Chapter 31: Warning Signs in the Dark
The night before had been a slow-burning fire.
They had started with kisses that turned into whispers, teasing laughter that melted into heated touches.
Jonas had explored every inch of her body like he was learning a sacred language.
Their love-making had been unhurried but intense—built on trust, longing, and something deeper neither dared name aloud.
Lina had cried out his name more than once, her fingers gripping his back as he moved inside her with reverence and hunger.
When morning came, Jonas had woken her with soft kisses along her spine, murmuring something about how he couldn't believe she was real.
They'd tangled once more in the sheets, giggling like teenagers, until the dogs started barking outside the bedroom door, demanding breakfast and attention.
"You two need a hobby," Lina muttered as she threw on Jonas's shirt and padded barefoot to the kitchen.
The rest of the day blurred in a rhythm of normalcy. Jonas headed off to work, promising dinner later, while Lina met up with Mia and Hanna for coffee and a long-overdue catch-up.
They laughed, shared memes, teased Mia about Marc, and even talked about organizing a short weekend trip.
By late afternoon, Lina returned to the house, greeted by an overly enthusiastic Samba and a sleepy Tango sprawled across the hallway like a furry rug.
She had just made herself a cup of tea when the doorbell rang.
Her first thought was Jonas.
But when she opened the door, her breath caught.
Klemen.
He stood there like a shadow that had followed her home.
His hair was a little longer, his jacket slightly frayed, but the same chilling look lived in his eyes.
That mix of self-pity and control.
"I just want to talk," he said quickly, raising his hands in a mock gesture of peace. "I thought maybe… we could talk like adults."
Every instinct screamed at her to shut the door, but part of her—perhaps the part that had once loved him—hesitated.
"Just five minutes," he pleaded.
She stepped out, closing the door behind her.
"I came to ask," he began, voice low and almost tender, "if you would consider… dropping the charges. This whole thing… it's ruining my life, Lina."
She didn't reply.
"I know I messed up. But I still love you," he added, eyes glistening. "Don't you see that?"
Something in her chest twisted. For a heartbeat, she did wonder—what if she just let it go? Made it all stop?
"I wanted a child, Klemen," she said finally. "I was pregnant once. You didn't even know."
He stared at her, stunned.
"I… I had no idea."
"You didn't want to know," she said bitterly.
"You broke me before I could even tell you."
Klemen stepped closer, his voice hoarse.
"We can try again. I've changed, Lina. We could—"
"I love Jonas," she interrupted, her voice firm. "And I'm not coming back."
The shift was immediate. His expression darkened. His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist with bruising force.
"You'll regret this," he hissed through clenched teeth. "You think this ends here?"
Behind the closed door, Samba let out a sharp bark.
Then another.
And another.
Jonas had just arrived, parking the car when he heard the barking.
He rushed to the door, the dogs going frantic.
He couldn't calm them—Samba's howl cut through him like an alarm.
He opened the door and saw Lina struggling,
Klemen gripping her wrist and whispering something vile through his teeth.
Jonas didn't think.
He charged.
"Let her go!"
Klemen barely turned before Jonas tackled him to the ground, landing a solid punch to his jaw. Klemen yelped, trying to shove him off, but Jonas's fury was unrelenting. It took a minute—only a minute—before Lina shouted, "Jonas, stop!"
The sirens came minutes later.
Someone had called the police—possibly a neighbor. Maybe even Klemen himself.
Jonas stood beside Lina, his fists still clenched, chest heaving.
Klemen, blood on his lip, pointed at him. "He assaulted me."
"You attacked her!" Jonas snapped.
But the officers, calm and cold, separated them, took statements, and finally led Klemen away in handcuffs.
As they passed Jonas, one officer muttered, "You'll have to answer for that hit.
Even in self-defense, it might be considered excessive."
Jonas didn't care. Not in that moment.
Lina stood shaking, her hand in his. "He… he wanted me to drop the charges."
Jonas looked at her. "And did you think about it?"
She swallowed. "For a second. I thought maybe... if I just ended it. But then I remembered what he did. Who he was. And I couldn't."
He kissed her forehead. "Next time, don't open the door. Not even for ghosts."
She leaned into him, the adrenaline crashing.
But deep down, she wondered—how close had she come to saying yes?