Page 84 of Obsessed by My Ex's Mafia Uncle

I don’t ask what that means. Because I don’t fully know what my way is yet. All I know is I don’t want him anywhere near my life again.

Aisha glances at the time on her phone, then back at me.

“You’re not okay,” she notes.

“I will be.”

“Sleep.” She nods instead of arguing. That’s how I know she’s really worried. “You need sleep. Everything looks worse when you’re tired.”

“That’s the most reasonable thing you’ve said all night.”

“I’ve said a lot of reasonable things,” she grumbles, reaching for her chips again. “You just chose not to listen.”

I walk her to the door anyway because that’s what we do. Even when everything is falling apart, we still do the small, normal things.

She pauses at the doorway, looking back at me one more time.

“If he texts again…”

“I’ll handle it.”

She holds my gaze for a second longer, then nods.

“Lock your door.” She warns with a glare.

“I will.” I smile softly.

She leaves.

I shut the door, and lean against it for a second. Just a second. Then push away, dragging my feet back to my bed.

My phone buzzes again.

I don’t even want to look, but I do.

As expected, it’s an unknown number, but different from the first.

: We need to talk.

I keep staring at it when another message comes in almost immediately.

: Tomorrow. 10AM.

Then another comes in with the location of a Japanese restaurant.

I exhale slowly, locking the screen, already deciding I’m not engaging with Daniel. Not tonight or tomorrow. Not ever again if I can help it.

The phone buzzes again.

I almost ignore it. Almost. But something makes me look. Call it curiosity that kills the cat, or the chase of satisfaction that brings it back alive.

It’s another message.

: It’s Robert.

My heart drops.

: We need to talk about Blue.

Everything stills.

The room.

My breath.

My thoughts.

Shit! Shit! Shit!