Chapter 6: The Man Who Was Following Me
Isaiah stood outside the coffee shop window.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
The entire world narrowed down to one person.
The man I had trusted.
The man who had held my hand when I cried.
The man who had whispered that he cared about me.
The man who now stood outside a window after I was told someone dangerous was watching me.
Michael looked between Isaiah and me.
“You know him?””
I didn't answer.
I couldn't.
Isaiah pushed open the coffee shop door.
The bell above it rang.
A normal sound.
A harmless sound.
But my body reacted like an alarm.
He scanned the room.
His eyes found mine instantly.
“Emma.””
I stepped backward.
“What are you doing here?””
His expression changed.
Confusion.
Then concern.
“I called you.””
“I didn’t answer.””
“I know.””
“Then why are you here?””
Isaiah looked toward Michael.
The color drained from his face.
“You met him?””
Michael crossed his arms.
“Yes.””
Isaiah’s jaw tightened.
“Emma, you need to leave.””
I almost laughed.
Almost.
Everyone kept saying the same thing.
Leave.
Run.
Trust me.
But nobody explained why.
“Why?”” I asked.
Isaiah looked at me.
“Because you’re in danger.””
I stared at him.
“Is that why you followed me?””
His face froze.
A small pause.
Barely noticeable.
But I saw it.
“You followed me.””
“Emma—”
“You followed me.””
He looked away.
And that was the answer.
My chest tightened.
“How long?””
“Since you left the house.””
“Why?””
“Because I knew you were going to meet someone.””
“And?””
“And I wanted to make sure you were safe.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Emma.””
“No.””
My voice grew louder.
“You don’t get to say that anymore.””
People in the coffee shop started looking over.
I didn’t care.
“You lied to me.””
Isaiah swallowed.
“I didn’t lie about everything.””
“That’s supposed to make me feel better?””
“No.””
“Because it doesn’t.””
Michael stepped closer.
“Emma, you need to understand something.””
I looked at him.
“Not now.””
“Listen to me.””
“No.””
My eyes went back to Isaiah.
“I want him to explain.””
Isaiah looked exhausted.
Like he had been carrying something heavy for a long time.
“Okay.””
He nodded slowly.
“I’ll explain.””
“Start with the truth.””
He closed his eyes briefly.
Then said:
“I knew who you were before we met.””
The words made my stomach drop.
I had expected a denial.
An excuse.
Not this.
“How?””
Isaiah looked at the floor.
“Because of your father.””
Everything inside me went still.
Michael had said the same thing.
My father.
A memory I rarely touched.
A memory buried beneath years of grief.
“My father died fifteen years ago.””
“I know.””
“Why do you know?””
Isaiah looked at me.
“Because I was there.””
The room disappeared.
I heard nothing except my own heartbeat.
“What?””
Michael looked shocked.
“You never told me that.””
Isaiah didn’t look at him.
“I didn’t tell anyone.””
I stared at Isaiah.
“You were there?””
He nodded.
“I was seventeen.””
My hands began shaking.
“What happened?””
Isaiah sat down slowly.
Like his legs couldn't hold him anymore.
“Your father saved my life.””
I frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
Isaiah looked at me.
“I grew up in a bad neighborhood. My mother was sick. We didn’t have much.””
He paused.
“One night, I got caught in something I shouldn’t have been part of.””
“What?””
“A group of people were using teenagers to move stolen money.””
My stomach tightened.
“Your father found out.””
I stared.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
“What did he do?””
“He tried to help us.””
Isaiah’s voice became quieter.
“He went to the police. He tried to expose them.””
A chill moved through me.
“Is that why he died?””
Isaiah looked down.
“I don’t know.””
The answer hurt.
Because it sounded honest.
“I was told it was an accident.””
“So was I.””
Silence.
Then Michael spoke.
“Daniel knows.””
I turned.
“What?””
Michael looked at Isaiah.
“You told him.””
Isaiah’s expression changed.
“You know about that?””
“I know more than you think.””
My head spun.
“Someone please explain what is happening.””
Isaiah stood.
“Emma, Daniel has been investigating your father’s death.””
I stared.
“What?””
“For years.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
“That’s impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel barely talks about my father.””
Isaiah looked at me.
“Exactly.””
The words landed.
Because Daniel had always been careful around that subject.
Whenever I mentioned my father, he changed the conversation.
Whenever I asked about old family documents, he said it was too painful.
I had thought he was protecting me.
Now I wondered what he was hiding.
My phone rang.
Daniel.
Again.
I answered immediately.
“What?””
His voice was urgent.
“Where are you?””
“The coffee shop.””
“Is Isaiah there?””
I looked at him.
“Yes.””
A pause.
Then Daniel said:
“Leave.””
My anger returned.
“Why?””
“Because he’s not there to protect you.””
Isaiah heard.
His face hardened.
“Give me the phone.””
I moved away.
“No.””
Daniel continued.
“Emma, listen carefully.””
“I’m listening.””
“Isaiah has been lying since the day you met him.””
Isaiah shook his head.
“That’s not true.””
Daniel ignored him.
“He didn’t move next door because of you.””
I looked at Isaiah.
“Then why?””
Silence.
Then Daniel said:
“Because your father left something behind.””
My heartbeat changed.
“What?””
“Something everyone wants.””
Michael stepped closer.
“What did he say?””
I covered the phone.
“Something about my father.””
Michael’s face changed.
Isaiah looked terrified.
And that scared me more than anything.
Because Isaiah was never afraid.
Not of Daniel.
Not of confrontation.
Not of anything.
But now he looked like someone who knew the past had finally caught up.
Daniel’s voice came through again.
“Emma, you need to trust me.””
I closed my eyes.
Trust.
That word felt impossible.
“You had three months to tell me the truth.””
“I know.””
“You watched me.””
“I know.””
“You let me believe I was the only one lying.””
Daniel became quiet.
Then said:
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
A long pause.
Then:
“From the person who started all of this.””
I looked at Isaiah.
Then Michael.
“Who?””
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“Your sister.””
My body froze.
“No.””
“Emma—”
“No.””
Rachel.
Again.
Every road led back to Rachel.
I hung up.
I couldn’t listen anymore.
I looked at Isaiah.
“Is it Rachel?””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“Tell me.””
Isaiah looked broken.
“Emma…”
“Tell me!””
People turned toward us.
Nobody mattered.
Not anymore.
Isaiah whispered:
“Yes.””
I stepped back.
“What did she do?””
His eyes filled with regret.
“She was the one who introduced me to you.””
“I know.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“You don’t understand.””
“What don’t I understand?””
Isaiah looked toward the window.
Toward the black car outside.
Then back at me.
“Rachel didn’t introduce me because she thought we’d connect.””
My heart sank.
“Then why?””
His voice became barely audible.
“Because she needed someone close enough to destroy Daniel.””
The coffee shop went silent.
And then Michael looked out the window.
His face changed.
“Wait.””
“What?””
He pointed outside.
“The car.””
I turned.
The black sedan door was open.
But the person who had been inside was gone.
Michael grabbed his folder.
“Where did they go?””
Nobody answered.
Then Isaiah looked at me.
And I knew from his expression that something was wrong.
“What?””
He stared past me.
Toward the entrance.
“Emma…”
I turned.
A woman stood in the doorway.
Her face was pale.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
Rachel.
My sister looked at me.
Then at Isaiah.
Then at Michael.
And whispered:
“I told you not to trust Daniel.””
A pause.
Then she added:
“But I never said you should trust me.””
May you like
And before anyone could respond…
the lights in the coffee shop went out.