39

"Jesse," I say, voice quiet as I steel my spine and meet his eyes.

"Did you finally come to your senses and leave that asshole?" The chilly wind paints a flush on Jesse's defined cheeks as it swirls around us, causing his blonde hair to fall across his face. It gives him an almost innocent appearance.

My expression betrays nothing, but inside, I'm fighting the urge to physically recoil from this awful, repulsive man.

As I swallow and shake my head, I purposefully look away, taking comfort in the gentle touch of the breeze on my face. "You hurt me, Jesse. I trusted you, and you took advantage of that when you tried to force yourself on me. Then you posted that stuff online and made me out to be a manipulative jerk."

My gaze shifts back to his, trying to gauge if there's any actual emotion in his eyes or if it's all a front… if he's even capable of feeling anything beyond obsession. It's easy to add a wobble to my voice—not difficult at all as I ask, "How can I ever trust you again?" Just saying the words has me suppressing a shutter, but I have to be convincing.

He pulls his lips between his teeth, tilting his chin up as he studies me. "I have to admit, I was surprised when you text me."

"I imagine you were."

"But then I thought about it, and I realized it made sense."

Well, that's fucking news to me. "How so?"

The smile that slips onto his face is so genuine that it takes me by surprise. "Theo… I know you so well. You understand that, right? You saw it? The gifts I sent you… you loved everything so much. The watch, the flowers…" He steps forward into my space, licking his lips as he stares at me with intention. The deeply intimate way his voice drops makes my windpipe clench, not even wanting to breathe in the same air as him. "The panties. Did you ever wear them?"

"I… I didn't get to, no."

"But you loved them, right?"

"They were very pretty," I whisper, and his face lights up in a beaming smile. "Jesse, do you want me to give this a second chance?"

"Fuck, yes," he says in a rush, nodding as he grabs both of my hands in his. "Yes, of course. You won't regret it, Theo. I'll make you so happy."

Another rough swallow works my throat as I force a shaky smile. "If we do this… if we're going to try again, I have questions. Ones that I need you to answer with perfect honesty."

There's a crazed look in his eyes as he nods. "Whatever you want to know."

"Completely honest, Jesse. No holding back, no half-truths. I won't get upset with you about any of it, but you have to prove that I can trust you."

He pulls my hands to his face, and I fight my repulsion at the touch. "Ask me anything, Theo."

"Did you know who I was the night we met at Prism?"

There's an eager excitement in his nod, like he expects this news will make me happy. "A friend of mine was working there, and when your bandmates called to reserve space in the VIP section, he reached out to me. He knew how much I loved you, and they needed valets."

Still with that dreamy expression on his face, he pulls my hands up to his lips and kisses my knuckles. "Then you got out of your car and you just… smiled at me, and I knew we were meant to be. It was fucking meant to be."

I give him an encouraging nod, forcing a smile to appear on my face. "What about the party?"

His face falls, his eyes darting to the ground. "I realize I shouldn't have pushed you so hard, Theo, but I had to make you understand. You had to see. Dante was poisoning your mind, letting you think he loved you when it was me who could give you everything."

"Why that, though?" I ask, unable to hide the shiver that runs through my body at the memory. "There were other ways that didn't involve touching me… trying to…" I swallow again as he stares at me, unblinking. I gather my courage, forcing the words out. "Trying to force me to have sex with you."

"Force you? No, no, no, Theo… no. God, is that what you think? No, I would've made it so good for you. Deep down, you wanted it. You just needed a push, that's all. I had to show you, because you weren't listening… you get that, right? That I had to do it?"

"Of course," I whisper, and his smile returns. "How did you find out where I lived?"

"The cafe… I waited for you to come back after our date, because you told me it was your favorite. There were several times I saw you there, actually. You were so sweet, talking to that little girl." He reaches up and pushes my hair from my forehead. "You'd be such a great dad." My pulse speeds up even more at the obsessive gleam in his eyes, and I pray I haven't made a giant mistake by doing this. "I followed you home," he clarifies, not noticing my panic.

"Why didn't you just come over and speak to me? We could've talked about all of this like adults."

"You weren't ready." He doesn't offer me any more than that.

"What about the note you left on Dante's car? How did you find me when I was staying with him?" I ask, still trying to keep my tone conversational.

"Don't say his fucking name," he hisses, gripping my hair and forcing my face to his. When he sees the fear flash across my expression, his nostrils flare and he releases me, head drooping towards the ground. For a few seconds, he just sits like that, eyes cast down at the grass.

After he's calm, he looks back up at me, a lop-sided smirk on his lips. He chuckles… actually fucking chuckles, as though he's recalling a fond memory. "That was a tough one. You had gone out, and that guy took a selfie with you and... him. Tagged the band and the name of the bar. When I saw where you were, I went there and waited for you to leave. I dropped everything for you, baby."

"And the studio?"

"Same thing… I hung out until you finally left that fucker's house and drove behind you. I wanted to talk to you so bad, but the other guys were always around you. They wouldn't understand, Theo."

He touches my chin and tilts my face towards his, so close I can see how his pupils dilate as he stares. "No one else understands what we have… do you get that? No one else. I had to catch your attention, Theo."

Relief floods my system as he backs up a half-step, allowing me space to breathe again. "When the band started doing interviews, and I saw the lineup, I made my post and sent it over to the man who was scheduled to do the interview. He was very interested in talking to me."

"I'm sure he was," I mutter, still bitter.

He's quiet for a second, tucking his hair behind his ear as he stares at me in that same unnerving way. "What else do you want to know, Theo?"

I thumb through the questions in my mind, positive I've gotten the answers I need. The evidence to put an end to all of this is finally at my fingertips, and it's time for me to bow out.

"Thank you for being so open with me," I say with another small smile. Timid, almost, not wanting to show any cockiness or false confidence now that I have what I came for. "That's all the questions I had, I think."

"Good. I can see you shivering, and I just want to take you home and get you warm again."

My blood freezes. "Take me… home?"

The grip on my hand tightens, squeezing until pain spiderwebs through my fingers. "Of course. You don't believe I'd let you leave after it took me so long to get you back…" There's a flicker of something dark before he turns his smile back on. "Do you?"

"Jesse, I can't… go home with you. Not yet. We can't rush into things, and I need a chance to process everything."

And what I really need? Time to deliver the evidence on my phone to the police station. My fingers itch to check my pocket, to make sure it's still there, still recording, but if he found out what I was doing…

He steps even closer, until the caustic smell of his cologne burns my nose. "Are you…" He pauses, nostrils flaring as anger flashes in his eyes. "Are you just toying with me?"

Fear makes my heart stutter as I try to rip my hand away. "N-no, of course not, but I don't even have my things, and—"

"Do you think I'm fucking stupid?" he snarls, stepping closer.

"N-no, I'd never—"

"You aren't leaving," he growls, tugging me closer until my body slams against his.

"You're scaring me," I say, forcing myself to stay calm. Trying to reason with the part of him that thinks he's in love with me.

"And I'm sorry for that, but you won't be going anywhere."

"Yes, I am!" I rip my hand from his grip and back away. In no time, his long legs bring him looming over me again, erasing all traces of the polite, kind man he was pretending to be. "Jesse, stop, please," I beg as he grabs my wrist, eyes narrowed and lip pulled up in a sneer.

When I try to yank my arm loose, he doesn't let go, and my heart thuds behind my ribcage as I search for an escape. "Stop!" I shout, my head jerking back as he leans in closer.

No, no, this can't be happening. Not again.

"Are you okay over there?" A man and woman in their thirties step forward as I turn my wide eyes in their direction. The woman frowns as she says, "Hey, I recognize you from the news. You're in that band, aren't you?"

I nod my head before Jesse positions himself between me and them. "Mind your own business. My boyfriend and I are just trying to have a peaceful afternoon out without being bothered."

His distraction provides me with a window, and I refuse to be the idiot in the horror movies that loses their one chance for freedom. I turn and run . Before I get more than a few strides away, he catches my wrist and jerks me backward so hard I hit the ground. My palms burn as they skid across the cement, and I fight back tears as I try to keep my wits about me.

A small crowd has started looking in our direction, and I find the woman who'd spoken to me and plead with my eyes. She pulls her phone out and brings it to her ear before Jesse is suddenly between us again.

"Come on! " Jesse screams, grabbing my arms and yanking me off the ground, causing a jolt of pain to shoot through my arm.

It hurts… everything hurts.

This was so stupid… why was I so fucking stupid?

I shouldn't be here. I should be home with Dante, where I'm protected and loved. The agony he'd feel if anything happened to me… God, what was I thinking? He would blame himself, believing he could have done more to keep me safe. But he's already done so much more than I ever could have asked from him.

He taught me to be better than this… to be strong.

To fight.

All at once, determination turns off the waterworks in my eyes as I pull from the lessons he's given me. "No," I say, voice ringing loud and clear as I pull my arm away and step back.

There is no longer any effort to maintain this false persona. "You obviously haven't learned your lesson, you little bitch," he spits as he steps forward and reaches for me, but I duck under his arm at the last second. Before he registers what I've done, I deliver a sweep behind his knees and they buckle, making him shout a startled cry and collapse to the ground. Just as quickly as he fell, he's on his feet again, rage twisting his face.

"You'll pay for that," he growls as he rushes me, and this time, I let him get closer. When he's within arm's reach, I throw my hand out and catch him right in the nose with the heel of my palm, but not before his fingernails dig into my face. They scrape across my cheek, burrowing deep enough to make my skin burn and throb.

His head snaps back from my hit, but a manic grin covers his face even as his eyes water. "Stop now and walk the fuck away while you still can," I taunt, rubbing at the searing scratches on my cheek.

He throws his head skyward in an obnoxious laugh, not bothering to keep his sights on me. "You think I'm scared of you ?"

Once again, he lunges towards me, but I dodge. We avoid each other until I lose focus and search for a way out. In the split second it takes for my attention to dart away, his punch lands on my jaw. Tears spring to my eyes in an instant, and it's enough to piss me off.

"I'm so… fucking … tired of crying!" My voice escalates with each word, the rough edges of my anger causing a rasp as they leave my mouth. I meet his stare, unblinking, as he pulls his fist back. Before he can swing, I bring my knee up, but he only laughs and dodges.

He doesn't consider me a threat, but I've learned something important.

The greatest dangers are the ones you never see coming.

I take advantage of his distraction and punch him right in the throat. He recoils and gasps for air as I push forward, slamming my fist into his chin as his teeth clank together. My hand aches and my knuckles are on fire, but I don't stop. I kick his foot as I give him a hard shove, and he crashes to the ground.

He tries to stand, but two men from the crowd reach us and seize him by the arms, holding him back as he struggles to get loose. The distant wailing of sirens reaches my ears over the hum of adrenaline, and I release the breath that was stuck in my lungs.

The entire thing lasted no more than thirty seconds, but it seemed to drag on for hours.

The woman from earlier hurries towards me and holds my face in her hands, tilting it in both directions as she examines the extent of the damage. The cuts from his fingernails are bleeding, and I'll have a bruised jaw, but it could've been much worse.

"Thank you," I say, my voice quivering as the rush of adrenaline subsides, and she wraps her arms around me. I sink into the comfort she's offering me, desperately trying to hold back tears.

As one rolls down my cheek, I realize I'm failing quite miserably.

Her tone is gentle as she pretends I'm not slobbering on her shirt. "I called the police, and it sounds like they're here. We'll hang out and give statements. Whatever you need from us, okay?" I nod against her shoulder, not trusting myself to speak anymore.

"Theo!" A panicked voice, one I'd recognize anywhere, booms across the park, and I turn to see Dante sprinting towards me. When he notices the blood on my cheek and the swelling on my chin, he lets out a pained whine, and I let go of the woman and collapse into his arms.

"Don't you ever do that to me again," he whispers into my hair. "Do you hear me? Promise me you will never leave me like that."

"I'm sorry, baby, I'm sorry , … so fucking sorry for worrying you." I hug him tighter as emotion clogs my throat. "Don't be mad at me, okay? Please?"

He pulls back and tilts my chin up, his eyes sweeping over my face. "Fuck, I've never been so scared."

"I had to handle it myself." His brown eyes are heavy, and I can tell he's fighting his instinct to be angry with me for doing this without him. "You said it yourself when you shared your history with Trent. You needed to walk away on your own two feet. This was my version of walking away, taking care of the mess I made. No one else should fix my mistakes. It had to be me, Dante. You, of all people, can understand that, can't you?"

"I understand it," he says, pressing the gentlest of kisses against my lips. "Doesn't mean I have to like it." He tugs me against him, squeezing me so hard it becomes difficult to breathe.

Out of nowhere, he sets me free and whips around, as though he just remembered the reason I'm here. His fists clench as he glares at Jesse, who's screaming and spitting insults at us and at the men who hold him back. Before Dante can take a step towards him, two police officers rush into the scene.

After a brief conversation with me and a few of the witnesses standing around, they handcuff Jesse and tuck him into the backseat of their cruiser. He never stops glaring, even with the window between us.

I wave one of the officers back over, and she jogs to my side. "There's a restraining order in place against him," I explain, and she looks very pleased with this news. "I also have a recording on my phone of him admitting to stalking me and…" I swallow hard and take a deep breath. "And confessing to an attempted sexual assault."

Dante looks shocked, but remains silent as the officer provides me with instructions on how to deliver the recording to the station. After a few follow-up questions, the cruiser drives away, escorting Jesse out of my life for good.

The woman who helped me, who I learn is named Kat, pulls me in for another hug. Dante passes her a business card, inviting her to call him if she ever wants to come to a show. He tells her tickets will be waiting at the door for her and any number of guests, then does the same for each person in the crowd who came to my aid.

Eventually, the excitement is over, and people slowly filter away, returning to their own lives.

When it's just the two of us, I slump against him, sapped of all energy. As my brain clears, a sudden thought strikes me. "How did you figure out where I was?"

He huffs a laugh through his nostrils.

"I was already driving this way, headed to the coffee shop to check if you might be there. Someone in the crowd started livestreaming once they recognized you. Tagged the band in it, so I got an alert."

My eyes flare as I stare up at him, the implication of his words hitting me. "So, you're telling me…"

"That the whole world just watched you kick his ass? Yeah, baby. Everyone saw."