Forbidden Fling

chapter 12

📖 **Forbidden Fling: Chapter 12

The flashing red and blue lights painted the walls of Aurora’s small apartment, illuminating the shattered door, the blood on the floor, the shattered pieces of her life.

She sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, Marcus kneeling in front of her, his hands gripping hers tightly as he spoke to her in a low voice she could barely hear over the chaos around them.

Paramedics lifted Liam’s limp, bloodied body onto a stretcher, securing him as police officers took statements, their radios crackling with updates.

Aurora couldn’t look at Liam.

Couldn’t look at what he had done.

At what Marcus had done.

Because he did it for you.

“Miss, we need your statement,” an officer said, crouching beside her, his eyes kind but professional.

Aurora’s throat was dry, her eyes burning as she forced herself to nod, recounting what happened, how Liam had broken in, how he had grabbed her, how Marcus had stopped him.

The officer nodded, scribbling in his notebook, his eyes flicking to Marcus, who stood behind her now, a protective hand on her shoulder.

“You’re safe now,” the officer said before walking away, leaving her in the silence that followed.

But the silence didn’t last.

“Aurora!”

She looked up, her heart stopping as she saw Ben standing in the hallway, pushing past the officers, his eyes wide, taking in the broken door, the blood, Marcus’s hand on her shoulder.

“Aurora, what the hell happened?” Ben demanded, his voice cracking.

Aurora stood, the blanket falling to the floor as she stepped toward him, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Ben, I—”

His eyes flicked to Marcus, then back to her, confusion and hurt mixing on his face. “Who is he? Why is he here? Why are you with him?”

“Ben, please, just listen—”

“Were you with him this whole time?” Ben shouted, pain lacing every word.

Aurora flinched, her hands trembling as she reached for him, but Ben stepped back, shaking his head.

“You lied to me,” he whispered.

“Ben—”

“Don’t,” he said, his voice breaking as he turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the broken doorway, reaching for someone who was already gone.

She felt Marcus’s presence behind her, warm, heavy, inescapable.

“Aurora,” he said softly.

“Don’t,” she whispered, turning to face him, her eyes burning with tears. “Don’t say anything.”

He reached for her, but she stepped back, her hands clenched at her sides.

“I can’t do this anymore, Marcus,” she said, her voice shaking. “I can’t keep living like this. Hiding. Lying. Being yours one minute and trying to pretend I’m someone else the next.”

“You are mine,” he growled, stepping closer, his eyes darkening.

“No,” she snapped, shoving him in the chest, her tears spilling freely now. “I’m not! I can’t be!”

He caught her wrists, pulling her closer, his grip firm but gentle. “I will protect you, Aurora. From Liam. From everything.”

“I don’t need your protection!” she screamed, pounding her fists against his chest, sobs tearing from her throat. “I need my life back!”

He let her hit him, let her cry, his arms eventually wrapping around her as she collapsed against him, her sobs muffled against his shirt.

“I can’t lose you,” he whispered against her hair, his voice breaking for the first time.

She pulled back, her eyes meeting his, seeing the darkness there, the possessiveness, but also the fear.

“You never had me,” she whispered.

The apartment was quiet after the police left, the door temporarily secured with a board, the lights dim as Aurora sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the floor.

Marcus stood in the doorway, watching her, his shirt stained with blood, his knuckles bruised.

“You can’t keep me here,” she said finally, her voice hollow.

He didn’t answer, stepping into the room, kneeling in front of her, taking her hands in his.

“I’m not letting you go,” he said quietly, his eyes locked on hers.

“Why?” she whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks. “Why me?”

“Because you’re mine,” he said, pressing her hands to his lips, his eyes closing. “And I will destroy anyone who tries to take you from me.”

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, the screen lighting up with Ben’s name.

She reached for it, but Marcus’s hand closed over hers, stopping her.

“Aurora.”

She looked at him, her heart shattering as she realized what this meant.

She was trapped.

Between who she wanted to be and who she was now.

Between Ben and Marcus.

Between freedom and safety.

As the city lights flickered outside, Aurora closed her eyes, letting the phone fall from her hand as Marcus pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as she sobbed.

She didn’t know if she was crying for Ben.

Or for herself.

Or for the girl she used to be before all of this began.

But she knew one thing.

Nothing would ever be the same again.