Deadly Obsession

by J. Lea

  “Was he wearing a hoodie?” I ask him.

  “Yes, how did you know?” He seems surprised by my question. Jude and I exchange looks, but don’t answer.

  “April, go inside,” Jude instructs firmly as his grip on the note he just finished reading tightens.

  “Why?” I frown.

  “Go inside the room and lock yourself in. You, go with her,” Jude looks at the receptionist, “and make sure you stay there.”

  “Jude?” I give him a questioning look.

  “Please, just do as I say.” The look in his eyes is everything but calm.

  “Come, let’s go,” the receptionist encourages me to follow him with a hand to my back. I nod at Jude; he looks worried, his forehead wrinkled. He’s muttering to himself, undoubtedly swearing, and I let the receptionist take me to the room and lock the door behind us.

  “What’s going on?” I ask him the second he turns away from the door. Through the window, I can see the fire department and the police have arrived.

  “I have no idea,” the receptionist sighs, burying his hands in his hair. “It was a quiet night. I was playing a game on my phone, and suddenly, there’s this man at the counter, handing me an envelope. Said I need to give it to you. And five minutes later, Bam! I almost pissed my pants,” he shakes his head. “I saw a car was on fire and called 911. Then I grabbed a fire extinguisher and ran out. It all happened so quickly.”

  “What did the note say?”

  “I don’t read personal mail.” He has the decency to appear offended so I give him a pointed look to remind him of the night he spied on Jude and me. “Well, not anymore,” he blushes, scratching his head. He chose the right moment to stop snooping.

  “Didn’t you find it suspicious someone left an envelope for a guest?”

  “Not really. It wasn’t the first time someone left something at the reception for a guest,” he shrugs. I nod absentmindedly, still standing at the window, staring out at the parking lot.

  Jude is talking with three policemen and two more men join them. While one officer takes notes, the other two start examining what remained of the car. Jude hands over the envelope, points a finger to our room, and they spend the next ten minutes with their heads together discussing something.

  It seems like an eternity has passed before the wreck of a car is towed away and Jude knocks on the door of our room.

  “So? What happened? What did the note say? Do they know who planted the bomb?” I bomb him with questions the second I open the door.

  Jude looks over to the receptionist, ignoring me. “The police wish to speak with you, they’re waiting for you outside.” The receptionist nods and as he walks past Jude, Jude stops him, grabbing his elbow. “You really don’t remember what the man delivering the note looked like?”

  “No idea, man. Sorry. I wasn’t really paying much attention. He was wearing a hood and had it low over his eyes, as I told you before.” He pauses, frowning. “But I did notice the smell. He smelled funky.”

  “Like cigarettes and something sweet?” I jump in, impatiently. Every letter I’d gotten, every bouquet, they smelled like cigarette smoke and something sweet, which I still can’t determine.

  “Yes, exactly like it,” he nods thoughtfully and then disappears through the door.

  “It was him, Jude, it was him! He set the car on fire; he found me,” I exclaim, the panic clear in my voice. Covering my mouth with a hand, I collapse onto the bed, tears streaming down my face. How could he have found us? Why is he doing this? Why is he trying to ruin my life?

  “Is Leo a smoker?” Jude joins me on the bed, his big, warm arm wrapping around me. His chin rests on top of my head.

  “No, at least he wasn’t. God knows what’s become of his habits now. Apparently, I don’t know him at all.”

  “We’ll find all the missing pieces of the puzzle, April. I promise.”

  “You can’t know that for sure,” I sniff. “What did the note say?” I repeat, giving him a pleading look.

  Jude takes a deep breath and runs both his hands through his unruly hair. “You don’t need to worry about it.”

  I’m taken aback. “Why not?” I shift to look at him. “Tell me.” I must know.

  “April—“

  “Tell me!” I raise my voice. “I want to know!” It’s my life we’re talking about.

  Jude closes his eyes, shaking his head. “It said that the next time it’s not going to be just the car that’s on fire.”

  Eyes wide open, I look at him and take a sharp intake of breath. “There’s going to be a next time?”

  “I won’t let it get that far.” He says that so convincingly, I almost believe him. He points his head to my stuff. “Pack your things, they’re waiting for us downstairs. We’re leaving.”

  “Who’s waiting? And where are we going? How? We don’t have a car, remember?”

  “Cole and Jessie are here. They’ll take us.”

  Jude

  It took me no more than a minute to throw my things together and then I left April to collect her thoughts. She didn’t take the news about her stalker finding her well. I wanted so badly to comfort her, to hug her and never let go, but we don’t have time for that. I join Jessie and Cole in the parking lot to work out the best plan to protect April from the psycho that’s been after her. I have full visual of the room she’s in, packing her stuff. The note in the envelope threw me for a loop; I only told April a part of what it actually said—that he’ll find her no matter where she hides and that he’s never going to give up. It also says she needs to get rid of me because he can’t stand other men’s hands on her. It breaks his heart watching her with somebody that’s not him. It was supposed to be the two of them together forever as soulmates. He claims to forgive all her previous sins if only she surrenders to him. And I’m the one who’s going to burn if she doesn’t leave me behind, because I’m the only thing standing between them and their happiness. I got sick to my stomach when I read the note. Then I handed it over to the police when they arrived at the scene.

  “How’s she holding up?” Jessie, my younger brother, asks.

  “As well as she can, considering all that’s been happening.” I stick my hands in the pockets of my jeans. “Thanks for coming.”

  “Don’t even mention it, you know we always have your back.”

  “Everything okay back at her house?” It better be. We can’t stay here any longer.

  “Yes,” Cole nods. Police have been surveilling the house for the past two days in case someone wanted to snoop around or enter the house. “It’s clear the stalker knows she’s not at home. How the hell did he manage to find you two?”

  “I have no clue but I intend to find out,” I say firmly.

  “We should get going. Go check on April, and we’ll wait for you in the car.” Cole opens his side of the car.

  “Okay.”

  When I reach the room, the door is closed and the light is still on. “April, are you done? It’s time for us to go,” I say as I knock on the door. I check the clock, wait a moment, but I get no answer. “April?” I ask again before entering. The room is empty and tidied up, so I check the bathroom. “April, you in there? I’m coming in.” No sign of her. “April!” I call, my jaw clenched. “Shit.” Her luggage is gone and the room is void of anything that could insinuate she was even here, except for the faint scent of her lovely floral perfume that still lingers in the room. So much for promising to do as I say. “Fuck.” I hiss and run outside. I look left and right; April’s nowhere in sight.

  “Is she down there with you guys?” I yell from the top of the stairs.

  “No,” Cole yells back. “She’s not in the room?”

  “No, I can’t find her anywhere.” Both my brothers get out of the car, running in opposite directions to find her.

  “What are you doing, April?” I mutter to myself as I hurry down the stairs. First, I check the reception area and I’m told she hasn’t been around since the police left. I run to the grav
el road behind the motel; maybe she’s there. But I have no luck. “Damn it!” I get back to the car where Jessie and Cole meet me.

  “Nothing,” they say in unison.

  “Where could she have gone?” I absentmindedly scratch my unshaven chin. “Do you guys think the stalker got to her?” I’m getting more and more worried.

  “Maybe she hid somewhere to avoid being noticed, and when it was clear, she’d gone to the road?” Cole’s thinking out loud. “Could be the note freaked her out so much she ran off on her own.”

  “That’s possible. Then she can’t be that far away. I’m taking right, and Cole, you check left. Jessie can follow behind in the car.”

  It only takes me a few minutes to find her walking down the road, towing her suitcase behind her. “April!” I yell and fasten my step. When she hears my voice, she quickens her pace. “Would you fucking stop?” For crying out loud.

  “Leave me alone. Go away,” she yells, not stopping.

  I reach her and, grabbing her elbow, I turn her around to face me. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Are you completely out of your mind?” I’m fuming with anger. She could’ve gotten hurt, or worse.

  “I’m leaving. What does it look like I’m doing? I don’t want anyone to be in danger because of me. That psycho could’ve killed you or someone else close to me. Nobody around me is safe, don’t you get it?” I notice the tears falling down her cheeks. “Let me go.”

  “No,” I say firmly. “You’re coming back with me.”

  “Have you even heard a word I just said? No one’s safe around me.”

  “I know how to take care of myself, Princess. I won’t let you run away.” I pull her into my arms. She resists, trying to hit me with her fists, but I’m holding onto her too tightly to allow her to get in a punch.

  “Please,” she cries out. “Just let me go.” She finally stops resisting, but I don’t let her go.

  “Enough running, April. You’re much safer with me than on your own,” I whisper into her ear.

  “I can’t…This…It’s killing me. Maybe…Maybe…”

  “What?” I put my thumb to her chin to raise it up so her glassy eyes meet mine. I wipe away at her tears.

  “If I let him take me a-away, then he’d l-leave everyone else alone.”

  “Not happening,” I say. Over my dead body.

  “Why? Why would you want to expose yourself?” She cries out and my lips form a thin line. “Why?”

  “I don’t want anything bad to happen to you, okay?” I respond softly.

  Twelve

  April

  The next morning I woke up in the comfort of my own bed. In the comfort of my own home. The brothers have assured me the house was completely safe for me to come back to when I expressed my doubts. Yet I don’t feel any better, or any more secure. I want to hide in a cave somewhere and come out only when things get sorted out and the dangerous stalker is no longer a threat to my safety and sanity.

  But that’s not how things work, so I’m curled up on the couch in the living room while the brothers are discussing things and coming up with a plan of action for the past hour. Voices are raised and curse words fly through the air as they try to figure out how Leo managed to track Jude and me. I feel like this day has been dragging on forever, and it’s only five pm. I can’t keep quiet anymore, it’s eating me alive.

  “Enough!” I shout, my eyes closed, as I get to my feet. “Enough, enough, enough!” I cover my ears with my hands. Jessie and Cole freeze in their spots, Jude is beside me the next moment. He reaches out to place a hand on my shoulder but I step to the side to avoid contact. I feel three pairs of eyes on me.

  “Don’t fight, please. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” I cry out.

  “April, we weren’t trying to upset you, we’re just trying to find a solution, trying to get to the bottom of this,” Jude’s voice is soothing.

  “That’s not what I meant, Jude.” I raise my gaze to him, pleading. “It’s all my fault. I’m the reason he found us.” God, how was I so stupid?

  “What are you talking about?” Jude’s lips press in a firm line. He repeats the question, this time more firmly, and I jump at the harsh tone of his voice. “April, get it together and tell me what you meant by that.”

  “I, um, the other day, when I was at the reception desk, while you were still sleeping, I… I called… I called Rebecca, okay? I told her where we were. I’m so sorry.”

  “Why would you do that?” His eye twitches. “I specifically told you not to do that.”

  “I’m sorry, okay?” I burst into tears, my shoulders sagging with defeat. “I needed to hear her voice. I had to talk to someone.”

  At the time, it seemed like a smart idea. Jude was asleep. I had the opportunity and I took it. It was that simple. The only thing on my mind was that I had to call her, but I didn’t think about the risks it could bring or that I might expose our hiding spot to the stalker.

  “I can’t do my job like this,” Jude holds his hands up, cursing under his breath. He turns away, shaking his head. The room gets so quiet I can hear him scratching his unshaved cheeks.

  “Jude, calm down,” Jessie speaks up.

  “Don’t tell me to fucking calm down. There was one thing she had to do, but apparently, it was too much. One fucking thing!”

  “I’m sorry!” I exclaim in despair.

  “You should be. You put us both in serious danger,” he barks.

  “It wasn’t on purpose,” I try to defend myself.

  “Jude, go get some air and calm the fuck down before you say something you’ll regret later,” Cole interferes.

  Jude’s mouth twitches as if he wanted to say something, but the furious ringing of my cell interrupts him. My eyes are still on Jude. I don’t bother looking at the screen before I answer.

  “Yeah?”

  “My sweet April,” I hear a muted voice on the other side of the line.

  Chills run up my spine. “Leo?”

  With two long strides Jude is by my side, studying my face. “Is it him?” he wants to make sure he heard me right, and I nod. I see him turn to his brothers and tell them to call someone named Steph.

  “You still think I’m Leo, huh?”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Well, I can’t blame you,” he says, ignoring my question. “After all, I never confirmed nor denied your assumptions.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying, my love, that I could be anyone. Your co-worker, the janitor, neighbor, or perhaps a devoted fan. I could also be Leo. But that doesn’t play an important role here; the only thing that matters in this mess is, that I love you. You’re mine, sweet April.”

  “You’re insane!” I nervously pace the room.

  “Insanely in love with you, my angel,” he says in a singing voice. “I have a present for you.”

  “I don’t want anything from you.”

  “Now, don’t say that. I want to give you the whole world. I’m willing to give up everything for you. I did this for you, remember. This will take us a step closer to our eternity together.”

  “Wha-what did you do?” I stutter, looking over at Jude whose attention is solely on me.

  “I left the present by the back entrance of Antonio’s.” That’s Leo’s favorite dive bar.

  “I’m not interested.”

  “But I’m sure your pretty little detective would be interested.” My eyes widen. Jude stills, his ear to the earpiece. “Tell him about the present,” he says and hangs up.

  The living room is engulfed with deafening silence as we all stare at each other.

  “Did it work?” Jude finally speaks up, looking at Cole, whose phone is still to his ear. He’s talking to someone. I’m assuming it’s a woman named Steph.

  Cole slowly lifts his eyes, I can see the triumphant expression on his face. “Yes, we traced his location. It’s only a few miles from here.” He scribbles the address down.

  “Exactly where h
e said a present’s waiting for me,” I mutter.

  “Thanks, Steph,” Cole says and hangs up.

  “Cole, grab your keys and let’s go. Jessie, you watch her.” Jude doesn’t wait for a reply and heads to the front door.

  “Wait!” I call after him. “What if it’s a trap?” They could get seriously hurt. “You heard him.” What if he’s trying to get Jude on his turf so he could do something to him?

  “There’s always something, Princess,” he says, void of emotions, but then he stops and turns around, placing his hand on my shoulder. I feel the warmth of his touch deep down to my bones. Giving him a pleading look, I wordlessly ask him to change his mind. “I promise we’ll be careful.” I almost jump in surprise when I feel his lips against my forehead, a complete turn from a few minutes ago when he was spewing with fury. I close my eyes, leaning slightly forward to soak in his closeness.

  “Please,” I say, not really knowing what I’m begging him for.

  “We’ll be back soon,” Jude promises before he follows Cole. Soon after, I hear him speaking on the phone, probably with the police, which comforts me since they’re not going to go to Antonio’s alone.

  “You have nothing to worry about, they can take care of themselves.” Jessie appears behind my back, hugging me to him.

  “I really hope so,” I weep into his shirt.

  Two hours later I’m a nervous wreck, biting my nails and wearing out the carpet, walking circles around the room the whole time. Occasionally, I stop by the window and stare into the distance. It started snowing lightly when Jude and Cole left and now it’s turned into a snowstorm.

  “Sit down. You’re going to drill a hole through the floor.”

  “I can’t sit still. Is it normal for them to be gone so long without even a phone call? They should’ve gotten in contact with us by now.” Not only is it snowing like it’s the end of the world, it’s gotten dark too. What could they have found that we haven’t heard from them yet?

  “I’m sure they won’t be long now.” From the corner of my eye I see him typing something on his phone and put it back on the table. A few minutes later, he does it again. I pinch my eyebrows together. Could he be texting Jude? When he puts the phone down for the fourth time, I quickly lean over and grab it. I want to know what he’s been hiding from me. Tapping the phone so it doesn’t lock, I open his messages.