Chapter 8: A Visitor in the Night
The knock came again, louder this time. It wasn't the hesitant kind of knock from a neighbor or a delivery man. It was demanding, urgent—like whoever was on the other side knew they would be answered.
Jide shot Amara a glance, his expression unreadable. "Go to the bedroom," he ordered in a low voice.
She hesitated. "Jide—"
"Now, Amara."
Something in his tone made her obey. She slipped into the bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar so she could hear what was happening.
Jide opened the door.
Silence.
Then a voice—deep, rough, and unfamiliar. "Didn't expect to find you here, Jide."
Amara's breath caught. He knows Jide?
Jide's response was calm, but there was an edge to it. "What do you want?"
A dark chuckle. "You know exactly what I want. And so does she."
Amara's blood ran cold. Me?
She couldn't see who the visitor was, but she could feel the tension thickening in the air.
"You shouldn't have come here," Jide said, his voice quieter now—but somehow more dangerous.
A pause. Then the stranger spoke again. "She doesn't know, does she?"
Silence.
Amara's heartbeat pounded in her ears. Know what?
Jide's voice was sharp. "Leave. Now."
A beat passed. Then footsteps. The door clicked shut.
She waited for Jide to return, her heart racing.
When he finally did, his face was unreadable.
"Who was that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jide ran a hand over his jaw, exhaling sharply. "No one you need to worry about."
Her stomach twisted. "Don't lie to me, Jide. He knew you. And he knew me."
Jide hesitated, but only for a moment. Then he stepped closer, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "Amara, there are things about me you don't understand. Things I can't explain right now."
Her pulse quickened. "Then when?"
His jaw clenched. "Soon."
But Amara wasn't sure she believed him.
And for the first time, she wondered—was Jide protec
ting her?
Or was he the danger she had been warned about?