Chapter 40

He pulled at the cardboard flaps and every second that passed between him looking at the contents and staring at it, I felt my body slowly fall apart. Ben took a deep breath and locked his jaw looking at the contents. It took me a while to gather my courage and when I did, Ben pulled out a note from inside the box.

I took the opportunity to look underneath and there was nothing but a packet of the same thin, long candy that Mike loved to eat while he was doing his rounds of the hospital with me. I looked at Ben and even though the contents weren't anything outrageously bizarre, I knew it wasn't good.

"Son of a bitch." He said loudly. "Brat son of a bitch."

I picked up the note that Ben was looking at with such hatred and there were only a few words.

"Four..."

It was just a number, but somehow it seemed to follow on from the messages I'd received on my phone a few days ago. So I turned the note over and felt my face heat up at what was written.

"I hope you're enjoying the woman I loved, I can't wait to see where it all goes. And to the bitch, it was my turn, now it's yours."

I shuddered and threw the note away.

"Mike..." I sobbed, he was close by and that gave me a fear I couldn't explain.

"How did that bastard get in here... fuck..." Ben squeaked angrily before pulling me close. "I'm going to change the locks early tomorrow morning and you're going to sleep with me, I'm not leaving you alone in that room, even if I have to sleep on the other side of the bed."

I didn't answer, everything was too turned around for me to deny him a little protection and frankly, I didn't care if he went to sleep holding my hair. I just didn't want to be alone while David and Mike were after me like this.

"All right, I'll have a shower and then I'll go over there..." I sighed with relief. "Thanks."

He nodded in agreement and kissed the top of my head before meeting my gaze.

"Before I forget, I've been thinking all day about messaging you to see what your response would be, redhead. Do you want to kill me with your heart before my fucking brother shows up?" I snorted in disbelief at how he managed to make me smile awkwardly even amid all the fucking tension I was feeling.

"Are you kidding? Are you worried about whether or not you're going to be able to fuck me while you know that your brother must be watching us?"

"Yes." He mocked and I squeezed my eyes shut in disbelief. "Do you think I'm going to be able to sleep with you next to me wearing that fucking nightgown without being able to rip your panties off? Forget it."

"What's the matter with you two? Shit." I complained, getting up to try and get rid of the horrible sensation I was feeling in my body.

"Yes or no, redhead?" He came up behind me while laughing mischievously. "Answer me, do I get to suck you off tonight?"

"I can't believe you're thinking about this with everything that's going on, Benjamin!" I complained, entering the guest room.

"I'm anxious, redhead! Come on, the answer is simple! A yes is enough!" I heard him shout from outside the door, giving me all the privacy I needed.

"Let me shower!" I shouted from the bathroom and he laughed. "It better be clean when I get there."

"Rough woman! Rough and fucking hot! I love it!" He shouted and I didn't hear anything else after that.

I was supposed to go to my mother's house instead of just staying at Ben's, however, after everything that had happened I couldn't let her get caught up in the shit I had unwittingly gotten myself into.

It was the only day off I had in the week and usually "very sparsely" I traveled there and because of David, Mary was anxious for me to return, which made me think she was trying to live my relationship indirectly. Of course, I wouldn't take any more trouble than the boys to her house and on the phone, I simply made the excuse that he was away on business and that I wouldn't have any time off either because of my shifts.

As usual, she cried that I wasn't there as her only daughter and made me feel guilty for letting her believe that David and I had a relationship I should blame Erick for putting more things into my head than I could process.

Ben still had things to sort out and even though it was Saturday, he had to work so I would spend the day alone and hidden inside this house, trying not to be noticed by anyone.

He managed to change the locks before he left and left a copy for me in case I needed to leave or even to leave with the police if necessary.

We slept together again and I woke up thinking about the one thing that had been on my mind all these days: he wasn't David and it was driving me crazy.

I didn't even get out of bed to answer my mother's calls, I stayed there under Ben's covers until the hunger started to bother me. My body was exhausted and it wasn't because of the night I ended up having with Ben again, but because of all the damn harassment I was suffering and putting this guy who seemed too nice through it, even though one of the problems was his brother.

I refused to go downstairs so that I wouldn't see that box Mike had left inside again, I just wanted to pretend that my existence was a mere figment of Ben's imagination, at least until I had to work the next day.

The silence in the living room and kitchen bothered me, it was as if there was nothing out there but emptiness. However, it proved that I was alone.

I made myself a coffee and let myself look at the jars of food supplements that he had arranged millimetrically on the shelf next to the sink. Ben was extremely careful and seemed to care too much about my physical appearance "which made sense since he was able to lift me without any difficulty.

I wrinkled my nose when I remembered David's apartment, which was the opposite of his, even though he was a completely fit man, he was too grown up to have wine instead of supplements.

I missed him.

I bit my cheeks as I thought about occupying my mind with the large television Ben had in the living room and was often watching his basketball games. Thanks to his lively manner and the friendship he had created with me while I was here, I was able to feel comfortable enough even to benefit from the friendship. Of course, it wasn't the ideal thing to do, but it took our minds off what was happening outside and managed to relax us until we fell asleep.

I put the cup in the sink and turned to spend the day like a lazy girl enjoying the perks I had at Ben's house, but the tall body blocked my way. I grunted at the thud and prepared to swear at Ben until his next generation.

"Shit!" I muttered, trying to regain my balance.

The slightly hoarse laugh made my body stiffen in place, my hair stand on end and a cold twinge hit my spine.

He didn't say anything after that and I refused to open my eyes to look, a painful tremor ran through every one of my bones and I could certainly faint at any moment. I had to swallow my saliva several times to stop myself from choking and coughing desperately and be supported by him.

His presence didn't move and I refused to move a muscle either, but a faint sound of plastic made me unconsciously open my eyes. Two roses and six daisies were positioned under my eyes.

How...?

He sighed and pulled out one of the roses and brought it to his nose. I watched with lowered eyes, refusing to look at the gray that I was sure was staring me in the face.

"How much longer will it take for you to understand that you belong to me, Sarah, just as I belong to you? How many more roses do I have to give you before this is over?"

I swallowed dryly, the smell of his perfume beginning to dominate my mind, making me take a step back.

"How did you get in here?"

He laughed mockingly, put the flowers on the counter, and walked away to pull up a chair and sit down.

"Does it matter? But do you think I wouldn't keep an eye on you while that brat prowls around like a wolf? I wouldn't be a decent man if I just left you unprotected, or do you think his brother could protect you from afar?"

"Go away." I exhaled trying not to cry as I finally looked into those shadows his gray eyes harbored.

David took a deep breath and removed his glasses before approaching me again, my body shivered making my skin burn and I took another step back trying to keep far enough away from him to escape if necessary.