Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 7 – The Stranger in the Shadows

Olivia’s POV

The night after Leo showed up at my work place, I couldn’t sleep.

I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, my heart restless, my thoughts too loud to silence.

What did he want from me?

He didn’t know me. Not really.

So why did he keep showing up? Why did he care?

The more I tried to make sense of it, the more confused I became. I didn’t have the energy to fight him, but I also couldn’t trust him.

And still, behind all the Leo chaos, there was something worse...

The note.

The unknown threat.

That fear hadn’t left. It just sat quietly in my chest, waiting.

I’d thrown the note away, but I couldn’t throw away the feeling.

Someone was watching me.

---

The next evening, I left work a little later than usual. My boss had forced me to take extra tables as punishment for disappearing.

My back ached. My legs were sore. And I just wanted to get home, shower, and sleep for the first time in days.

I didn’t notice the footsteps behind me at first.

But after a few blocks, I realized I wasn’t alone.

I glanced back.

A man.

Far enough to not be suspicious. Close enough to make my skin crawl.

I picked up my pace.

So did he.

I turned a corner and ducked into a nearby convenience store, pretending to shop.

After a few minutes, I peeked out the glass.

He was standing across the street, pretending to be on the phone.

Watching the door.

Waiting.

My throat dried up.

I grabbed a bottle of water and approached the cashier with shaking hands.

"Are you okay, miss?" the girl asked.

I tried to smile. "Yeah. Just tired."

She didn’t look convinced.

I paid quickly and walked out the back exit of the store.

Then I ran.

---

Leo’s POV

I was halfway to bed when my phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: “Olivia just left the store out the back. She was being followed.”

I didn’t waste a second.

My driver was downstairs in five.

I had someone trailing her—not because I didn’t trust her, but because I didn’t trust the world she lived in.

Something wasn’t right.

And now I had proof.

I called my guy again.

No answer.

Then another message came in.

Unknown Number: “I lost her.”

---

Unknown POV

She ran.

Smart girl.

But not fast enough.

Not tonight.

Let’s give them something to panic about.

---

Leo’s phone buzzed again. A call this time.

“Yeah?”

It was the man he’d hired. His voice was breathless.

“Sir... I think something happened. I found her bag on the ground near the alley and—”

The line cut.

Silence.

Leo froze.

“Hello?”

No answer.