thread.

"I used to have a crush on you back then," I admitted. "I never thought I'd see you again, let alone in circumstances like these. And then there you were on the television."

Raven's expression softened. "You were always so quiet."

A bittersweet smile ghosted across my face as I met her gaze. "Some things never really change, do they?"

Raven's laughter rang out in the quiet night, a sound that eased the tension coiled within me. It was a stark contrast to the underlying danger lurking in the surrounding shadows.

"I wish we could go back to those simpler times. When our biggest worry was who would win at dodgeball."

I chuckled, the memory of our carefree days flooding back. "It seems like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?"

A sudden rustle in the bushes nearby shattered the tranquility of the moment, jolting us back to reality. I tensed, my hand reaching for Raven's, ready to shield her from any potential threat.

"Jerome," Raven whispered, her eyes wide with fear. "Did you hear that?"

I nodded, my senses on high alert as I scanned the darkness for any sign of movement. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, a silent warning that danger lurked just beyond our line of sight.

"We need to move," I said, urging Raven to follow as we navigated the winding path back towards safety. Every shadow seemed to whisper threats, every rustle of leaves an ominous warning.

A sudden crack echoed through the stillness, and I pushed Raven behind me, my heart hammering in my chest. Out of the darkness emerged a figure shrouded in mystery and malice. My muscles tensed, ready to spring into action to protect Raven at all costs.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice sharp and commanding as I faced the unknown threat before us.

The figure stepped closer, a sinister smile playing on their lips. Between the mask and the darkness, I couldn't make out any of the person's features. "Ah, Jerome Dawson, always the protector."

Raven gasped beside me, her grip tightening on my hand. "Do you know this person?"

"No, but they seem to know me."

The figure took another step forward, their features still obscured by darkness. "You can't protect her forever, Jerome. She has secrets of her own."

A cold shiver ran down my spine at the veiled threat.

Despite the darkness shrouding their identity, there was a menacing confidence in their demeanor that set off alarm bells in my mind.

Raven stood behind me, her breaths quickening with fear and anger. "What do you want?" Her voice trembled, but there was a steely determination underlying her words.

The figure chuckled, a sound that made my skin crawl. "Oh, Raven Fields, always so defiant. But you can't hide from your past forever."

My mind raced, trying to piece together any clue that could reveal the stranger's true intentions. The figure's masked gaze seemed to linger on us for a heartbeat longer before they suddenly turned on their heel and vanished into the night, leaving nothing but an eerie silence in their wake.

"We need to find out who that was." Raven's voice was firm, a touch of defiance coloring her tone.

"Agreed," I replied, my grip tightening on the gun holstered at my side. "But we have to be careful. Whoever that was, they know more about us than they should."

As we made our way back to the safety of the Gala, every sound seemed amplified, every rustle of leaves echoing like a warning. The threat felt closer now, more personal than ever before.

Once inside, Raven paced restlessly. I watched her, feeling a surge of protectiveness that bordered on possessiveness. She was my charge now, my responsibility.

"We can't let them get to you," I said, breaking the tense silence that hung between us. "I won't allow it."

Raven paused in her pacing and turned to look at me, a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability shining in her eyes. "Thank you for being here, Jerome. I don't know what I would've done without you."

Her words struck a chord deep within me, awakening emotions I had long buried beneath layers of duty and discipline. In that moment, I realized that my connection to Raven ran deeper than mere protection; it was a bond. A bond that defied logic and reason, drawing me towards Raven in a way I couldn't fully comprehend. As she looked at me with those green eyes, a surge of determination coursed through my veins. I had to keep her safe.

"You don't have to face this alone," I murmured, reaching out gently to cup her cheek, my thumb brushing away an errant tear. Raven leaned into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed as if seeking solace in the warmth of my palm. The encounter with the mysterious figure had shaken her, unraveling the constructed facade of control she wore.

A woman approached, wondering where she had been.

"She's been with me."

Her eyes ran down my body. "Oh really?"

"Evelyn… nothing like that. I needed some air, and he knows about the messages. Someone approached us in the garden. This isn't going to go away like Alex said."

Wait, so these people knew she was being stalked and didn't have a protection detail for her? Were they crazy? If he would have gotten her alone tonight, she could've been hurt or worse.

"I suggest Raven not be left alone until this gets resolved." I handed the woman my card. "I'd be happy to offer my services."

Raven glanced over at me with a small smile. There was that bond again.

"Well, let's get you home."

The woman led her away, but when her eyes looked back at me, she mouthed "thank you."