SUPERMARKET
"Ana" a voice called beside them.
Savannah's heart stuttered in her chest.
That voice-rich, cold, and unmistakably commanding-belonged to Blaze.
She turned slowly, as though time had thickened around her. Her eyes shifted to the right-and there he was.
Blaze Baldwin. Towering. Imposing. Eyes sharper than a blade honed to kill.
He stood there with an unyielding presence, clad in his usual dark Blazer, every line of his face carved with restrained fury. Just a step behind him was Arthur, ever loyal, though confusion was already starting to cloud his expression.
Blaze's gaze fell on Savannah—and then on Elijah, who was still standing dangerously close. Too close.
Blaze noticed.
His eyes narrowed, a flicker of something dark passing through them. Not jealousy—something more sinister. Possession. Suspicion. Threat.
At first, he didn't say a word. He simply stepped forward in complete silence, reaching for Savannah, his hand extending until it found her wrist. His grip was firm, unmistakably claiming—but gentle enough not to hurt her. The contact sent a chill of awareness through her skin. His touch felt heavy, like iron wrapped in silk.
As he began to guide her to his side—
"Don't move."
Elijah's voice cut through the tension, low but firm. It echoed like a warning bell among the four of them.
Everything froze.
Blaze halted mid-motion. His brows knitted together, slowly, like a storm gathering strength.
Arthur glanced between them, his eyes wide with confusion.
Savannah stood frozen, her gaze darting from Elijah to Blaze.
Blaze turned his head toward Elijah, his jaw tightening as if he were holding back a storm. "What the hell do you think you're saying?" he demanded, his voice deep, laced with fury and disbelief.
But Elijah stood his ground. Calm, poised, unshaken—his eyes didn't waver from Blaze's.
"If she moves now, the consequences could be deadly." Elijah stated plainly, his voice steady as a surgeon's hand.
Blaze's eyes blazed with disbelief, but before he could demand further explanation, Elijah continued, "There's a spider. On her shoulder."
A beat of silence hung in the air.
"Not just any spider—a redback. It's venomous."
Blaze's gaze shot to Savannah's shoulder. And there it was, perched delicately on the fabric near her collarbone, a glossy black body with a striking red stripe. So tiny. So deadly.
He tightened his grip on her wrist just a bit, the protectiveness in his expression overshadowing any suspicion. That quick shift—from anger to concern—was something only Blaze Baldwin could pull off.
Arthur leaned in closer. "Should we call—?"
"I've got this," Elijah cut him off, already reaching into his coat. He pulled out a leather glove from an inside pocket and slid it onto his right hand with smooth, deliberate motions.
He stepped forward, as calm as ever. "No sudden movements, Savannah." he said softly, finally locking eyes with her.
Savannah swallowed slowly. "Okay," she whispered, her lips barely moving. She stood completely still, feeling the chill of the air... and the intensity of their stares.
"Be careful," Blaze warned Elijah, his voice low and taut with barely contained worry. "Don't let her get hurt."
Elijah glanced at Blaze and nodded. "Don't worry, boss. I've got this."
Turning back to Savannah, Elijah lowered his voice. "One sweep. Fast and clean."
She nodded, just a slight movement, but the understanding was clear.
Then, in a single swift motion, Elijah extended his gloved hand. His palm flattened, and he swept it from her shoulder down her arm to her fingertips with practiced ease.
The spider fell.
It dropped to the floor and scurried under the metal shelving before anyone could stomp on it.
Elijah stood up straight. "It's done."
Blaze immediately pulled Savannah close, checking her over as if he needed to confirm she was still unharmed. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with rare tenderness. His fingers brushed the edge of her jaw, his eyes searching hers.
Savannah looked up at him, calm and steady. "I'm fine," she replied softly.
But Elijah, fully aware of how it appeared, rushed to explain. "I hope you don't take this the wrong way, boss. I was just trying to help. The spider... that's all."
Blaze didn't respond.
Not to him.
Not even a glance.
His entire attention was locked on Savannah. His brows furrowed, heart visibly racing in the depth of his eyes. The idea of her being hurt-even by something so small-had clearly rattled him.
"Are you done?" Blaze asked, his gaze never leaving hers.
Savannah nodded.
"Let's get you home," he said, his voice returning to its quiet yet authoritative tone. He placed a gentle hand on the small of her back and began to guide her down the aisle.
Before they turned the corner, Blaze shot a final, piercing look back at the two men.
Arthur gave a slight nod, silently acknowledging the unspoken order to wrap things up and come back later.
Elijah? He remained still, simply watching them leave, his expression unreadable.
Once they were out of sight, Elijah grabbed the cart and headed toward the checkout.
Arthur trailed behind, still frowning. "You know you're acting strange, right?"
Elijah glanced back over his shoulder. "Strange how?"
Arthur gestured to the empty aisle they had just vacated. "In a way that concerns Boss's wife."
Elijah let out a dry laugh. "You're funny."
Arthur didn't share the joke. "I thought you were smarter than this," he muttered. "Now I'm starting to have my doubts."
Elijah halted and turned to face him, his eyes suddenly sharp.
"Don't always trust what you see, Arthur," he said evenly. "There's another side to every story."
He held Arthur's gaze for a moment longer before turning back, pushing the cart forward with deliberate, steady movements.
Arthur stood there for a moment, brows knitted together, trying to decipher what Elijah meant.
But Elijah was already at the register, scanning items in silence as if nothing had happened at all.
Author's Note :
Oh! I hate this.
Thankyou for reading<3
Have a good day/night<3<3