I had been living with Marisa for a few months and had just the five month mark and things were great well, as great as they could be considering my situation. I knew I needed to get a job, but no one seemed to be willing to hire a pregnant woman. I didn't have too many options because I never finished high school and I don't have many skills.

I was taking a walk in the city and I stumbled upon a little run down diner called Joe's, it looked like it was the kind of diner with aged décor but amazing food. I wasn't too crazy about going in considering I had forgotten to cover the faint bruises on my face, they were just about gone and I almost looked normal. I decided to suck it up and just go in, I really needed a job.

I was greeted by a petite, older woman whose nametag read Grace. She smiled warmly at me.

"Hey honey, what can I do for you today?"

"Um, I was wondering if you were hiring by any chance."

She looked down at my now noticeable bump.

"Father backed out?"

Her question caught me off guard and I faltered in my answer a little bit.

"How did y- yes, you could say that."

"You running? Something tells me you didn't get all scratched up and bruised from falling, honey."

I was speechless at this point so I just nodded.

"I'll be right back, feel free to sit at a table."

I made my way to one of the tables and nervously played with my fingers for a few minutes until I saw Grace walking up with giant of a man.

"Honey this is my husband Joe, he's the owner, and I didn't catch your name honey."

"I'm Anastasia, but everyone calls me Ana."

Joe spoke up this time.

"Well Ana, my wife here explained your situation and I'm suddenly in need of waitress. Now the pay won't be much but you get free food and you'll be well taken care of, I promise you that."

I smiled at the older couple. I knew this was a place where I would feel safe at.

"I'll take it."

"Okay hon, you can start Monday morning, okay?"

"Okay, thank you so much, I really appreciate this."

I held my hand out to shake his hand.

"Honey we don't shake hands around here, we're family."

He laughed and wrapped me in his arms in a bear hug, he reminded me of my father. In a weird way they looked like older versions of my parents. Grace had blonde hair streaked through with gray and bright green eyes, like my mom. Joe was a big man with dark skin with a shiny bald head with a gray goatee and warm brown eyes. I think I'm gonna like it here.

I asked to use a phone so that I could tell Marisa the good news and she all but yelled my ear off, apparently this was one of her favorite spots so she was looking forward to the discounts. She offered to pick me up, but I told her I would walk because I wasn't that far and I knew she and Cameron were out on a date and I didn't want to interrupt.

Grace handed me a few uniforms and sent me on my way after I turned down a ride home from them. I probably should have accepted that ride because it was dark out and I didn't bring a jacket and it was getting cool out. I decided that the first thing I would do with my first paycheck was buy a cellphone. I wasn't in a particularly bad neighborhood, but it wasn't exactly that friendly at night. I heard heavy footsteps come up behind me. I placed my hands protectively over my belly and walked as fast as I could. The footsteps stopped and I glanced behind me as I continued walking. There was no one there. Maybe I'm just hearing things. I walked a little faster and turned the corner and slammed into a man.

"I'm so sorry."

He glared down at me. I couldn't make out any of his features except his eyes, they were muddy brown with an evil glint.

"Ya better watch where ya goin' lil girl. Ya never know what kinda sick bastard you could stumble upon."

His voice sounded like gravel and it chilled me to my bones. Then he did something that I didn't expect. He put his hands on my belly.

"You a lil young to be expectin' one aren't ya?"

I smacked his hand away.

"Please don't touch me, I'm sorry I bumped into you, now let me get home."

He didn't say anything, he just brushed past me and continued walking away. I placed my hands protectively over my belly and practically ran the rest of the way home. I was out of breath and had to bend over as best I could to catch my breath. I made my way slowly up the stairs and walked down to Marisa's apartment.

I opted not to say anything to her once she got home, I didn't thin k it was a big enough deal that I'd run into a strange man on the street, stuff like that happened all the time and I hadn't gotten hurt so there was no use in alarming anyone.

**

A few weeks passed and I had just gotten dropped off by Grace after my shift at the diner. My feet and back were killing me, but I felt light even though I'd worked the last six hours on my feet. It felt good to take charge of my life for once.

I grabbed my keys out of my pocket to open the door, but a sheet of paper taped to the door caught my eye. My name was on it and a chill went down my spine as I snatched it off the door. I checked around me and quickly unlocked and opened the door and froze. The apartment was trashed. I quickly unfolded the sheet of paper. Printed in all too familiar handwriting was a single sentence.

I told you, you couldn't run from me Annie.

Marisa and Cameron chose that moment to get home.

"Oh my God! What the fuck happened?"

I turned to them, tears in my eyes.

"Ana, are you okay, did they hurt you? We should go to the hospital to check on the baby-"

"I'm fine, but he left this."

I held out the sheet of paper and Cameron grabbed it first. His eyebrows drew together as he read it.

"What the fuck does this mean Ana?"

Marisa snatched the paper from Cameron to read it herself and she came to the same conclusion I did.

"John found you, he knows where you are."

I just nodded my head, unable to speak.

'We need to get you out of here, somewhere safe."

"Where the hell is she gonna go Cameron, we can't lock her up in a police station until he goes away."

"No, but I have an idea of the equivalent."

I had no idea what he was talking about, but judging by Marisa's reaction, she did.

"Fuck no! Cameron Grey, we are not letting her anywhere near him!"

"You know he has the best security that money can buy and you know he'll keep her safe because I'm asking him to."

"Absolutely not!"

I was beyond confused at this point, I had no idea who they could be talking about.

"Guys-"

"He's my best friend, I can trust him."

"I don't give a fuck who he is to you, I don't like that stupid son of a bitch!"

"Guys wh-"

"What kind of friend is going to deny their best friend the protection she needs when she has a maniac after her!"

"Don't start that shit with me Cameron-"

"Guys! What the fuck is going on!"

That shut them up. Cameron spoke up first.

"My best friend has connections with one of the best security companies in the country, and his house is the most secure that I've ever seen. If I ask him he'll make sure you're safe and that this guy doesn't get to lay a finger on you."

"Ana, I don't like this guy, we can figure something else out."

I didn't want to leave the place that had quickly become home, but I didn't want Marisa or Cameron getting hurt because of me. If this was the only solution, then I would do it for the safety of my friends and my child.

"I'll do it."

"What! No, Anna you can't do this, I won't let you."

"Marisa, I don't want to drag you into this mess, I don't know what I would do if either of you got hurt because of me. I have to think about the baby too, I wouldn't put it past him to come after me to hurt my baby. You two and the baby are all I have, I don't want to be the reason any of you get hurt. I need you to understand that. Okay?"

I could see Marisa was close to tears and I saw Cameron typing away on his phone. I walked closer to Marisa and hugged her as close to me as my belly would allow.

It felt strange to be the one to comfort someone else instead of the one being comforted. But leave it up to Cameron to interrupt the moment.

"He's on his way."

"Right now? It's a little late."

"Ana, we need to keep you safe and we need you to disappear as soon as possible."

I sighed in defeat and started cleaning up the mess to keep myself busy. My friends followed suit and we cleaned in an almost sad silence. Cameron had just flipped the couch back on its legs when a knock sounded at the door. Cameron went to go answer it while Marisa just looked at me with teary eyes.

I looked up at who had just walked into the door and my jaw almost hit the floor.

It was him.