Stranger or Savior
994 Words
Elena's POV
I couldn’t get Ronan Kane out of my head.
Even after I had walked away, even after I had slammed the door to my apartment and locked it, his voice still echoed in my mind.
"Just last night, you confronted a total stranger. And today, you can’t even handle him."
The worst part? He was right.
I hated Damien, despised him, but a part of me still hesitated when it came to facing him. Maybe it was the years of being manipulated by him, maybe it was the ghost of the woman I used to be the one who let him walk all over her. But last night at the club, I had been fearless. I had stared danger in the face and refused to flinch.
So why did Ronan’s presence make me feel so… vulnerable?
I rubbed my temples as I stood in my small kitchen, trying to shake the lingering tension from the night before. The encounter with Ronan had rattled me in ways I didn’t understand. Who was he? Why did he claim me as his girlfriend in front of Damien? And why the hell did Damien look scared the moment he realized who Ronan was?
I needed air. I grabbed my jacket and stepped out onto the busy streets. Maybe a walk would clear my head.
But the feeling of being watched never left.
For days, I had felt eyes on me. At first, I thought I was being paranoid. Maybe it was just the trauma of running into Damien again. But as I weaved through the market, picking up a few groceries, the sensation became undeniable. Someone was watching me.
I tried to shake it off, forcing myself to focus on the normalcy of the moment. The scent of fresh bread, the chatter of vendors, the clatter of baskets being exchanged,it should’ve comforted me. It didn’t.
Then, I saw him.
A man standing across the street, casually leaning against a lamppost, but his eyes were locked onto me.
I turned sharply and headed down another row of stalls, but the weight of the stare didn’t leave me. Whoever he was, he wasn’t alone. Every time I moved, another shadow seemed to appear, lurking in the corners of my vision.
I exhaled sharply. Enough. I wasn’t going to run like some helpless woman.
I turned on my heel and marched straight toward the closest figure. He barely had time to react before I grabbed his sleeve, yanking him toward me.
"Who the hell are you, and why are you following me?" My voice was sharp, demanding.
The man,a tall, broad-shouldered guy with dark hair and an unreadable expression tilted his head, clearly surprised. Then, almost amused.
"You should be careful who you grab, sweetheart."
"I don’t care who you are," I snapped. "Tell me why you’re following me, or I start screaming."
A flicker of irritation passed through his eyes, but then he smirked. "Relax, princess. I’m just doing my job."
My stomach twisted. "Your job?"
"Boss wants to keep an eye on you."
Boss? who's your boss?
Ronan Kane.
I let go of his sleeve like it burned me. "Take me to him. Now."
The man, who I assumed was one of Ronan’s guys chuckled but didn’t argue. "Your funeral, sweetheart."
The ride to wherever Ronan was felt endless.
I sat in the back of a sleek black car, Declan the man I had confronted driving silently. He hadn’t said much after I demanded to see Ronan, only that I’d get my answers soon enough.
When we finally pulled up to a large, dimly lit building, my heart kicked up. It wasn’t a nightclub, not like the one I had met him in. This was different. Exclusive. Dangerous.
I stepped out of the car, my hands curled into fists. If Ronan thought he could stalk me, he had another thing coming.
Inside, the atmosphere was thick with cigar smoke and low murmured conversations. Men in tailored suits and leather jackets lounged around, exuding power and danger. My stomach tightened, but I forced myself to walk through with my head high.
I found him at the back of the room, sitting in a large leather chair, his fingers lazily tapping against the armrest. When his eyes met mine, a slow smirk curled his lips.
"Elena."
My name on his tongue sent a shiver through me, but I pushed past it. "You had your guys follow me?"
He didn’t look guilty. Not even a little. "I like to keep an eye on things that interest me."
I narrowed my eyes. "I am not a thing."
His smirk deepened. "No, you’re not. But you are interesting."
I took a step closer, anger burning beneath my skin. "I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I don’t appreciate being watched like some kind of target."
Ronan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "It’s not a game, Elena. It’s protection."
I scoffed. "Protection? From what?"
He studied me for a long moment before answering. "From the fact that your ex-husband is a snake, and I don’t trust that he’s done with you yet."
My breath hitched.
Damien.
I clenched my fists, trying to keep my voice steady. "I don’t need your help and how on earth do you know he's my ex husband?"
Ronan stood slowly, towering over me. His presence was suffocating, intoxicating. "Maybe not. But you have it anyway."
I hated the way my body reacted to him, the way his words settled into me like an unshakable truth.
"I don’t owe you anything, Ronan, And you haven't answered my question yet how did you know he's my ex husband?"
He reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. "A man like me makes it his business to know things,sweetheart "
Something dark flickered in his eyes, something possessive. And I knew, without a doubt, that Ronan Kane wasn’t done with me.
Not even close.
- Writer
