Chapter 139

Joseph’s POV

I love you.

Those words hung in the air like poison. I haven’t heard those words since my late wife. Words I never desired to hear again. Until I met Tessa, and my heart rapidly began to beat only for her. It was an issue because she was a human, and it was already proved that our relationship wasn’t a good idea.

Because of what I am, because of what I subjected her to, Tessa nearly died. She was acting stronger than ever like it didn’t bother her what she went through. But I knew it buttered her and I knew she needed to get her mind off things. I wanted to be there for her in a way that no one else could. I wanted to hold her in my arms and take away her worries and fears.

But I felt a lot of fear myself. I feared for her safety, and I feared for her future.

When she told me she loved me those fears disappeared for only a moment and a new set of fears began to crowd my mind. She was in love with a monster; she had to know that. But looking in her eyes, I didn’t see any fear or worries. I saw genuine love and affection.

I saw what she wanted most of all… me.

But then the same fears that crowded my mind only moments ago came rushing back and I grew worried for her. I grew worried as well because I knew if this continued, she would never escape the monster in me.

She will never be safe.

I sat in my study, hours after leaving Tessa’s house, and worked on my curriculum for this second part of the semester. I worked on perfecting the assignments and our discussion. I made an organized portfolio of everything I was going to go over in class.

By the time I finished, I only had a few hours left until dusk, so I started to write the next chapter in my book. I started on a new character; a female book worm who had large ambitions and an even larger heart. She made friends easily and was never judged too harshly. She was the perfect character for my male lead, a heroic gentleman who would do anything for those he loved. With her intelligence and his strengths, they can conquer anything.

As I reread the dialogue I created between the characters, I realized there were a lot of similarities between these characters and Tessa and myself.

Before I knew what was happening, an image of Tessa flashed through my mind, making me jump to my feet. I heard her heavy panting and her screams as if she was right next to me. Her fears and panic invaded my body as if they were my own.

I heard the taunting laughs of others… men…they were surrounding her and causing her so much fear.

“….Joseph.”

Her voice was clear in my head as if she was right next to me.

When I opened my eyes, I was back in my living room and her voice was gone.

What the hell was that?

I stood up quickly with a rapidly beating heart and a shaky breath. I knew one thing for sure, Tessa was in trouble and my body was tugged in a certain direction by an invisible force. I needed to follow it and go to her.

I left my home quickly and allowed that force to guide me to Tessa's location. I ended up in the darkest section of the city where the lights and street cameras don’t work. They haven’t worked in years. This is where crime happens the most because it’s unwatched.

Tessa came into view; she was kneeling on the ground, covering her face with one arm while the other was being tugged by these hooligans. I saw others in a nearby car, chanting for him. It was sickening.

Seeing Tessa frightened on the ground was maddening.

I was seeing fucking red.

I didn’t waste any time.

Before he could even see me, I was grabbing the hooligan near Tessa by the back of his shirt and pulling him away from her with such force it nearly flung Tessa across the street in the process. I was ready to catch her if that were to happen, but thankfully, he released her.

He fell to the ground as I released him. He stared up at me with large and shocked eyes. His buddies had nothing to say at that moment. They were quivering in the car like cowards.

“What’s your business here at his hour?” I said in a low and threatening tone.

“W…we were just messing around,” the one on the ground stammered.

I scowled at him; I knew he was more afraid of me because my eyes were glowing scarlet.

Good.

I wanted them to be afraid of me.

I lifted him off the ground again, watching as his body trembled violently in my grip.

“Answer my question,” I growled.

“We … we just…. Wanted to have a little fun…” he continued to stammer, and I could tell he was on the verge of tears.

I heard the faint sounds of Tessa whimpering from not far away and I didn’t want to go too far with these men in front of her.

“Apologize,” he hissed, curling my lip up in disgust.

“I’m… I’m sorry sir,” he said in a soft and frightened tone.

“To her you idiot,” I scowled.

I dropped him to the ground, and he fell with a loud thud. I thought I heard something cracking on impact and his screams of pain further confirmed that I had broken a bone of his. I couldn’t help but smile at that fact, hoping that Tessa didn’t see my amusement.

“Holy shit!” One of his friends yelled from the car.

“Apologize to her,” I said again, annoyed, and impatient.

I needed to see if Tessa was okay; I needed these assholes to leave.

“I…I’m sorry…” he said between gasps of breath. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m so sorry…” he was whimpering now.

Whatever I broke was really hurting him.

Good.

I glanced in the direction of the car he came from, staring at the driver intently.

“Get your buddy out of here,” I ordered him.

He didn’t hesitate to scramble out of the car while his other friends were calling after him and telling him he was a moron. He couldn’t be helped though; I used my abilities to make him obey me. He didn’t have a choice but to listen to my orders.

He reached his friend quickly and wrapped his arms around him, helping him to his feet. His friend screamed in agony, and I noticed Tessa wincing at the sound, but she refused to look in their direction.

They must have triggered something in her, maybe a memory from her time as a captive in that hideout. This only made me angrier; they were lucky Tessa was currently present because if I was alone with these jerks, things wouldn’t have turned out quite as easy for them.

The hooligans finally reached the car and the guy with the broken bone slid into the backseat. Once the door was closed, the driver hopped in and peeled away without saying another word to me.

I shook my head in disgust at them before taking a deep breath, calming all my senses before tending to Tessa.

She was crying heavily, and my heart broke seeing her like this.

I bent down to her, touching her arm gently, and frowned when she flinched, but then her body relaxed, and she lifted her tear-soaked face to me.

“J… Joseph…?” She breathed through her tears.

“Hey…” I said in return, trying to give her a gentle smile, but I knew it didn’t reach my eyes.

She let out a sob and threw herself into my arms, burying her face in my chest and crying heavily. I wrapped my arms firmly around her body and held her close to me.

“It’s okay…:” I breathed to her, kissing the top of her head. “You are safe. “I promise you are safe now.”

I let her cry for a little longer before lifting her off the ground and holding her in my arms as I stood.

“Let’s take you home,” I whispered, kissing her temple gently.

She rested her head against my chest and continued to cry, though I could tell she was trying hard to calm herself down.

“How did you know I was in trouble?” She asked in a voice that was barely audible.

How could I answer that question when I wasn’t really sure myself?

“I just… I felt you…” he said, holding her tighter.

She peered up at him through her tear-filled eyes.

“Felt me?” She asked.

I nodded my head once, trying to figure out what had happened myself.

“I just knew you were in trouble. It was like I was right next to you. You called my name, and I heard it… so I came.”

“And… how exactly did you know where I was?” She asked, now there was a crease between her brows as she stared up at me.

That was another question I couldn’t answer, but it was something I was going to find out.

“I just did,” I answered. “Let’s just get you home.”

She stared at me for a moment longer before sighing and resting her head against my chest once again.

“I’m too tired to think…” she murmured.

“I know,” I breathed.

It didn’t take long to get to her apartment and once we were inside, I went straight into her bedroom and laid her in her bed. She curled up right away, but kept her hold on my arm,

“Say with me…?” She whispered, her eyes remaining on mine.

I stared back at her, a war going back and forth in my mind. I knew it was probably a bad idea to stay with her tonight, but she looked so sad and so beautiful at the same time. I didn’t want to leave her side, despite knowing being around her was a bad idea.

Her bottom lip quivered and all I wanted at that moment was to kiss it. I wanted to kiss her and bask in her glorious scent.

I sighed and nodded, curling up next to her so her head could rest on my chest like a pillow.

“I’m not going anywhere…” I promised. “I’ll stay with you…”

She sighed contently and I felt her smile against the side of my body.

“I truly do love you, Joseph…:” she said sleepily.

There were those words once again, those poisonous and disconcerting words.

What the fuck was I going to do?