CPOV

When I thought he wasn't following me anymore, I slowed down. Why does he have to be so difficult? I wish I could just tell him the truth about that man and my new life, but knowing Eric, he'll probably get himself killed trying to save me. I wouldn't be able to live with that. If I was ever the cause of his death, I wouldn't forgive myself. And I know that man isn't playing! He will do whatever it takes to get rid of him. He has the resources and the power.

I sighed. I just hope that whatever that man has to do, gets done fast so that we can just leave this. Although somewhere in the back of my mind, I still had that nagging feeling to just go back to Eric right now and kiss him to let him know I care about him. I mean, I can tell he still loves me the same. Even though I have been nothing but cruel to him, he still makes the effort to try and understand why I'm acting the way I am. He actually cares for me. Ugh... I love him too much.

My phone began ringing in my pocket. When I took it out, the caller ID read 'Eric'. Should I answer it? Mm...okay. "Eric..."

"Wait, hold on. Just let me meet you one last time. One last time. Tonight."

"I don't know..."

"Please, Calleigh. I just need to see you one last time. You have no idea what it's like to be without you."

I sighed. I know I am going to regret doing this. "Alright."

"Great. 7:30 at the cafe. Cal, I love-" I clicked my phone off. I couldn't hear him say it. I checked the time on my phone, and it read 4:26. I have to kill three hours. I'll just go back to the hotel.

EPOV

I finally made my way to Central Park. I sat down on a bench in front of a lake. Wow. This really is as beautiful as I remembered it. A small bird swooped down and landed on the the seat next to me. I wish Calleigh was here with me right now...she would love this. Man. What am I going to do? I think of her everywhere I go. I was ready to marry her, and spend the rest of my life with her. I was nowhere near to deserving her, yet I couldn't bring myself to accept the fact that maybe she found someone better for her than me.

I took out my ringing phone and answered it, hoping it was Calleigh, which it was. I answered on the first ring. "Hello?"

"Look, I don't know who you think you are, but you need to stay away from Isabella," a voice said.

"Who is this?" Do I know anyone with an Italian accent? Wait...that burly dude with Calleigh was Italian...

"Isabella's fiancee."

"Oh, so I'm supposed to stay away from her because you tell me to? I don't think so."

"I suggest...you do what I say. I don't like...interferences."

"Interferences? Is that supposed to be a threat? Who are you and what are you doing to Calleigh?" This man has some nerve. He calls me on her phone and expects me to like 'obey' him. As if.

"This is a warning. Stay away from my fiancee. The next time you try to contact her, there will be...problems. Understand?"

"W-No! I don't know who you think you are, but-"

"Stay...away."

"If you hurt Calleigh-"

"Shut up. I'll do what I want. Like I said before, if you don't stay away, there will be problems. Take that as a warning." With that, he clicked off the line, leaving me staring at my phone like an idiot. What the hell was that? I was under the impression that Calleigh actually liked this guy, but now...I'm confused. It seemed like she was really upset. I mean, he was making her cry! Calleigh never cried unless she was deeply disturbed. But regardless, she is as strong as an ox. This guy must really be threatening something important to her.

CPOV

"What is this?," he boomed at me. "You think you can just waltz off and talk to whomever you like without my say-so? I don't think so!"

I backed up to the wall as he came closer. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"I warned you, I WARNED YOU! If he ever comes near you again, I will get him out of the way."

"Okay," I whispered. I didn't know how else to respond. What else am I supposed to say to him? He has full control over me! Even if he killed Eric, I wouldn't be allowed to leave. He would just threaten the lives of more of my family and friends. I was stuck in this life with no way out.

He turned towards Marco who was standing in the corner like a statue. "I have to go attend to some more business. Make sure she gets no contact with Delko."

He nodded and that man left the room, leaving me alone with the muscular bodyguard. "Lady, I don't understand why you make this difficult. It will only get worse."

"I know," I exhaled. He was right. I sighed and lay down on the left side of the bed, feeling strange. I don't know what it is, but I feel like I have to accept this. I brought my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. I am now Isabella, Michael Vellicini's fiancee. I thought about the idea for awhile, before my thoughts wandered over to Eric.

"Calleigh, talk to me," he whispered as he climbed into bed and wrapped his arms around me.

"There's nothing to talk about."

"Then why are you acting so strange?"

"I'm not acting strange."

He sighed. "Cal, look at me."

"I'm tired. We'll talk more in the morning. Goodnight."

"Baby, please." I sighed and turned around. No matter how much I try to push him away, he won't give up. "What's wrong? Just tell me."

"I did tell you. It's nothing. I just...feel sick." I turned back around. "Goodnight."

He waited for a moment, and I could feel his eyes on me. Then he sat up and flicked on his lamp. "I get it. I'll just go sleep on the couch tonight."

I put my hand on his arm. "Wait. I'm sorry. It doesn't have anything to do with you."

"So why can't you tell me? It's tearing us apart. You've been like this for weeks."

I sat up. "I just don't want to worry you, okay? There."

He gently took my chin and turned my face towards him. "This worries me. You worry me. I can't-I can't just let you shut me out and pretend like everything is okay when it's not. Let me be there for you. What's bothering you?" He ran his thumb across my cheek.

I finally met his eyes and I wish I hadn't. His eyes were filled with so much sadness and worry, that it made my heart break. Was I really doing this to him? "There's this man, a serial killer, that I put behind bars. He swore that he would make my life a living hell the next time he saw me. Somehow, he managed to escape from jail, and he's been threatening me, my dad, my job...he's been following me everywhere I go... I don't know what to do. I'm scared."

Eric's expression changed from concerned to angry in a matter of seconds. "This bastard threatened you? Why didn't you tell me? What if you would have gotten hurt? I'm going to kill this son of a-"

"Eric, he's dangerous. It's not worth it. Just let him get whatever he wants so that he can leave me alone." I lay back down.

"But he's upsetting you..."

"I know, but you don't have to worry about it."

"Too late. I'm already worrying. Tomorrow, I'll see what I can do about him...,"he trailed off. Uh-oh. Somehow, I know this is going to get Eric hurt. He laid back down next to me and I placed my head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around me."I won't let him hurt you,"he breathed, his eyes closing.

I still remember that whole thing. It was crazy...yet it brought Eric and I closer together. Now, I don't think there's anything Eric could do. But then again, that's what I thought last time. I let go of my legs. "Marco, I need to see Eric."

"What part of no contact do you not understand?"

"Please? I just need to tell him goodbye."

"No."

"You'll be there the entire time. Just let me-"

"No."

I sighed. "Fine. What time is it?"

"7...10," he said checking his watch.

Wow. It took me over 2 hours on that flashback? "Could I go get some coffee?"

"OK...where?"

"At that little coffee place we went to earlier."

"Fine. Let's go."

EPOV

I opened the front door to the deserted cafe, still thinking about Calleigh. I hope she shows up. I ordered a small coffee and sat waiting for her to come.

"Eric hold still." She bit her lip as she pried shards of glass out of my arm and back.

She pulled a large one out. "AH, baby, ow stop ow ow ow ow."

"Sh, calm down. I'm almost done."

"But it hurts like hell. This is what I get for trying to protect you from your crazy ex-boyfriend who like to bash out people's windows with rocks." She pulled the last one out and looked at me. "What is it," I asked her as I looked over my shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"This." She said, as she put ointment on my cuts.

"It's fine. I'm not mad at you-" I cringed as she covered the big scratch that the rock left. "I did it because I love you."

"I know...but I feel terrible anyway. He's my problem not yours." She covered my back with a huge bandage and some tape before doing the same with my arm. As soon as she finished, I flipped over and pulled her on top of me, making her gasp. "Eric! Stop, stop! You'll hurt your back!"

"I don't care," I said, holding on to her waist,"I'm not letting you go until you realize that I will always protect you, even if it means getting a tiny bit injured."

"That was not a tiny bit injured. You had a whole bunch of glass stuck in your back and-

"Calleigh.."

She bit her lip as her green eyes filled with worry. "Okay fine. Just put me down." I let go of her waist and she slid off of me as I sat up. "And don't do things like that!," she said hitting my good arm.

"Ah! What did I do?" She didn't give me an answer as she packed up the first aid kit and left the room shaking her head.

I checked my watch. 7:30. Just like clockwork, the bell on the door rang and Calleigh came in followed by her Italian wrestler. "Calleigh...," I said standing soon as she spotted me, her Italian wrestler came and blocked my view of her. I raised an eyebrow as I looked him up and down. "Move."

"I don't think it's wise for you to talk to her anymore."

"Oh please, not you too. Listen, I don't give a damn what you think. Now move...out...of...my...way. Do you want me to spell it out?"

The wrestler started to crack his knuckles. "Wait, wait, wait. Marco, let me talk to Eric for a moment," she said, stepping in between us. Marco gave me a look before crossing his arms.

"Fine. You have five minutes. I'll be outside." He shot me one last look as he headed outside.

She turned to me. "This was a bad idea."

"I know. Next time, leave the bodyguard at home."

"There won't be a next time. Soon, I'll be leaving New York and we won't see each other anymore."

"But, why? Even if we aren't together, why do you have to cut me off? You told me you hated controlling guys. So, why are you letting this guy run your life and send some Italian bodyguard to stalk you around? Plus, you said you wouldn't ever be with someone who made you change yourself. This new you is someone I don't know or even want to know. You lied to me, broke my heart, and now you just want to leave without out a proper explanation?" I banged my hands on the table. "Just tell me the damn truth!,"I yelled. One look at her sad, ashamed face told me that I had just crossed a line. "I-I'm sorry I didn't mean-"

"No, you're right. I'll tell you the truth."

I am so so so so SO sorry this took so long. Writing this took some serious juice. Plus this was a busy time for me! But anyway, let me know what you think. After this work, I need encouragement (and your previous reviews were great!). All suggestions are seeeeriously welcomed. Writer's block is not fun. =D

Adios, mi amigos y amigas!