Chapter 25
Austin
Violet’s house is progressing beautifully. Noah and Esteban have outdone themselves, moving faster than we originally expected.
Violet and I have been going strong the past month, and I’ve even taken Adrian fishing a few times. I also enjoy watching Adrian practice soccer after school.
I feel very protective of both Violet and Adrian and can’t wait for them to meet my family. I know my parents are eager to meet them both. So next weekend, my mom has invited us all for dinner.
But tonight, I'm picking them up to go to dinner at my place. When I pull up outside of her apartment, Violet opens the door, and I notice that she seems unusually nervous. I know my woman has anxiety, but this feels different.
At first I think it’s because of the upcoming visit to my parents, but there’s something more in her eyes as she glances over my shoulder. I kiss Violet softly and then lean back to ask, “Where’s Adrian?”
“He’s in the shower. Soccer practice ran late today, and he was extra stinky,” Violet replies.
“Well then let me take advantage of these few minutes.” I don’t let her say another word. I kiss her, softly at first but then with all the passion I can muster.
I miss this woman, and not having her around me every day is hurting my soul.
Violet responds to my kisses and moans when I grab her ass and squeeze it. After a few minutes, I stop the kiss because if I don’t, we will get caught by Adrian.
Even though he knows that we are friends, we limit our interactions when he is around. I haven’t done more than give Violet a peck in front of him.
I need to have a talk with him, man to man, or as Adrian says it bruh to bruh, but now is not the moment. Now, I want to know why Violet looks worried. She walks toward the kitchen and grabs a cup, filling it with water. She takes a small sip and stares at me.
“What’s wrong?” I ask her.
“Nothing, why?”
“You’re acting weird. Did I do something wrong?”
“No.”
“Then why are you fidgety and don’t want to look me in the eyes?” Violet stares at the wall but doesn’t say anything. “Violet, you know there’s nothing you can say that will stop me from caring about you and Adrian, right?” I assure her, hoping to ease her mind.
She nods, biting her lip, then walks to the corner of the kitchen and brings out a shoebox that was sitting inside the lower cabinet.
“Austin,” she says carefully as she brings the box to the kitchen island and leaves it there. I look at the box and then at her.
“What’s that?” I ask.
Violet doesn’t say anything; she just opens it for me to see. From where I’m standing, I can only make out some papers and candy. I walk toward it and see it’s filled with notes and trinkets. What the fuck is this?
“What are these?” I ask, my voice gentle but firm. Is Taylor trying to get back with Violet?
She breaks down, tears streaming down her face. “Someone has been sending me stuff since I moved here and started working with Josy. At first, I thought it was you, but then I realized it wasn’t because we were together one day when I got a letter so it couldn’t have been you. Plus the note was so angry, like whoever is sending them knew I was with you. Now, the messages have become more threatening as time has passed. I’m scared, Austin. I don’t know who it is or what they might do. I wanted to just ignore these, but I know I can’t.”
I start reading the notes, feeling a chill run down my spine. The early ones are nice and cute, but as I keep reading, they grow darker, more obsessive. The last one is the worst:
If you don’t leave him, I will have to do something about him. Make a choice, my love, and choose me. Because if you choose him, I will have to kill him.
Anger and fear swirl inside me. “Violet, why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I ask, trying to keep my voice calm. I can’t believe this. Who the fuck would do this?
“I didn’t want to worry you. And I thought maybe it would stop, but it’s only getting worse.” Her eyes well with tears, and I pull her into my arms, holding her tight. “We’re going to figure this out. I won’t let anything happen to you or Adrian. We need to go to the police with this.”
She nods against my chest, still shaking. “Okay. But what if they can’t do anything? What if this person actually does something? What if I’m too late?” Violet says, looking defeated.
“I knew I should have told you sooner. But I thought that the person would stop once they saw that we are together.”
“But then it got worse and you grew more scared,” I finish for her. “I know, beautiful.
“Austin,” Violet sobs, “what if he kills you?”
“I won’t let that happen,” I promise. “We’ll take every precaution. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
The door opens, and Adrian comes running in, his soccer ball in hand. “Hey, Austin! Ready to go?”
I give Violet a reassuring squeeze before turning to Adrian. “Hey, buddy! Just a minute, okay? Your mom and I are talking about something important.”
Adrian’s face falls slightly, sensing the tension. “Okay…” He looks at Violet and asks, “Is everything okay, Mom?”
Violet hasn’t taken her face out of my chest, and her response is muffled. “Yes. Just give me a minute.”
“Okay,” Adrian says before he leaves to go to his room.
Violet groans and says, “What am I going to say to Adrian?”
“The truth. He’ll need to know. He can’t be walking around town without knowing that someone might hurt either of you,” I say.
“Okay. I can do this,” Violet says, taking a step back and fixing her hair.
We go to Adrian’s room, and Violet sits down on his bed beside him while I stay standing by the door frame.
“So, I have been receiving some letters, and I’m afraid that the person writing them is a little… delulu,” Violet starts.
“What do you mean ‘delulu’ mom?” Adrian asks, perplexed.
"Well, babe, there’s someone out there who’s taken an unhealthy interest in me. He or she claims to be in love, but their letters have been getting weird. I think whoever this is has seen me around town with Austin, and now the letters have taken a darker turn. This person is threatening to hurt Austin if I don’t stop seeing him.”
Adrian nods, his eyes wide.
“We need to talk to the police about them. It’s very important.”
“Is everything going to be okay, Mom?” he asks, his voice small and scared.
I step in, ruffling his hair. “Everything will be fine, champ. We’re just making sure everyone stays safe. Besides, I think you guys should move to my house or I can stay here to make sure that you guys are safe. You know that I care about both of you, right?”
Adrian nods. “Yeah. I’ve noticed that you are in love with my mom. I think that’s cool.”
“Really? And how did you notice?”
“Well, bruh, you look at my mom all weird, and I’ve seen you kiss her. You guys think you’re being sneaky, but you’re not.”
Violet and I laugh. This kid is amazing.
“So, you don’t have any problems with me being your mom’s boyfriend?”
“No. I see that she’s happy with you. She’s always smiling. And she wasn’t like that with my dad. As long as you keep making her happy, we’re good.” I feel so relieved. Damn, this boy is so perceptive. I really thought we were being careful. I guess we weren’t.
“Do we leave now to go to the police?” Adrian asks.
“Yes,” I say. I stand up and look at Violet. “Let’s go. The sooner we report this, the better.”
As we drive to the police station, I can’t help but feel anger but also determination. Whoever is behind these threats will not get away with it. I’ll do everything in my power to protect Violet and Adrian. This is my family now, and I will fight for them with everything I’ve got.
At the police station, we explain the situation to an officer at the front desk, and I ask to speak with Officer Miller. He is one of my dad’s friends, and I know he will take this seriously, especially after reading the threatening notes.
He promises to start an investigation immediately. I feel a bit of relief knowing that we’re taking steps to address this, but I also know this is just the beginning.
“I don’t recommend that Violet or Adrian are alone in town or at the house. I will make sure that a patrol is always near the coffee shop during the day or at your house during the night,” Officer Miller says to us.
“That’s perfect. I will also be looking at installing cameras around her apartment. This person knows where she staying and where she works. It could be anyone.”
“This makes the case highly confidential, be sure you don’t mention this to anyone. We can’t let the stalker find out we are onto them, that we are looking for them.”
“But I have to tell Josy. I’m staying at her property, and I work with her,” Violet interjects.
“Then say the same thing to her. The fewer people who know, the better. We want to catch this person before they do something to either of you.”
I nod. “Thank you, Miller. I really appreciate this.”
“I know, kid. Say hi to your dad for me.”
“I will.”
We leave the police station and drive straight to my house. I grab a bag of clothes and the groceries I bought for tonight's dinner. I’ll be cooking at Violet’s. Neither of them will be out of my sight until we catch the asshole who is fucking with her.
Once we arrive at Violet’s apartment, I set the groceries on the kitchen counter and unpack them. “I’m making Adrian’s favorite tonight,” I say to Violet, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
She smiles weakly. “I’m looking forward to it. Thank you, Austin.”
Adrian runs into the kitchen, looking excited. “What’s for dinner?”
“Spaghetti carbonara and garlic bread,” I reply with a grin.
“Yes!” Adrian cheers, momentarily lifting the heavy atmosphere.
While I start preparing dinner, Violet sits at the kitchen table, watching me. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” she says softly.
I turn to her, my expression serious. “You don’t have to apologize, Violet. We’re dealing with it now, and that’s what matters.”
“I just... I didn’t want to drag you into this mess,” she continues, her voice wavering.
I walk over to her and take her hands in mine. “You’re not dragging me into anything. We’re a team, remember? We’ll get through this together.”
She nods, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m so lucky to have you.”
I kiss her forehead gently. “No, I’m the lucky one.”
When Adrian is asleep, Violet and I sit on the couch, holding each other close.
“We’re going to be okay,” I whisper, more to reassure myself than her.
“I know,” she replies, her voice steady.
As we drift off to sleep, I focus on the feel of Violet in my arms.
I wake up to the sight of Violet still tucked in my arms. I gently nudge her awake before getting ready for the day. I'll be taking Adrian to school, and Violet’s heading to work with Josy. After I drop Adrian off, I drive to the office and decide to call James, one of my Army buddies. He retired a few years back and now works for a big security firm. He owes me big time.
The phone rings, and he picks up on the second ring.
“Austin, my man! How are you?”
“I’ve been better. What about you?”
“What can I say? The job’s great, the wife is happy. There’s nothing else I could ask for.”
“That’s great, man.” I genuinely feel happy for him. When we were on tour, James was newlywed to his high school sweetheart, Jenny, and always worried about them. “I need a favor, buddy,” I say, getting to the point.
“Anything for you, Austin. What’s up?”
I explain the situation with Violet and the disturbing notes she’s been receiving. James’ tone shifts immediately, becoming serious and professional.
“Damn, Austin, that’s rough. But don’t worry, I’ve got you. What do you need?”
“I need some high-quality security cameras and GPS devices that I can install on Violet’s SUV. Something she can wear, too, so we can all feel at ease.”
“I can help with that. We’ve got the latest tech at the firm. I’ll make sure you get everything you need.”
“Thanks, man. How soon do you think it will arrive?”
“Hey, you saved my life. It’s the least I can do. I’ll overnight the equipment to you, you’ll have it by tomorrow.”
“Thanks. This means a lot.”
“Keep me posted on how things go, alright? And let me know if you need anything else.”
“I will. Thanks again.”
As I am talking to James, I instantly feel tension leave my shoulders. Knowing that I’ll soon have the means to better protect Violet and Adrian makes me feel more at ease. Opening my messenger app, I text Noah and Esteban. I need to tell them about this situation. I am pretty sure that they won’t say anything and I need all the help I can get.
Me: We need to meet today there’s something important that I need to tell you guys. Are you guys free for lunch?
Noah: This sounds serious.
Esteban: Are you proposing to Violet already?
Noah: I guess he can’t wait to make Violet his.
Esteban: I have so many ideas for this proposal.
Me: That will come soon, but no, this is about something that’s happening and I need your help.
Esteban: Count on us. We can meet.
Noah: Where do you wanna talk?
Me: In my office. I’ll order lunch from Honey Tavern.
Noah: See you then.
I ask Liza to place an order of wings, sliders, and sodas. When Noah and Esteban arrive, I quickly set out our food and begin talking.
“Thanks for coming, guys,” I say as they take their seats.
Noah leans forward, his expression serious. “Of course, man. What’s going on?”
I take a deep breath and explain everything, from the notes and trinkets Violet has been receiving to the threats escalating in intensity. By the time I finish, both Noah and Esteban look grim.
“I’m with you, we need to protect her and Adrian,” Esteban says, his voice firm. “We can help set up cameras around her place. I know how to install surveillance equipment.”
Noah nods. “And I’ll make sure to keep an eye out at the construction site. If this person knows where she lives and works, they might try to follow her there.”
“Austin, you need to be careful too. This crazy stalker is after you, too,” Esteban says.
“I know. I’m being careful. Whoever it is knows me and my background. I doubt they will try something.” Everyone in town knows that I was in the Army and that I know my way around guns and how to keep myself safe.
“Let’s hope these are just empty threats,” Noah says, and we all nod.
“Thanks, guys. I really appreciate this,” I say.
Esteban claps me on the back. “We got you. Just let us know what you need, anytime, anywhere.”
As we finish lunch, I feel more calm now that I’ve looped in Noah and Esteban; we’ll keep Violet and Adrian safe. I’m confident that we’ll catch this stalker before he can do any more harm.
In the evening, I make sure all the security cameras at Josy's Sweet Shop are working, checking for any blind spots. I go over everything with Josy, keeping her informed about the changes we're making to ensure her apartment and Violet's new home are safe. Josy seems relieved, grateful that I'm taking charge of protecting Violet and Adrian. Once everything is set, I head back to Violet's apartment.
The package arrives as promised. I spend the afternoon with Esteban installing the cameras around Violet’s apartment, making sure everything is set properly. I’ll also set up a GPS device in Violet’s car when she get’s home and another one she can carry with her that looks like a necklace.
When Violet gets home, I explain everything that I did and show her the cute necklace that I want her to wear.
“Don’t you think it’s too much? We should worry about you, not me.”
“Baby, if this stalker is obsessed with you, they will want to do something to me for sure, but they also would use you to get to me. You don’t know what’s on his or her mind. I went ahead and talked to Josy and checked the cameras at the coffee shop. She is nervous and is waiting for you to talk to her.”
“I will talk to her, thanks for checking those cameras,” Violet says.
“It was nothing. I want to protect you and Adrian. That’s my job as your man.”
“Thanks, anyway. This necklace is so cute. It doesn't look like a GPS, I like it.”
“That’s the point of this kind of necklace. They blend in so no one will ever know that it is a GPS.” I watch her admire the necklace, moving the center stone to watch it sparkle in the light. From afar, it kind of resembles a diamond, and the gold chain adds to the elegance, making sure to hide its real use. The GPS is microscopic and the only way to check the location is through an app that I’ve already installed on my phone.
“Like in the movies!” Violet says and laughs.
“That’s true. I’m your 007.”
“You are more handsome than James Bond.”
“True,” I say to her while I give her a soft kiss.
“I feel safer already,” she says, hugging me tightly.
“We’re going to get through this, Violet. I promise.”
As we sit down for dinner, I feel a renewed sense of hope. Yesterday, I found out about the stalker, and today, I’ve done everything in my power to make sure that Violet and Adrian are safe.
The following week passes in a blur of work on Violet’s house, soccer practices, and trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy.
We keep an eye out for anything unusual, and I make sure Violet and Adrian are never alone.