Page 12 of Love Under Siege

"I never said you would. But your emotions are running high after what just happened with Joe, so I suggest calming down before talking to her."

"Okay, I will," I say.

"And remember what I said on the cruise - if you make her cry, there's nowhere you can hide from me. Army or not, I will find you," Lana says with a smirk.

"I remember," I say with a slight grin. Then I pull out and head towards Anya's house.

I use the few minutes it takes to get to Anya’s house to calm down. Lana was right; I haven’t lost my cool like that in a long time. By the time I pull into Anya’s driveway, I’m back to normal. I walk up to the door and knock, but there’s no answer. I pull out my phone and call Anya, but it goes straight to voicemail. I look behind me and see her car in the driveway. Anxiety fills me as I knock again, still no answer. I reach under the lighthouse for the spare key. I unlock the door and slowly open it, glancing around. “Anya?” I call out, but there’s no response.

I walk toward the back of her house to where her bedroom is and hear water running. I open her bedroom door, “Anya, it’s Jacob. Are you here?” Still nothing. I head toward the bathroom, and just as I’m about to open the door, she comes out.

“AHHHHH!!!!” she screams, stepping back and slipping on the puddle of water. Just before she hits the ground, I catch her.

“Anya, breathe! It’s just me!” I say, holding onto her as she flails and screams. She opens her eyes and then hits my chest.

“What the fuck, Jacob!” she yells before leaning into me. Her whole body is shaking, and she’s breathing hard. It’s then I notice she’s crying. “Baby! I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I did call out and I called your phone,” I say, wiping her tears.

“I was in the shower…” she sniffles and takes a breath. “I didn’t hear you and my phone died,” she says between sobs. I hug her tighter. “I’m really sorry, baby.” She wraps her arms around me and begins to sob uncontrollably. Guilt fills my chest.

“Anya, please don’t cry. I didn’t mean to.” She shakes her head, “It’s... it’s not that,” she says, burying her face in my chest. I let go of her, but she just hangs on tighter. So, I grab under her thighs and pick her up. She immediately wraps her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck, tucking her head into my shoulder. I sit on her bed with her straddling me.

“Anya, talk to me,” I say, gently bringing her face up to mine. She looks at me, her eyes red and swollen, and takes a shaky breath.

“I... I got a message,” she starts, her voice trembling. “They’ve been sending me messages since before Caleb showed up at the house. Every time my phone dings now, I’m scared to look at it” She begins to sob again, her body trembling.

“Who, Anya? Who sent the message?” I ask, my voice soft but insistent.

She swallows hard, her eyes filled with fear and pain. “I…I…I don’t know who it is, Lana thinks it's Paul but I don’t want to believe it” she whispers, her voice barely audible.

Anger and protectiveness surge through me. “What did it say?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady for her sake.

“The messages are just things like they are watching me or things about where I’ve been” she says, her voice breaking. “I’m so scared, Jacob. I don’t know what to do. I feel like I am falling apart all over again.”

I hold her tighter, my heart breaking for her. “Anya, you’re not alone. I’m here, and I won’t let anything happen to you. We’ll figure this out together, okay?” I say, my voice firm and calming.

“But what about when you leave, what if it is Paul? I want to say that I can handle him but deep down I’m not so sure!” she says as tears stream down her face.

“We’ll figure it out baby, I promise” I say trying to set her mind at ease. “But how come you waited to tell me all of this?”.

She bows her head, “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to involve you and have you worried about me before you left for basic training” she whispers. I lift her head with my finger. “Anya, you are my world, and there isn’t anything that will stop me from thinking about you. I will do anything for you my love”.

She smiles and leans her head on my chest, “Thank you Jacob”.

I kiss her forehead, holding her close. “We’ll get through this, my love.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Anya

I sit on Jacob’s lap for what feels like an eternity, clutching him as if he’s my lifeline. Over the past few months, he has been my rock, always knowing exactly how to comfort me. But this situation with the stalker is overwhelming my mind, leaving me unable to think clearly.

How can I burden him with this? But also, how can I bear it alone?The fear gnaws at me, twisting my thoughts into knots. Part of me wants to push him away, to shield him from the chaos invading my life. But the other part—the part that's clinging to him right now—desperately needs his presence, his strength. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to handle this on my own, but I’m terrified of dragging him down with me.

I finally look up at him, my voice barely a whisper, “Can you stay with me tonight?” My words hang in the air, heavy with the fear and uncertainty I’ve been trying to suppress.

Jacob gently strokes my cheek, his touch grounding me. He leans his forehead against mine, his breath warm and reassuring. “Of course, baby,” he murmurs softly before kissing my forehead. In that moment, his simple promise feels like a lifeline, anchoring me amidst the turmoil swirling in my mind.

We both lay down, and I nestle against him, resting my head on his chest while his arm wraps securely around me. Jacob has always had a way of making me feel safe, especially when I am in his arms. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat brings comfort, yet a twinge of sadness pulls at me. In just a few weeks, he’ll be gone for nine long weeks. I know he committed to the Army before meeting me and that it’s something he truly wants to do, given his love for military history. But the thought of being without him, especially with the stalker situation looming over me, fills me with dread. I will miss his warmth, his strength, his unwavering support.

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