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Chapter 28
Protecting my family
Tobias' Pov
Ever since last night, I have been on high alert. My paranoia has tripled in just a matter of hours. I'm more aware of every sound I hear, every person around me and every dark hallway.
I didn't want to scare Tris last night when she came out of the house confused and concerned. But how do I tell her, tell her that someone has been watching her. That someone has been watching us. I want to continue to tell myself that it's just that… My paranoia and that she is safe. That Emily is safe, but I cannot do that with a clear conscience. But I really don't know who that guy was last night.
The guy that looked in the shadows behind her bushes. That seemed to carry something that resembled a camera. That got spooked by my presence and ran to his car and skidded off before I could even catch up.
I contemplated last night about sleeping on Tris' front porch. I didn't care if I had to sleep outside on the grass or even on the cement if that's what it took to keep my family safe. But I didn't wanna freak Tris out, or worse Emily.
So instead, I said goodnight trying to play off the situation before us as not being dangerous and went back to my hotel room. Knowing damn well that I would be looking at a full night without sleep.
I haven't decided whether or not to tell Tris about my suspicions. The thought of scaring her and ruining what we could have comes to mind. Obviously, whatever is going on has to do with me. As it all started when I got back in town for my father's funeral.
The threat that Marcus gave me has been on my mind. I wouldn't put it past him to put some kind of insurance or promise behind his threats. He always had a way to keep his eyes on every situation even when he couldn't. So why not have someone ensure that his threat would be carried out in one way or another. The thought of someone out there watching us scares me more than anything. Wasn't the whole reason for me to disappear years ago was to protect her, was to protect them and yet I've lost so much time with them and so have they. Could I have put them in danger by coming back?
Maybe there's another way. Maybe there's a way to keep them safe and at the same time protect them mentally. I can talk to Tris about adding more security cameras for the house, maybe even getting a watchdog. Suddenly I have a picture of Tris smacking me beside the head. Knowing damn well she'll never go for it. Chris would rather take on the worse than to seem weak in anyone's eyes. But there has to be a way. I have to keep my family safe.
If this is Marcus doing this, which I have no doubt it is, it would just figure he would take this time to start trouble. He always had a key sense when something was going my way. And last night it was just that. I was on such a high, being called daddy by Emily and then having a make out session with Tris, the woman that I love. Leave it up to him to destroy a very good evening.
The last night I was with Tris was one of the best nights I can remember as a teenager. I was on such a high for being with her, the love that we shared, the future that was so clear in front of us…He knew. And he wouldn't stand for it, just like now he won't stand for it.
Even from the grave, he continues to haunt me and teach me his fucking lessons.
I fill the rest of my day with the endless tasks ahead of me. It's not so easy to find a replacement to fill my shoes back in New York. But I will make it work. I spoke with Amar earlier about my moving back to Chicago and although he is hesitant, he knows where his place is. He has agreed to help seek out a replacement that will take my place in New York. I'm glad for that, one less thing for me to worry about. Things are still pretty awkward between me and him as I still haven't found a reason to forgive him. He knew all about Emily and yet he never once said one word to me. How many times did I see him over the past years? How many times did he lie to me? No, I can't forget that, I don't know if I ever will.
I talked with my landlord back in New York and discussed the situation with him. Unfortunately, he refused to let me out of the lease any earlier than the end date, which thankfully is three months from now. And I already paid him through to the end of the lease. I suppose I will be making a trip to New York soon to gather my belongings. Although I am replaceable, I do not want to leave my apartment or someone else to clean up after me. There is also the issue of getting my car back.
I have been in touch as well with the realtors in Chicago. Although nothing is set in stone with me and Tris, I am looking for something that will suit all three of us. Whether or not Tris and I work out, I want Emily to know and feel how welcome she is in my home.
A Home? New York was never my home. I never thought it was. I always knew I belonged somewhere else. It was just a place with walls and a roof over my head and a place to store my shit. That's all. But here I told my realtors I want a home, a place for Emily to grow up in, a place where Tris and I can call our own. A safe place I never thought I could have.
My realtors were impressed by my really long list of needs and wants. A hefty list at that. But not impossible they said.
I haven't decided whether or not to tell Tris yet. Not because I want to keep it a secret, but because the thought of surprising her with a more concrete surprise comes to mind.
A knock on the door fills my quiet room. I glanced at the time, noticing that it's barely 10 o'clock. Who could it be? Tris is at the bakery, Emily is at school and everyone else is busy working, and most likely wouldn't dare to visit me here. I look through the peephole with my right eye, but no one is there. For a minute I figured maybe someone knocked on the wrong door, or maybe it was a few kids. But something tells me it's not. I hear a shuffle under the door, grabbing my attention to the floor. I stare at what appears to be a yellow envelope. I bend over slowly getting it up by the edges, not sure what to make of it. It's addressed to me and it says to open it. I slowly open the fastener in the back of the envelope and flip the flap open. I'm taken by surprise when not one, not two, but several pictures fall to the floor.
I kneel down, distraught from what I see, several pictures of me and Tris, of me and Emily and of me, Tris and Emily all together. Some go all the way back to the night that we first went to Chuck E Cheese. There's even one of me running into Tris' bakery for the first time. A close-up of my face when I am lost in thought as I'm just realizing that Tris' daughter is my daughter. The pictures are endless. Obviously, someone has been following us for a long time now. There're even pictures of me and Tris on our date, me and Tris kissing on the beach. Tris drinking wine on what appears to be the back porch at her house. And so many more. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, not knowing what to think. The last picture was of us last night, I was giving Tris a good night kiss. There is a sticky note attached to the picture in bold letters that says, ''I'm still watching you."
A/N
Oh, now you know I had to leave it like that… Did you really expect any different?
As I'm sure, so many of you are aware Florida is about to get a hit from a lovely hurricane that is sitting in the Gulf of Mexico. It is coming either later on today or early tomorrow. As if we didn't have enough to worry about right? As most of you have come to know, I live in Florida, right in the path of this lovely storm.
So please keep Florida in your prayers, along with all other locations that are experiencing disasters at this time. I hope that I will have electricity ASAP so I can continue to write and publish the story. But we shall see.
Revised by: FDFobsessed
Like always, happy reading, be safe and stay healthy
Trini
