His Secret Obsession
Chapter 72

(Emery)

You know those moments in life when something unexpected happens and it's almost as if time itself freezes in place? That was now...I felt like five seconds of my life turned into hours as I turned my head to see Ethan's dark brown eyes staring back at me. Why was he here? My mind wanted to say it was a coincidence, that all of this had been a misunderstanding, and Ethan was just unaware of my relationship with Asher. Maybe he wanted to be friends or wanted to be included in the group once more and really did like Mack or Steph instead, like I thought before. That's how it always was..that was the only reason guys approached me in the past. So for this to escalate this far..I felt lost and confused about what to do..it has to be a mistake..yeah, that's all it is.

"Eth..Ethan, I'm sorry I didn't see you there." I said breathlessly, my heart beating against my chest. The last time I saw Ethan was at Mack's party that we broke up...but according to Asher, he was following me for a while now, which was still hard to wrap my head around.

"Hey, what's wrong Angel..is everything okay?" He asked, his eyes wide with concern as he looked me up and down carefully..the nickname he gave me caused my stomach to drop as it felt so wrong..why was he calling me that?

Suddenly, I began to feel aware of my body again, feeling his hands pressing against my lower back as he pulled me closer to him. When did he start holding me? My body went rigid, his arms wrapping around me as I held my breath..something inside of me told me not to overreact..I don't know why but I was afraid to make him angry..I was afraid of what he might do if I pushed him away and rejected him.

I just slowly pulled back, a tight smile pulling at my lips as I cleared my throat and looked down nervously. "I..I'm okay..I just....." Why the hell can't I speak..and where is my dad?

"Hey, don't worry Em..I'm here now. Whatever Asher did..he showed you his true colors. You know it was nothing more than a conquest for him." He spoke proudly, like he had it all figured out, and I couldn't help the confusion that filled my expression. "What do you mean?" I stumbled, trying not to meet his gaze as I focused on the space between his eyes...I couldn't look in those dark eyes..they made me feel so damn uneasy.

"I saw him with Natalie..I know they have been seeing each other this whole time behind your back. But it will all be okay now because we can get through it together. I promise I am here for you." He whispered, trying to pull me into him once more but I didn't budge this time. How the hell could this guy just lie so damn easily? He set this whole thing up! He had to because why else would he be here and know exactly what just happened..he expected me to cry and come to him for some type of comfort so he could swoop in and essentially save me.

Wow, this guy is a piece of work..

"Ethan..I don't know if I led you on in some way..or if I didn't make things clear somehow..I'm really sorry but I only see you as a friend." I blurted, just getting this all out so we could end this..that was what he needed me to say right? I hadn't made myself clear before..that had to be where the confusion was.

Ethan's face dropped, his grip tightening around my waist as that pit in my stomach grew..this hold was no longer comforting and gentle..it was possessive and full of dominance.

"Emery, why would you say that? You are still pining after that fucker after everything he did to you? Don't you realize he doesn't give a shit about you? That he never cared about you? You mean nothing to him..and you stupidly gave yourself to him..you gave him something he didn't deserve." He began, his words full of venom and hatred as I tried to wriggle out of his hold which only made him grasp me tighter.

"Come over here..NOW." He yelled, making me shrink back as I saw him looking around us where a few people had started to stare.

He began dragging me towards the alley, my eyes widening as I pulled back, trying to fight his strong hold but was completely futile.

"Ethan please, your hurting me.." I whined, tears beginning to pool in my eyes as he yanked me hard.

"Hey dude, I don't think she wants to go with you." An older guy said, his eyes glancing between us nervously as I continued to try and loosen from Ethan's grip.

"Mind your own fucking business..this is between me and my girl." Ethan spat making me wince as I looked towards the man pleadingly..I felt weak..I felt paralyzed and weak. What the hell was wrong with me? Why wasn't I fighting back and why was I letting him do this? I never liked confrontation but I wished my body would react in some damn way! I feel so useless!

“Come on, let her go man." The stranger said once more, a small crowd now forming as I tried again to pull away.

Suddenly Ethan loosened his grip, his attention now fixated on this man who was slowly becoming my savior as Ethan's face began morphing into something truly terrifying.

"What the fuck did you just say? Are you trying to tell me what to do with my own girlfriend?" He growled, his eyes practically feral as they darted around erratically.

"I'm not your girlfriend Ethan..please just let me go." I said weakly and I wished I could have slapped myself for how scared and meek I sounded..I felt pathetic. Did I forget to mention I was crying now?

"Emery!" My dad's voice raised above the small crowd as I truly began to bawl now.

"Dad! Over here!" I cried out, feeling Ethan's grip tighten once more as he started to physically drag me away.

"Fuck, you are coming with me Emery..I tried to be fucking nice about this but now look what you made me do?!" He whispered harshly, his fingers digging into my arm. That's when chaos erupted all around me.

My dad burst through the crowd, his fist fly out as he punched Ethan in the face, his body tackling him down as I stumbled back and fell flat on my a*s.

"Dad!" I screamed, fear filling me as I watched him wrestle on the ground with Ethan.

"Call the cops!" He yelled to crowd, the man who came to my defense helping him hold Ethan down as an older woman ran up to me, holding me against her chest. I was shaking..my body trembling as the sight before me was too much to bear. That's when I heard Asher's voice calling out to me..my head snapping up as I saw him, Jackie and Carson running towards us.

"Please help my dad." I sobbed, feeling Jackie slam into me as Carson and Asher went to my dad's side to aide him.

"Emery don't f*****g do this to me! You know you are mine! That prick doesn't even deserve to look at you. I will never let him have you..I will never let anyone else have you.." Ethan shouted, sounding like a mad man as my dad landed a punch into his gut, causing him to fold over.

"You will never see my daughter again..I will fucking kill you if you so much as try to speak with her." He said between clenched teeth just as the sound of sirens filled the air around us. Thank god the police were here..how did it get like this? What the hell did I do wrong?

"Hey its okay Em..it's okay.." Jackie began soothing me, her hand stroking my back as she tried to comfort me the best she could.

Asher's gaze met mine, the look of pain flashing across his face as he helped restrain Ethan before the cops could come. I had never seen so much and anger and worry flash across his face..and right at that moment I felt guilty.

I felt like I brought all of this onto the people I love the most..I felt as if I have caused Asher so much pain and trouble that I didn't even think I was worth all of this..I didn't think I was worth any of it.

"Clear the way! Put your hands up where I can see them!" A police officer shouted as my dad, Asher and Carson all let go of Ethan hesitantly, afraid he might bolt.

"Officer, these men have assaulted me! They were holding me against my will and I would like to press charges!" He shouted, his voice filled with hatred.

"I said put your hands up!" The officer shouted once more, making Ethan's eyes widen as they suddenly landed on me.

"Angel, tell the man..tell him that we just had a small misunderstanding. Tell them that you are mine and we just are trying to figure things out." He blurted, making me turning my head into Jackie so I couldn't hear any more of this. He was crazy..he was absolutely insane.

"Shut the f**k up you psycho. Don't you dare even talk to her." Carson spat as I felt large hands wrap around me. The smell of Asher filling my lungs as I took a shaky breath.

"Don't you dare fucking touch her you prick! Get the hell away from her! I will kill you..I will fucking kill you!!" Ethan screamed, making me cry as Asher held me protectively.

"Don't listen baby..don't listen to him. He will never touch you again..he will never see you again." Asher's voice broke through my crying as I nodded my head and buried myself deeper against his neck...trying to hide from this horrible person who threatened the one thing I loved the most in the world.

"Hands behind your back." I heard the officer say as the sound of a scuffle could be heard. I couldn't look..I refused to look.

"It's okay bug..you are safe now..we are here..we are all here." I could feel my dad's hand on my back as that made me cry even harder.

"We found this bag in the alley..you gotta look at this sir." Another voice said, making my brow furrow as I lifted my head.

"Baby don't look okay? Please don't look.." Asher asked pleading, the tone of his voice full of desperation as I hadn't realized he walked me over towards the side of the building.

The crowd was now dispersed and police seemed to be blocking the area off. Ethan was still yelling at me until they locked him in the back of the police car but I just tried to tune him out as Asher whispered into my ear..trying to drown out the noise. I was clinging into him with my legs wrapped around his waist as fear practically paralyzed me.

What could he in that bag? What was Ethan planning to do to me? Maybe I didn't want to know..maybe Ethan had something planned for me I didn't even know he would be capable of.