The rain didn't stop. It seemed to mirror the chaos inside my chest. I stood there, drenched, staring at the man who had once kissed me like I was the center of his world—and then disappeared without a trace.
The man who had left without an explanation, the man who was back now, standing in front of me as though nothing had changed. His presence was suffocating. His gaze held me in place like a prisoner.
I wanted to hate him. God, I wanted to hate him so badly. But there was still that part of me—the broken part—that longed for the very thing I knew would ruin me.
"I don't need you, Jason," I said, barely recognizing the tremble in my voice.
He didn't flinch. "Yes, you do."
I shook my head, clenching my fists. "No. I don't."
He stepped forward, his eyes locked onto mine. "I didn't want to drag you into this. But now that I'm here… I can't leave you behind again."
"Why now? After everything?" I asked, my voice cracking despite my best efforts. "Why come back and stir up the mess you left behind?"
Jason's face hardened, his jaw clenched. He looked like he wanted to say something, but his words were caught in his throat. Finally, he spoke, low and urgent. "Because they're after me, Janica. And you're already involved, whether you like it or not."
I took a step back, confusion clouding my mind. "What are you talking about?"
His eyes flickered to the street, scanning the area with a tense awareness. "You don't know it yet, but you're in danger. They know about you. And they won't stop until they get what they want."
I felt a chill run down my spine. "Danger? What kind of danger?"
Jason didn't answer. Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out his phone. Without saying a word, he showed me a series of messages—cryptic threats, with photos of me taken when I wasn't paying attention.
I stared at the screen, my heart sinking in my chest. "Who… who are these people?"
"Enemies. My enemies." His tone darkened. "And now, they know everything. They know you, Janica."
I backed away, my mind spinning. This was insane. I had no part in his life. I didn't ask for any of this. But somehow, here I was—caught up in whatever world he was running from.
"You don't get to drag me into your mess, Jason," I said, my voice rising. "I've already lost enough. My mother. My peace. I'm not about to lose anything else because of you."
Jason's gaze softened, but there was something darker beneath it. Something I hadn't seen before. "I'm not asking for your forgiveness, Janica. I'm asking for your trust. Just for a little while. Until I can fix this."
"I can't trust you," I whispered. "Not after everything."
His expression turned hard. "Calm down."
Before I could argue, a car screeched to a halt at the curb. Jason's eyes immediately narrowed, his posture shifting into something sharper, more dangerous. Without warning, he grabbed my arm and pulled me toward him, shielding me with his body.
I didn't have time to question what was happening before two men stepped out of the car, their eyes scanning the street with cold intent.
My breath caught in my throat. It was too late. I was already trapped.
Jason's grip tightened around my waist, pulling me closer. "Stay behind me," he ordered, his voice low and deadly.
My heart raced. My breath came in short gasps. "Who are they?"
Jason didn't answer. His eyes were locked on the men, calculating. And then, just before the tension could break, one of them spoke.
"Mr. Jason," the man said, voice laced with venom. "You've been a hard man to find."
I wanted to scream, to run, to do anything. But Jason's grip held me firm.
"We'll take care of this," the man added, his smile cold and cruel.
Jason didn't flinch. He didn't show fear. But his eyes told a different story.