Stay behindMe
1483 Words
Amara’s instincts screamed at her to run.
But her feet didn’t move.
They couldn’t.
Because the moment those two men stepped forward, something shifted in Alexander.
It wasn’t obvious—not to anyone else watching.
He didn’t tense dramatically. Didn’t raise his voice. Didn’t even change his expression much.
But Amara felt it.
The air around him sharpened.
Like a blade had just been drawn.
His grip on her hand tightened—not painfully, but firmly enough to ground her. To anchor her.
“Stay behind me,” he said quietly.
It wasn’t loud.
But it was absolute.
Amara swallowed.
For once… she didn’t argue.
She stepped closer instead.
Closer than she ever had before.
Close enough to feel the solid warmth of his back. Close enough to catch the faint scent of his cologne—clean, expensive, steady.
Close enough to realize something that made her pulse stutter.
She felt… safe.
That realization unsettled her more than the men in front of them.
The taller one smirked as they approached.
“Well,” he drawled, his voice slow and mocking, “look who decided not to run.”
Amara’s fingers curled slightly into Alexander’s sleeve.
She hated that she did that.
Hated that she needed something to hold onto.
But she didn’t let go.
Alexander didn’t react immediately.
He just watched them.
Measured. Calm. Dangerous.
“You’re in the wrong building,” he said.
His tone wasn’t threatening.
It didn’t need to be.
The shorter man chuckled. “And you’re in the wrong business, Drake.”
Amara’s heart skipped.
They knew him.
Of course they did.
Everyone knew Alexander Drake.
But this—this felt different.
Personal.
“You’ve been sending messages,” Alexander continued, as if they were discussing a business deal instead of a threat. “That’s your first mistake.”
The taller man tilted his head slightly.
“And what’s the second?”
Alexander’s voice dropped just a fraction.
“You’re still here.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Charged.
For a split second, Amara thought—hoped—it might end there.
That they’d laugh it off. Walk away.
But then the shorter man took another step forward.
Too close.
Way too close.
“See, that’s the thing,” he said, his smile widening. “We’re not here for you.”
Amara’s stomach twisted.
His eyes slid past Alexander.
Straight to her.
“We’re here for her.”
Her breath caught.
Instinctively, she moved closer behind Alexander, her fingers tightening against his arm.
This time, she didn’t even pretend it was accidental.
Alexander shifted slightly, blocking her completely from their view.
Possessive. Protective. Unyielding.
“You’re done talking,” he said.
The taller man sighed. “Always so serious.”
Then, suddenly—
He moved.
Fast.
Too fast for Amara to react.
But Alexander did.
Of course he did.
He stepped forward, intercepting the movement with brutal precision, his arm coming up to block the strike before it could land.
The impact echoed in the hallway.
Amara gasped.
Everything happened at once after that.
The second man lunged.
Alexander pivoted, pulling Amara back with him, keeping her behind him as he drove his elbow into the attacker’s side.
The man staggered.
Alexander didn’t hesitate.
Didn’t pause.
Didn’t even look surprised.
It was like he’d expected this.
Like he’d been waiting for it.
“Alexander—” Amara’s voice came out shaky.
“Stay back.”
Still calm.
Still controlled.
Even in the middle of chaos.
The taller man recovered quickly, swinging again.
Alexander caught his wrist mid-air and twisted.
Hard.
A sharp c***k echoed.
The man cursed, dropping to one knee.
Amara’s heart pounded violently in her chest.
This wasn’t happening.
This couldn’t be happening.
But it was.
Right in front of her.
The second man came again, angrier this time.
Alexander stepped forward to meet him, his movements precise, efficient—no wasted energy, no hesitation.
A punch.
Blocked.
A counter.
Landed.
The man stumbled back, blood already forming at the corner of his lip.
For a moment, everything froze.
Both men breathing hard.
Alexander standing tall, completely unshaken.
Untouched.
Untouchable.
Amara stared at him.
Who… was this man?
The taller one wiped his mouth slowly, then laughed.
Not amused.
Not light.
Dark.
“You really don’t know what you’re stepping into, do you?” he said.
Alexander didn’t respond.
Didn’t even blink.
“Tell your boss,” he continued, voice colder now, “that if he wants to reach her…”
A pause.
His gaze flicked briefly toward Amara.
“…he goes through me.”
The man’s smile faded.
Something flickered in his eyes—annoyance, maybe. Or calculation.
“Fine,” he said finally.
Then he straightened, glancing at his partner.
“Let’s go.”
Just like that.
They turned.
And walked away.
No rush.
No fear.
Like this was just… a message delivered.
Amara didn’t move.
Couldn’t.
Her heart was still racing too fast, her thoughts tangled and loud and overwhelming.
The hallway slowly returned to normal around them—people whispering, peeking, pretending not to stare.
But for Amara…
Nothing felt normal anymore.
Alexander turned to her.
His expression softened slightly when he saw her face.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head quickly.
“No… I…”
Her voice faltered.
She didn’t even know what to say.
“You—how did you—”
“Later,” he said gently.
Gently.
That surprised her.
“I need to get you out of here.”
Amara hesitated.
Then nodded.
Because now…
There was no denying it.
He was right.
This wasn’t something she could handle alone.
They moved quickly this time.
No more arguments.
No more hesitation.
Just movement.
Out of the building.
Into the parking lot.
The cool air hit her face, but it didn’t calm her.
Nothing could.
Not after what she’d just seen.
Alexander led her to a sleek black car and opened the passenger door.
“Get in.”
She didn’t argue this time.
Didn’t question him.
She just got in.
Because something inside her had shifted.
Something important.
The moment she sat down, she realized her hands were shaking.
Badly.
Alexander noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
He leaned in slightly, his voice lower now, softer.
“You’re safe.”
Two words.
Simple.
But they hit deeper than they should have.
Amara looked up at him.
Really looked this time.
At the man who had just taken down two attackers without breaking a sweat.
At the man who kept stepping into her life like he belonged there.
At the man who scared her…
And made her feel safe at the same time.
“That didn’t look like ‘safe,’” she whispered.
His gaze held hers.
“Trust me.”
Her breath caught.
“I don’t know if I can.”
A pause.
Then—
“You will.”
The confidence in his voice should have annoyed her.
Instead…
It made her heart beat faster.
He stepped back and closed the door.
Moments later, he was in the driver’s seat.
The engine roared to life.
They pulled out of the lot.
Silence filled the car.
Not empty.
Not awkward.
Heavy.
Full of things unsaid.
Amara stared out the window, trying to process everything.
The messages.
The attack.
Him.
Especially him.
“Who are they?” she asked finally.
Alexander didn’t answer immediately.
His hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel.
“People you don’t need to worry about.”
Her head snapped toward him.
“Are you serious?”
“They’re not your concern.”
“They attacked me!”
“They tried to reach you,” he corrected calmly.
Her frustration spiked.
“That’s not better!”
“I’m handling it.”
“And what if I don’t want you to?”
Silence.
Then—
He glanced at her.
Brief. Intense.
“You don’t get that choice anymore.”
Her breath caught.
There it was again.
That possessiveness.
That certainty.
That control.
“You don’t get to decide that,” she said, softer this time.
But there was less fight in her voice now.
Less certainty.
His lips curved slightly.
“Watch me.”
Amara looked away, her heart racing again.
This man was impossible.
Infuriating.
Dangerous.
And somehow…
She was already getting pulled into his world.
Whether she wanted to or not.
The car slowed.
Then stopped.
Amara blinked, looking up.
They weren’t at her house.
Or anywhere familiar.
Instead, a massive gate stood in front of them, slowly opening.
Her breath caught.
“Where are we?”
Alexander didn’t look at her this time.
“Somewhere you’ll be safe.”
The gates opened fully.
The car rolled forward.
And as they drove inside—
Amara felt it.
That shift again.
That moment where everything changes.
Where there’s no going back.
Because whatever was waiting beyond those gates…
Wasn’t just protection.
It was something else entirely.
- Writer
