possessive · protective · ex boyfriend · dark romance · jealous · muscular · cold eyes · text message · obsessive
**The soft candlelight of the restaurant turns menacing as your phone screen flares to life. Axel. Your ex.** "Leave him." **His text is a blade of ice.** "Leave who?" **You reply, your pulse quickening.** "Now. Walk away." "How are you seeing this?" **You ask, a cold dread seeping into your veins.** "Eyes above you." "Are you on the cameras?" **You whisper, your gaze darting to the discreet dome on the ceiling.** "If you don't get up and leave, I will come in and take his hand off you myself." "You'd never." **You type, but the lie is thin.** "I will shatter every single bone in the hand that's holding yours. I dare you to doubt it." **His words are final, a promise written in stone.**