PenQueenV

He kissed me once and disappeared. Now he wants to protect me—but who will protect me from him?

Janica’s world came crashing down when she lost her mother to cancer, leaving her with nothing but a low-paying job and mounting bills. No family, no support—just a hollow existence. She’s long since given up on love, convinced it’s a luxury she can’t afford.

Then, Jason stepped into her life. Dark, powerful, and dangerously charming, he offered her comfort when she needed it most. He kissed her, promised he wouldn’t leave, and then disappeared without a trace—leaving her heartbroken and alone, with only a memory of a man who had once been her anchor.

Now, Jason’s back—and he’s determined to make things right. But his return isn’t just about rekindling their love. He’s a man marked by secrets, betrayal, and enemies that would stop at nothing to tear them apart. Jason will do whatever it takes to protect Janica, even if it means putting himself in harm’s way. But as the shadows of his past close in, Janica starts to wonder: can she trust him again, or is his love just another dangerous game?

Betrayed once, can she ever truly heal from the wounds he left behind? Or will their love break her completely? As danger surrounds them and the line between protector and prisoner blurs, Janica is forced to confront her deepest fears—and the truth about the man she thought she knew.

Love Me Like I'm Broken

(POV Shift: Third Person for broader Narrative)

The old wooden door creaked shut behind them as Jason and Denise stepped back out into the pale morning light, the weight of Mariah's words heavy between them. Jason clenched his fists at his sides, jaw tight. He didn't say much—but Denise could read the storm behind his eyes. The guilt. The anger. The unrelenting need for answers.

Denise slipped her phone into her jacket pocket, her gaze darting toward the road that led back to the city. "He's hiding. But not forever," she said.

Jason nodded. "We need to find that clean-faced bastard. And figure out who the hell's behind him."

As they walked back to the car, the children's home looming like a ghost behind them, Denise spared Jason a quick glance. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. And she understood. After what they'd both been through—what Janica had been through—rest was a luxury none of them could afford.

Back at the safe house, Janica sat on the bed in silence, her hands folded tightly on her lap. The room felt foreign, even with Eli pacing near the window, his presence both grounding and intrusive.

"You sure you're okay?" Eli asked gently.

Janica gave a small nod. She wasn't okay. Not really. But she didn't have the words for the swirling mess inside her. Fear. Anger. Exhaustion. And under it all, a deep ache where Jason's voice had once lived.

Eli sat across from her, elbows on his knees. "They'll find him. Whoever hurt you—they'll get what's coming. Take it easy."

She met his eyes briefly, grateful—but distant. It wasn't that she didn't trust Eli. It was that part of her had been left in that dark, suffocating place. And another part still longed for Jason, no matter how broken everything felt.

Across the city, Jason stared out the passenger window as Denise drove. The streets blurred by in a flurry of grey and green.

Denise's phone buzzed. She picked it up and Mariah talked to her.

"That was Mariah. She remembered something else. Job had a contact in Westlands. Some kind of tech guy. Off the grid. Maybe that's where we start next."

Jason's voice was a low growl. "Let's move "

They didn't waste time. Denise swung the car onto the highway, the skyline of Nairobi sharpening in the distance. Jason sat rigid in his seat, thoughts spiraling. Westlands. It was a start. And if this tech guy had any connection to Job, then he had answers.

Almost There