WHY ME

r 5: T

Point

Next to her was the man from the park, the one with the sunglasses and the gun. He held a small black box, his fingers moving fast over buttons. It looked bad, lik

old me to lock the door, but I didn't feel safe. Not with Celeste and that man out there. I grabbed my phone from my pocket, my fingers

. I moved to the door, checking the lock again. It was tight, but my hands wouldn't stop shaking. I don'

llway was empty. Where were they? My chest tightened. Were they coming here? I looked around, spotting a heavy lamp

lit up. I crept over, my hands sweaty on the lamp.

e's voice crackled thr

he door slid open, and Dante rushed in, his face tight. He locked t

is out there with that guy from the park! H

t he stayed calm. "A

shaking. "It was small, black, wi

, his fingers flying over the keys. I stood behind him, my heart pounding. The screen showed dif

high. "They were here!

. I'm going to figure this out. But you're

Someone shot at us! Celeste knows my name,

he wanted to calm me. "Elara, I won't

saying that, but you don't tell me anything! Who's

riend. He had enemies. Celeste... she's someone from my pa

. "You said you'd protect me, but I'm in more

nced at it, his face going pale. "I need to make a ca

ne, his back to me. I caught words like "security" and "track them." My head spun. This was

it yet, but it was starting to feel like a chain. Marry him? Live here? T

My team's on it. They're checking ever

u think that man's w

him, but Celeste... she's smar

legs weak. "Why me? I'm

"You're not nobody. Your father knew t

t. "You keep saying that, but

hen spoke. "His na

heard it before, but it felt like a piece of me I didn't know wa

ve you up to protect you. His enemies were dan

spilling. "Then why a

ed. "I don't know.

What about Celeste? She said you've d

done this. She's... she's obsessed. Always

e steady, but I didn't know what to believe. My phone was st

phone again. "I'm getting you

belly ached, and I felt a sharp twi

he asked, st

said, breathing

ed rest. I'm taking you to a safe

hes and a laptop. I watched, my heart heavy. I didn't want to go, but

lights blurred past as he drove, his hands tight on the wheel. I stared out the wind

nlocked the door, and I followed him inside. It was cozy, with soft couch

bag down. "No one knows abo

sharper this time. I bit my lip, trying not to show it. Dante not

but my voice was wea

worried. "Rest. I'

s. My head was full of questions. Why was Celeste doing this? Wh

gain. A new text glowed on the screen, from an

. Your father's enemies a

phone. His face was serious, his voice low. I glanced at the text again, my

walked in, his eyes on me.

heart pounding. "Yeah," I lied, my

t Dante, his dark eyes watching me. Was he really pro