CHAPTERTWELVE
1416 Words
Demetria had always kept to herself. She wasn’t the type to ask for help or cause a fuss, preferring to handle things on her own. But lately, something about the world felt off.
Ezra, a man who caused her pain just few months ago, had started showing up in places he had no business being; standing outside her favorite coffee shop, following her after leaving the shop, and making remarks that were just shy of threatening.
She wasn’t one to let things slide, but there was something unnerving about Ezra’s persistence. She tried to ignore him, but he wasn’t letting up.
One evening, Demetria had gone to buy foodstuffs as the triplets ate a lot. As she locked up her car in the parking lot, she felt a presence behind her. A chill ran down her spine, and before she could turn, a voice called out.
“Demetria.”
She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Ezra’s smooth voice, oozing with false charm, made her stomach twist.
“Leave me alone, Ezra,” she said, her voice stiff. She turned quickly, trying to walk away, but he stepped into her path.
“You’re always running away from me. What’s the problem?” His words were too smooth, too persistent.
“Please leave me alone,” she said, a little more sharply now.
Ezra’s hand shot out to grab her arm, his grip too tight. “But I missed you."
Before Demetria could react, she heard the sound of heavy footsteps.
“Demi,” a familiar voice called.
Gideon.
He wasn’t alone. David appeared beside him, his irascible demeanor and sharp eyes taking in the situation at once. Peter was close behind, his easy smile a sharp contrast to the tension in the air.
Ezra’s eyes flickered from one man to the next, realizing he was suddenly outnumbered.
“Let her go,” Gideon said, his voice low but authoritative.
Ezra’s grip on Demetria loosened just a bit, but his glare remained fixed on the three men. “This is none of your business.”
“Oh, I think it is,” David said, his voice steady but firm. “You’ve crossed a line.”
Peter, always the one with the sarcastic edge, tilted his head and smiled. “You know, I really don’t think anyone’s interested in your ‘business,’ Ezra. So why don’t you take a step back and walk away?”
Ezra hesitated, clearly assessing the situation. He wasn’t a coward, but even he could see the three men were more than capable of handling him if it came to that.
“You’re lucky,” he sneered, but it was clear his confidence was faltering. “This isn’t over.”
Demetria didn’t say anything as Ezra finally released her arm and stormed off, muttering insults under his breath.
The triplets didn’t waste any time. They didn’t need to say much. They simply turned to her, their presence enough to offer comfort.
“Are you okay?” Gideon asked quietly, his eyes softening just a little as he looked at her.
The female nodded, though she was still a little shaken. “I’m fine. I just...he’s not going to stop.”
David gave her a reassuring smile, though his eyes were still sharp with concern. “He’ll stop when he realizes we’re not going to let him do this.”
Peter chuckled, his grin easy and teasing. “If he shows up again, I’ll make sure he gets the message. Just say the word.”
The three of them were always there when she needed them; Gideon, the silent protector; David, the irate strategist; and Peter, the one who always seemed to know how to lighten the mood. Once again, they had proven to be her therapy, all she needed to feel better.
They weren’t saints by any means. Each of them had their own demons, their own morally ambiguous pasts, but Demetria knew them well enough to understand they weren’t just protecting her out of obligation.
They were her friends and probably soon to be step brothers. And that was enough to make her feel safer than she ever had before.
The next few days passed in a haze for Demetria. Ezra’s actions had left her on edge, but her friends’ presence kept her from feeling completely overwhelmed. They made it a point to check in with her, to make sure she wasn’t alone when she didn’t want to be.
Gideon was the first to approach her after the incident. He wasn’t the type to talk about feelings, but when he did speak, it was always direct.
“You don’t have to do this alone,” he said one cold morning as they sat in the dining room, sipping coffee.
“I know,” she replied quietly, looking down at her cup. “But I don’t want to drag you guys into this mess.”
David, sitting across from them, looked up from his notebook, his expression thoughtful. “It’s not a mess, Demi. It’s about making sure you’re safe. That i***t doesn’t get to walk all over you, and we’re not going to let him.”
Peter leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, the usual grin on his face. “And if he doesn’t get it after that, we can always take a more… direct approach.”
Demetria couldn’t help but smile, though she still felt uneasy. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt. I don’t need anyone to fight for me.”
“You don’t need us to fight for you,” Demi said firmly. “But we’ll do it anyway. Because that’s what friends do.”
"And mate." Peter said under his breath.
David nodded in agreement to Gideon. “And because you’d do the same for us if the situation were reversed.”
Peter smirked. “Exactly. And honestly, I don’t mind making Ezra’s life a little harder.”
The conversation lingered there, but Demetria felt something shift in her. The weight of the situation didn’t feel so heavy anymore. She had people who had her back, people she could count on, no matter what.
But that didn’t mean the threat was gone.
A week passed before Ezra tried again. This time, he was waiting outside the campus building as she had gone to get her transcripts, his body language aggressive. He hadn’t learned his lesson.
Demetria saw him from a distance and immediately felt her pulse quicken. She was about to turn and walk in the opposite direction when she felt a familiar hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t worry,” Gideon’s voice was calm, but she could hear the underlying tension. “We’ve got this.”
David was already stepping forward, his jaw set, his eyes locked onto Ezra’s. Peter, as always, hung back slightly, watching the exchange with his usual smirk.
Ezra’s eyes flickered from one man to the next, but he didn’t back down. “What’s this? You all playing hero now?”
David didn’t flinch. “You're only alive right now because of her."
Gideon crossed his arms, his gaze cool but unrelenting. “You keep pushing, and we’ll push back harder.”
Peter kissed his teeth, taking a step forward. “And trust me, boy, we always play to win.”
Ezra faltered. He had always been good at intimidation, but now he could see that he was out of his depth. He wasn’t facing one person, he was facing three, each of whom knew how to get what they wanted without following the rules.
“Stay away from her,” Gideon said, his voice low and dangerous.
Ezra sneered, but this time, he didn’t argue. He stepped back, his shoulders slumping with defeat. “This isn’t over.”
“Maybe not,” Peter said with a wink. “But we’ll make sure you remember who’s in charge now.”
As Ezra disappeared into the distance, Demetria felt her heart slow down, the tightness in her chest easing.
“Are you okay?” Gideon asked, his voice softer now.
“I am now,” she said, offering him a small smile.
Peter gave her a warm look. “We’re always here for you.”
Demetria looked at her three friends and realized that she didn’t have to face this alone. They weren’t perfect. They had their flaws, their mistakes, their own shadows. But for her, they would always be there.
And that, in itself, was more than enough.
- Writer
