My Safest Danger

Death at My Doorstep

Skylar's POV

I ran straight to my room, forgetting to lock the gate.

Slamming the door behind me, I stood there for a second, my hand still gripping the doorknob.

The sound of my phone snapped me out of it. I reached for it on the bedside table. My fingers fumbled over the screen before the call finally connected.

Joan's face appeared on the screen, her brows furrowed. “Why do you look like you just saw a ghost?”

I let out a breath, collapsing onto the bed. "I think..." My throat tightened. "That would've been better.”

She cast me a puzzled look. “What happened?”

I glanced back at the door like it would open at any second. “It's terrifying, Joan.”

“Now you're scaring me. Skylar, spill it already.”

I explained everything to her and watched as her mouth fell open in shock.

She leaned closer to the camera, her expression turning serious. “We shouldn't take this lightly. Have you called the cops? What about the estate security, since your guards just suddenly disappeared?”

My nails dug into my palm as I fought to keep myself from losing it. “That bastard said he would sue me for s****l assault. For something I don't even remember doing. He has a video, what if he releases it to the press?”

“But his mouth...” She moved her hands to illustrate it. “He kissed you back. In fact, he was the one who deepened the kiss.”

I groaned, dragging a hand over my face. “Don't mention the word ‘kiss’ again. I hate it.”

She pressed her lips together, stifling a laugh. “Sorry.”

“It’s not funny. Whatever happens, I don't care anymore. I'm calling the cops.”

She went quiet for a moment before sighing. “It's all my fault.”

“It's not your fault,” I looked away, annoyed at myself. “Blame my stupid self for not being able to hold my alcohol.”

“Skylar? Hello? Can you hear me, Skylar?”

The call suddenly cut off. “Come on...Not now, please.”

The screen stayed on, but No Service appeared on it. I tapped it repeatedly, hoping it might change, but the bars remained empty.

“Don't wake her. She's sleeping,” a deep voice whispered as footsteps climbed the stairs.

I sprang to my feet, my heart pounding. Those weren't the voices of my guards. The tinted glass blurred the figures outside.

“Are you sure?” another voice added.

The doorknob twisted, and something slammed into the door, shattering half of the glass.

My body went rigid as a pair of eyes appeared through the broken glass. He tilted his head, a smile spreading across his lips.

The phone slipped from my hand as I clapped a hand over my mouth. I stumbled backward, my chest tightening with every step.

“The b***h isn't sleeping.” He chuckled. “She's almost peeing her pants right now.”

“Stop scaring her. We should finish the job and return on time.”

My steps faltered. What job were they talking about?

I glanced at my phone lying on the floor. The signal still hadn't returned. Swallowing hard, I picked it up and tucked it into the waistband of my pajamas pants.

Where were the guards I employed? How were strangers inside my house, moving through my home like they belonged there?

If they got inside, I didn't stand a chance. Sweat slid down my forehead as my eyes darted toward the window, but the distance to the ground below made my stomach drop.

“Open the door. Don't be scared,” the second one said, his tone irritated. “Do you think we can't open the door? Open it right now!”

The door shook violently.

My feet refused to move. I stayed frozen, unable to take a step. Another hit, and the door wouldn't hold much longer.

A fist slammed against the door, making me flinch. “If I get in there, you're dead.”

I slipped my hand beneath the pillow, wrapping my fingers around the knife hidden underneath.

If I opened the door. If I didn't… either way, I was dead.

My hand tightened around the knife as I slowly made my way toward the door.

I paused over the doorknob, trembling so badly.

For a second, my fingers refused to close around it. My eyes squeezed shut. Forcing myself to breathe, I wrapped my fingers around the cold metal, twisting it slowly.

Before I could say a word, the door was shoved wide open.

“Good girl. Now take a step closer.”

Their builds made my heart race even faster. “How much did he pay you? How much did Damien pay you?” I choked out. “I’ll double it.”

“Who the f**k is Damien? Name of an animal?” one of them mocked, tossing a metal pipe onto the floor.

“Drop that little toy in your hand,” the other scoffed, pointing at the knife.

“We shouldn't leave a single mark on her,” the other one whispered. “It has to look believable.”

He threw a sheet of paper onto the floor.

My eyes dropped to it. A resignation letter, already typed, with my name written on it.

My jaw clenched as I read the words written on it. They had made it look like I had taken my life after a messy breakup and stepped down from my position. A relationship that was never made public.

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small camera. He switched it on, the red light blinking.

“Pick up the letter,” he commanded.

I stared at him without moving.

“Read it,” he ordered, nudging the camera closer. “Tell everyone you're stepping down as CEO. After that, we'll need access to Morrison Holdings' servers if you have access to it. Once we're done..." His smile widened. "We'll tuck you back to sleep forever. Now do as I say!”

“P-please...” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I'll do anything... just not this. Please.”

“Anything?” The other one grinned, pulling a white pill from his pocket.

I gulped, eyeing the pill.

“Take it.” He stretched his hand out. ”You won't feel a single ounce of pain when you swallow it.”

“No.” I shook my head, stumbling backward. “Please.”

He let out a low groan. “Stop making this hard for us.” He glanced toward the door. “Be fast. We need to find a way to fix that door.”

I stared at the pill, unable to move. My fingers trembled as I reached for it.

So this is how I'm going to die? With this tiny pill.

The pill dropped from my fingers, rolling across the floor. I stomped on it until it crumbled into powder.

The two men exchanged a glance, their smiles fading. One of them clapped slowly. “You aren't afraid of death?”

“Who isn't?” I lifted the knife to my neck, never taking my eyes off them. “Even if I die right now... you won't ever have your way.”

My hand was shaking, but I refused to let them see it. I had spent my whole life losing things I could never get back.

I wasn't going to hand over my company because a group of strangers decided they wanted it.

Who gave them the right to take what was mine, to decide how my life would end?

“Don’t let that blade touch your neck,” he hissed, moving closer.

The other man grabbed him, holding him back before he could take another step toward me.

"You think you're brave? You're the very definition of stupidity," he sneered. “ We wanted to give you a quick death, one you wouldn't even feel.“ He reached into his jacket and drew out a dagger.

My fingers stiffened around the knife.

“But now it's obvious you like doing things the hard way.” He twirled the knife between his fingers before pointing it at me. “A slow, painful death... that's what a brat like you deserve.”

My knees buckled. I caught the railing before I could hit the floor, the knife slipping from my fingers.

The doorknob began to turn, cutting through the tension in the air.

My head snapped toward the door. For one foolish second, I wanted to believe it was a cop. Just anyone to help me out of this terrible, ugly situation. But what if it was Joan? I clutched the top of my pajamas.

The door burst open. They exchanged tense glances before one of them cursed under his breath.

Damien stepped in, his gaze sweeping over me before settling on them.