"Who could be sending this?" Leon asked, still staring at the screen like it would suddenly give him answers.
"I don't know…" I said slowly. "Do you think Gina came with someone?"
"I don't think so. It's not like she was expecting to see me here with you."
Another notification popped up.
I can see you.
My chest tightened immediately.
Leon exhaled slowly. I could tell he was trying to stay calm for both of us. "I know someone who can help us track this."
He stepped away, calling his friend in a low voice.
I stood there, suddenly too aware of how quiet the apartment was. The curtains moved slightly with the breeze from the window. Everything felt too normal for how fast my heart was beating.
Who was watching us?
Before I could spiral too deep, I felt Leon's arms wrap around my shoulders from behind.
"My friend Dexter is coming," he said quietly. "He'll help us figure this out."
"Do you think we're safe?" I asked, turning to look at him.
He hesitated.
That hesitation scared me more than any lie would have.
"I can't promise that," he said sincerely. "But I'm here and I promise to protect you."
I nodded. "I just wanted this weekend to be peaceful. Too much drama already."
He pulled me closer. "Don't let it ruin the weekend, okay?"
I tried to believe him, I know he is just as worried as I'm but he is being a man to make me feel better.
Then my phone buzzed again, not just a message. It was another photo of us taken from outside the apartment.
My chest tightened instantly.
Before I could even react, the doorbell rang.
Leon opened the door, and a tall man with messy curls, calm and observant eyes stepped in.
"Hey bro," he said. "You good?"
Leon nodded. "We got another message just now."
Dexter stepped inside quietly, closing the door behind him. He looked serious, focused like he had already started solving the problem in his head before touching anything.
But he turned to me first."You must be Grace," he said.
I nodded. "Yeah, nice to meet you and thank you for coming so fast."
He gave a small nod. "Anytime. If Leon is this worried, then it's serious."
Leon scoffed lightly trying to act tough. "I'm not worried."
Dexter just raised an eyebrow but didn't argue.
He turned to me again. "Don't stress too much. People who send messages like this usually want fear more than anything else."
I nodded, even though my chest still felt tight.
Then he switched to business mode.
"Alright," he said, opening his laptop. "Let's see what we're dealing with."
Leon handed him the phone. The room went quiet except for soft keyboard sounds.
After a while, Dexter leaned back slightly.
"It's a burner," he said. "Temporary number, no real traceable identity and whoever did this planned it carefully."
My heart sank. "So they can't be track?"
"its possible to get whoever is behind it," he said. "Just not immediately, maybe a day or two. I need more data, people always make mistakes when they feel too confident."
Leon looked at me immediately."You're not staying alone until this is solved."
"I don't want to be a burden..." I said.
"You're not," he said softly but firmly. "Stay here with me until we figure out who it is .
Another buzz.
My fingers shook slightly when I checked.
Unknown Number: Keep trying.
Dexter's eyes sharpened slightly.
"They're watching in real time," he said quietly.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
"They're not random," Dexter continued."The timing, the wording , it's might be someone that knows one of you."
I didn't respond.
But in my mind, faces kept flashing by. People I didn't want to suspect, people I wasn't ready to name.
"I'll need a day or two to trace this properly," Dexter said. "If they text again, don't ignore it. Patterns matter."
Leon nodded.
Then he made the decision immediately.
" We're heading to your place and we are getting everything you'd need for your stay here."
I looked up. "But Leon..." I tried saying no.
"No arguments." Leon replied instantly.
We all went out together later.
First, we dropped Dexter at his place, then drove to mine so I could pack a few things I would need.
Leon stayed close to me the whole time. His hand stayed in mine, fingers squeezing gently every now and then, not too tight, just reassuring. Like he was reminding me he was there without actually saying it.
I liked that about him, the quiet protection and the way he didn't have to say too much to make me feel better.
I kept packing quickly. Not because I was in a hurry, but because staying in that apartment alone for too long made my thoughts wander to places I didn't want to go.
Leon just stood there, watching the door, sometimes glancing at the windows like it was automatic. Like he was still in that protective mode even while trying to act relaxed.
He noticed me looking at him, he smiled small, soft and knowing.
"You don't have to rush," he said.
"I know babe," I replied. "I just want to be done and get out of here."
He moved closer and rested his hand lightly on my waist for a second.
"You're safe here," he said quietly.
I wanted to believe him but this situation wouldn't let me.
When I finished packing, we left together again. His fingers stayed locked with mine as we walked out.
When we got into the car, he squeezed my hand once more like a silent promise that I didn't have to carry everything alone.
And for a moment, just a moment, the fear in my chest felt a little quieter.
Not gone, just quieter.
That night, Leon made dinner, nothing fancy. Just simple food but the smell of cooking filled the apartment, trying to push away the tension sitting in my chest.
"You don't have to keep worrying tonight," he said quietly as we ate. "Dexter will keep working on it."
I nodded. Tried to eat even though my appetite was gone but Leon wouldn't let me go to bed hungry.
My mind kept going back to the messages.
Who was it?
Someone I knew?
Someone I trusted?
Or just someone who happened to be watching?
Later, we went to bed. Leon turned off the lights, leaving only the soft glow from the city lights outside.
I lay beside him, my head against his chest. His heartbeat was steady, warm, comforting but my mind wouldn't stop thinking.
"Still thinking about it?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah." I replied.
He tightened his arm around me. "Try to sleep, I'm here."
I nodded gently against his ches. Even as I lay there, my thoughts kept moving.
Maybe they were still outside.
Maybe they were still watching.
Maybe they were waiting for the perfect moment to send another message.
Or maybe they were watching us sleep right now.
The thought made my chest tighten slightly. But I stayed there anyway, listening to Leon's breathing slow down beside me, trying to let sleep take over even though I knew this wasn't over.
Deep down, I had this feeling.
This was only the beginning and whoever was behind those message.
Wasn't done yet, this is the beginning.