Left at the Altar

Since I was ready to take James and his lover down once and for all I decided to release their sex tape. Davon had shown it to them at the auction and of course people had seen it but James was smart enough to have that covered up.

Well, not anymore.

Once I anonymously posted it online, It didn’t even take up to a day for the blogs to spread the news of everything.

Now, speculations started as soon as their video was leaked to the press; courtesy of Davon, about whether I was truly the one who had an affair. Luckily for me, the crowd sided with me, dragging James’ name through the mud. His stocks plummeted and his business funding dried up trying to sort out this publicity mess. It was more than I could have hoped for but I knew that I had one more trick up my sleeve.

I smiled and dropped my phone on the nightstand, wanting to go to bed. I wanted to wait up for Davon but he had told me that he would be home late from work so now all I wanted to do was rest.

I pulled the covers closer to my body and in a minute I was fast asleep.

Three hours later, a loud noise jolted me awake, and I strained my ears to listen closely to whatever was making that sound. I stayed that way for a minute longer, and when I didn't hear anything else, I snuggled back into bed. That's when I heard the loud bang again. I sat up and turned on my side lamp, searching the room. Nothing moved.

I got out of bed and grabbed the baseball bat Davon kept beside the headboard, then carefully walked toward my bedroom door.

My heart pounded as I pressed my ear against the wood, listening for any sounds from the other side. The apartment had gone silent again, but something felt wrong. The air seemed heavier and the hairs on my arms seemed charged.

I slowly turned the doorknob and peered into the darkened hallway, the living room glowing with faint street lights. I gripped the bat tighter and stepped out, my bare feet silent on the cold hardwood floor.

"Hello?" I called out softly, immediately regretting it. If someone was in my apartment, I'd just told them exactly where I was. That was dumb.

I crept toward the living room, checking the kitchen as I passed. Everything seemed normal. Everything was exactly the same way I left it before I went to bed. I ran my hand through my hair, mentally berating myself for being so on edge but that’s when I noticed it. The front door was slightly ajar, even though I was sure I locked it behind me when I came back.

My blood ran cold. Someone was in the apartment.

Before I could react, a figure jumped out from behind the couch. I swung the bat wildly, trying to hit him, but strong hands grabbed my wrists, twisting until I cried out in pain and dropped my weapon. The man wore a mask but I could see his eyes. Dark brown and cold.

"Scarlett Clear," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You've caused a lot of trouble."

"What do you want?" I gasped, struggling against his grip. "I don't have any money…"

"This isn't about money." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a knife, the blade catching the dim light. "This is about sending a message."

Fear filled my mind as he raised the knife. I threw my weight to the side, breaking free for just a moment, but he was faster. His hand tangled in my hair, yanking me back as I screamed for help. I fell to the floor, dragging him down with me. We struggled with my hand still fighting for the knife but it was no use.

With one hit to the head, stars danced across my vision and my grip on him loosened. My assailant used the opportunity to pin my hands above my head and grin at me, his eyes glistening.

"James wanted me to give you a message," he hissed before raising the knife and plunging it down towards my chest. I closed my eyes, waiting for death but the next thing I heard was a loud thump and the sound of a body hitting the ground.

I opened my eyes to see the man next to me on the floor, passed out, the knife still in his hand. I heaved a sigh of relief and scrambled out from under his unconscious body, gasping for air at what just happened. That's when I realized that I was not alone. I looked up to see someone, holding a vase in his left hand and fury in his eyes. My breathing calmed down and my shuddering stopped.

“Davon,”

The vase dropped from his hands and he closed the distance between us, grabbing my arms and checking if I was hurt anywhere, his brows furrowed in concern.

“Did he hurt you? Are you okay?”

“James did this.” I mumbled, my body going hot and anger pumping through my veins. “James tried to kill me.”

“Are you sure?” Davon asked, unsure of whether my ex-fiancee would go to such lengths to get me out of his way.

“He told me before he tried to…” I choked up as I pointed to the man lying unconscious on the floor, the memory of the intruder almost killing me flashing through my mind. Tears welled up in my eyes and my shoulders slumped. I could have died tonight.

My hands wouldn't stop shaking. I'd come within seconds of death. If Davon had been even a minute later...

Davon pulled me close and hugged me, his warmth giving me some semblance of comfort.

“Don’t worry Scarlett. I’ll make sure he pays for this.” Davon whispered to me but I was way past letting someone help me bring James down.

I was going to destroy James myself. If he thought that the sex tape was bad he had another thing coming. Before I got the justice I deserved, I was going to make him pay on my own terms.