The lost mate
Chapter 20: Unwelcome Shadows

Chapter 20: Unwelcome Shadows

The front door creaked open as Annie stepped into the warmth of her home. It was a refuge, a sanctuary she had built for herself and Ryan, where the outside world and all its dangers seemed far away. But tonight, that sense of safety felt fragile.

Before she could even set down her bag, Ryan came barrelling down the hallway, his little feet pounding against the wooden floor. "Mommy!" he cried, his face lighting up as he rushed towards her. In one hand, he clutched a crayon, and in the other, a piece of paper covered in colourful scribbles.

Annie’s heart softened at the sight of him, his innocent joy a stark contrast to the turmoil raging inside her. She knelt down, opening her arms wide as he crashed into her, wrapping his small arms around her neck in a tight hug.

"Hey, sweet boy," she murmured, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "What have you been up to?"

"Colouring with Emily," Ryan replied, his voice muffled against her shoulder. He pulled back just enough to show her his drawing—a riot of colours that vaguely resembled a house with a big, round sun shining above it.

Annie smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "That’s beautiful, Ryan. Why don’t you go show Emily and finish your picture? I’ll be with you in a little bit, okay?"

Ryan nodded, grinning up at her. "Okay, Mommy!" He gave her one last squeeze before dashing back down the hallway, his laughter echoing through the house.

Annie watched him go, her smile fading as the weight of her thoughts returned. Running away was impossible now. Now that he had seen her and had confronted her, she knew it was futile. Damien wasn’t the kind of man who would simply walk away. Not now. Not ever.

She closed her eyes, leaning against the wall as a wave of exhaustion washed over her. She would have to find a way to convince him to leave her alone and let her live her life in peace. But how?

The next morning came far too quickly, the events of the previous night still fresh in her mind as she arrived at the café. The familiar routine of opening the shop, prepping the kitchen, and greeting customers provided some semblance of normalcy.

But even as she went through the motions, she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that clung to her like a second skin. Damien was out there, somewhere, and she knew it was only a matter of time before he made his move.

The bell above the café door chimed, and Annie heard the low murmur of conversation from the front of the shop. She wiped her hands on her apron, focusing on the task at hand, trying to keep herself grounded in the present. But then she heard a voice, deep and unmistakable, that sent a shiver down her spine.

"I need to see Annie."

Heather, who was manning the counter, looked up in surprise at the handsome man. "Oh, um, she’s in the kitchen," Heather replied, her brow furrowing in confusion. "But she’s busy."

The sound of footsteps interrupted her, heavy and purposeful, as Damien ignored Heather’s words and made his way straight towards the kitchen. Annie’s heart leapt into her throat as she heard the door swing open behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. She got his scent the moment he stepped inside.

"Damien," she said, her voice steadier than she felt as she turned to face him. "What are you doing here?"

He smirked, that infuriatingly confident smile that had always made her heart skip a beat, even now, when she wanted nothing more than to push him away. "We have unfinished business, Annie."

Annie’s hands clenched into fists at her sides, her mind racing for a way to handle this.

"You need to leave," she said, her voice firm. "This isn’t the time or the place."

Damien’s smirk only widened as he took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "It’s exactly the time and place, Annie. You’re not running away from this anymore. From me."

The tension in the air was palpable as Annie stood face to face with Damien in the café’s small, bustling kitchen. Everything faded into the background, leaving just the two of them in a world of their own.

But the moment was interrupted when the kitchen door swung open, and Heather stepped inside. Her brow was furrowed with concern, her eyes darting between Annie and Damien. "Is everything alright in here?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Before Annie could respond, Damien turned on the charm, his expression shifting into a disarmingly warm smile. "Everything’s fine," he said smoothly, his tone effortlessly casual. "I’m just an old friend of Annie’s, stopping by to catch up."

Heather’s eyes widened slightly, her worry melting away in the face of Damien’s magnetic presence. Annie could practically see the gears turning in Heather’s head as she took in Damien’s tall, broad-shouldered frame and that infuriatingly charming smile.

"Old friend, huh?" Heather said, her voice taking on a playful lilt as she leant against the counter, clearly intrigued. "Well, you should have said so sooner! Annie, why didn’t you tell me you had such a handsome friend?"

Annie rolled her eyes, resisting the urge to groan. This was exactly what she didn’t need—a smitten Heather making things even more complicated.

"Annie, you should take the rest of the day off," Heather suggested, her tone far too eager. "You two need to catch up properly, and I can handle things here."

Annie could hardly believe what she was hearing. "Heather, really, it’s fine. I don’t need—"

But Heather waved her off with a grin. "Don’t worry about it! Go spend some time with your friend. The café’s in good hands."

Damien’s smile widened, and Annie shot him a warning look. But he was already nodding along, perfectly content with the way things were unfolding. "You’re too kind, Heather," Damien said, his voice smooth as silk.

Annie couldn’t help but notice the way his words dripped with irony, as if he were mocking her attempts to keep him at arm’s length. But before she could protest further, Heather was already untying Annie’s apron and practically shoving it into her hands.

"Go on, Annie," Heather insisted, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Take the day off. We’ve got it covered here."

Annie let out a long, exasperated sigh, knowing there was no way to argue with Heather when she was in one of these moods.

"Fine," she muttered, more to herself than to anyone else. "But don’t blame me if the café falls apart without me."

Heather laughed, clearly unconcerned.

Annie turned to Damien, who was watching her with a smug, satisfied look that made her want to strangle him and herself for not being able to resist the pull he still had on her.

"Let’s go," she said, grabbing his hand in a firm grip. The moment their skin touched, a spark flared between them, but she ignored it and focused on getting him out of the café as quickly as possible.

"Lead the way," Damien said, his voice low and smooth as he followed her out of the kitchen.