Falling in Love Again: A Valentine's Day Proposal

“That’s him. It’s the killer. It’s him I’m sure of it. We need to drive away.”

“That isn’t him, Raelyn, you’re just being paranoid.”

“No, it is. It really is.” Everything is on fire, yet ice cold at the same time too. “That is him, I’m certain of it.”

“Then that’s even more reason to go inside. He’s here, they can catch him.”

“He’s here as a warning, Abbi, I’m telling you. He is so cocky, he’s so confident that he can stop me.”

“Then don’t let him.”

Carter was right, I’m utterly certain of it. This is some sort of organized crime, and this is a threat. One that I’m definitely not prepared to stand up to. It isn’t worth risking my life for. “I can’t. We need to go, Abbi. I need to get out of here. I know you don’t get it, but I have to leave. Please. Please, Abbi, please.”

27

Carter

I race home from work at the speed of light, needing to know what’s going on with Raelyn. I haven’t been able to get hold of her all day long, and I’m understandably worried. The driver said that she got out of the car okay and that her friend met with her, he also told me that she went inside, but it isn’t enough. I need to know for certain that everything is alright. I need to know that she’s safe. I didn’t like not keeping an eye on her.

It took everything that I had just to hold it together today, for the sake of the business. Thank goodness that façade is over now and I can just cave to how I’m feeling right at this given moment.

Ring, ring… Ring, ring… Ring, ring…

“Why aren’t you picking up?” I call out loudly. “Come on, Raelyn. You know I’m just a mess.”

I intend to go to Raelyn’s house but I’m popping to mine first just to get changed and to check if there’s anything I need to pick up as I go. I pull up and jump out of the car, about to call her once more…

“Raelyn.” I find her in a heap on my door step. “You’re here.”

“I am.” She pulls her tear stained face up to look at me. “Sorry, I wanted to see you and I left my cell phone somewhere. I don’t know if it was at work or

at home, I’m not sure…”

“Why are you here? Why aren’t you at home? Where is your friend?”

“Can we go inside? I’ll explain everything to you then.”

I’m a bit flabbergasted, but so glad that she’s here I don’t question anymore. I unlock the door and take her inside. I lead her straight into my living room where she can sit comfortably on the couch while we go through all of this. Clearly, something has happened today, and I want to know what. Especially if it’s dangerous.

“Are you okay? Do you want anything? Can I get you a drink of anything?”

“Water,” she rasps desperately. “I would like a glass of water, please.”

I rush into the kitchen and pour a glass quickly, my heart racing hard. Poor Raelyn, she really has been through the wringer recently. I want to do whatever I can to make her feel better about this. Unfortunately, that’s out of my control. There isn’t really anything that I can do about it right now. Not that I can work out anyway.

I hand her the glass and watch her glug it back like she’s been stranded in the desert for years.

“I’m sorry that you’re in such a bad shape, Raelyn. This is just dreadful.”

“My friend took me to the police station today,” she gushes. “She said that we need to speak to them. But I didn’t go in. I couldn’t. I saw him outside, Carter. He was waiting for me. To threaten me.”

“Who was?” I ask cautiously, wondering what on earth is going on.

“The killer. The man who killed that other guy last night. He was there to threaten me.”

Holy fuck. My heart balls up in my throat. This is worse than I ever could have imagined. I had my suspicions that things were going to get complicated, I thought it might have to do with the organized criminals, but having it confirmed in this terrible way is the most horrifying thing in the world.

“So, what happened? Did you go inside? Did he get to you?”