Troy And Athena (Forbidden Love Series Book 15)

"This is a threat note, Brandon. Someone's after my life," said Athena in a low whisper, the color draining off from her face. 

"From the look of it, I think some crazy b*tch is after Troy. Since you both are together now, she's after your throat. Do you have any idea who it could be?" Asked Brandon, worriedly. 

Athena knew of course. She thought for a moment to recall the name of the drug addict who was after Troy. What was her name? Oh yes, she remembered at last.

"I think I know who she is. She's Jessica Maine, a drug addict who was after Troy during his college years. She blackmailed him for a year for money and when his parents threatened to get her arrested, she left Troy alone," said Athena with wide horrified eyes. Brandon nodded with understanding. Everything fitted into the puzzle. 

"Did she really leave Troy alone? I doubt it. After work, call me before leaving for home. It's not safe for you to drive alone with this hoodie man around," said Brandon. Athena nodded with a scared expression on her face.

"Troy doesn't know that she lives in his condo just opposite to his apartment and keeps an eye on him. It's so creepy. We need to ask the security guard to find out how long she's been living there, " said Athena. Brandon nodded.

"After work we can find that out. Now let's get you back to the gallery. I need to go to my office. Today I'm in for a blasting from my boss," said Brandon. Athena felt bad for him but mostly thankful for saving her and Troy.

"Thanks Brandon. I'm glad that you found out her plans before she could cause us any harm," said Athena, feeling grateful. 

"You don't need to thank me, Athens. I know that I've been a shitty best friend to you but still I'm your best friend," he said with a smile.

"You're my only best friend, Brand. You're not bad, you were just going through a bad phase," said Athena. Brandon smiled.

"Let's go, " he said, getting up. He dropped her off and drove off to his office. Athena walked up into the reception room of her workplace and her mouth hung open with surprise seeing a fuming and angry Troy sitting and waiting for her there.

"Troy? When did you come?" She asked with surprise. Troy got up with his jaws clenched. 

"I'd been waiting for you for the last twenty minutes. I think you already had your lunch with Brandon. So I'm going back to my office. I've wasted enough time waiting for you," he growled, causing the receptionist to gape at them with her jaws dropped to the floor. Athena nodded with embarrassment. She couldn't tell him anything in front of her!

"Eat something in your office, Troy. I didn't know that you'd be coming, else I would have waited for you," she told him. Troy waved off her words in fury, striding towards the door. "We need to talk. Come home early," she added. Troy gave her a glare and walked away towards his car. 

Troy was seething with anger and jealousy. So Brandon was after all successful in wooing his girl away from him. How could she suddenly start feeling attracted to Brandon? All the times that they were engaged, they hardly acknowledged each other's presence and now he just had to come back to disrupt his peace of mind. Angry and frustrated, he drove away to the office. He didn't accept Athena's phone calls the whole day out of anger. What did she want to talk to him about? Would she break off with him? Would she tell him that getting engaged to him was a mistake? Would she tell him that she would be getting back with Brandon again?

All these thoughts made him upset and he hardly ate anything the whole day. The anger and frustration built up inside him, ready to burst out like a tornado. 

At around 5:30 in the evening, Athena called Brandon. "I'm leaving in half an hour, Brand. Are you coming or what?" She asked him. 

"Yes, I'm on my way. Don't go out till I arrive," he instructed, disconnecting the call. 

Athena wrapped up all her work and waited for Brandon to arrive. He strode into the gallery looking very stressed. Athena smiled at him and then noticed his mood.

"What happened?" Asked Athena, worriedly. 

"Just as I had thought, the hoodie guy's standing right outside the door," he told her. Athena's breath got stuck in her throat. 

"Then what do we do?" She asked him. 

"You come with me in my car. Ask someone from the office to bring your car in later. Right now, I can't risk you driving  alone," said Brandon. They both walked out, Brandon's arm protectively around her. The man who was leaning against a white car stood straight as soon as they emerged. Brandon quickly led Athena to his car and then climbing in, he drove fast, eager to get away. After talking to Troy tonight, he would call the police. The man jumped into his truck and followed them. 

"Brand, he's following us, " said Athena, her face pale with fright. 

"I know, " said Brandon with a grimace expression. He drove into Troy's condo and parked his car. The man stopped outside as the security didn't allow him inside. Athena heaved a sigh of relief. 

They walked towards the security guards to enquire about Jessica Maine. It seemed that she had rented the apartment on the same floor as theirs in Tower 5. She had moved in around five years back. Athena was horrified by what she heard. So for the last five years she had been stalking Troy and he had no idea about it! One of the guards came towards them from outside carrying a beautifully gift-wrapped box. 

"Ma'am, this was delivered just now. It's for you," he said, handing the box to her. Athena took it and thanked him. Did Troy order a gift for her? Eagerly they went upstairs to Troy's apartment. 

"Who could have sent you a gift?" Asked Brandon suspiciously. 

"Maybe Troy did," shrugged Athena. She punched in the security code and the doors opened. They both walked inside with the gift box and closed the door. 

"I can't wait to see my gift," said Athena, setting the box on the coffee table and unwrapping it eagerly. The wrapping was so different and secure that Brandon had to help her. Finally, they could open it. Athena's breath was stuck in her throat to see the huge gift that Troy had ordered for her.

She couldn't wait for Brandon to open it in slow motion. She pushed him away and quickly tore open the rest of the box. However a shrill cry of horror escaped her mouth as she saw the contents of the box. Her face was white as paper and her eyes looked scared to death as if she would faint. Brandon came closer to take a look and saw that the box didn't contain any gift. 

There lay a blood stained severed human head inside the box. 

Athena was about to collapse with fright when Brandon caught her in his arms, his other hand closing the lid of the box. 

"Athens, we need to call the police. Get a grip over yourself," he told her but she was breathing hard. 

Suddenly the main door opened and Troy stood frozen at the door, seeing his fiancée in Brandon's arms and a lovely looking gift box lying on the coffee table. His already furious body trembled with more fury as he strode into the reception room and yanked Athena out of Brandon's arms. They hadn't seen him in their state of shock and the suddenness of it all made Athena fall to the couch, unconscious. 

However, Troy didn't notice her in his fury. He punched Brandon left and right till he fell to the floor. Brandon covered himself from his attacks.

"Stop? What's wrong with you? Why are you hitting me?" Shouted Brandon, looking at a crazy Troy with worry. Troy didn't stop. He kicked him, punched him continuously in his mad frame of mind.

"How dare you touch Athena? How dare you even try to take her away from me?" Shouted Troy. 

"Hey stop! I don't have any clue about what you're saying," yelled Brandon, trying to get up. He could hit very hard too but Troy was his best friend's fiancé and he could never think of hurting him. 

"I'll explain everything to you. What did you think? That I'm a fool? That I'll never realize that you're attempting to whisk Athena away back to you?" Said Troy, glaring at him. Brandon was shocked by what Troy was saying. 

"Why would I want to do that?" He said, wiping the blood on his busted lips. 

"Maybe you've realized that you want her back," said Troy, looking mad. "I can see that you've arranged for the largest gift to woo her," said Troy with a sneer. 

"I haven't bought that. See what it contains and then talk to me, Troy," said Brandon with a sigh.