PROMISED TO HIM
CHAPTER 28
ROY SMITH
I didn’t sleep that night.
She did — eventually — her breathing soft and steady beside me. But I stayed awake, eyes fixed on the ceiling, trying to convince myself that the warmth of her hand in mine meant nothing.
It should’ve meant nothing.
I’ve handled power, violence, betrayal — everything life could throw at me. But somehow, the quiet presence of one woman lying next to me was what kept my chest heavy and my thoughts loud.
Mayibuye.
My wife. My weakness. My responsibility.
I’d promised myself I’d keep her safe, that I’d protect her from the chaos my world came with. What I didn’t expect was to need to protect her from me.
Because lately, every time I looked at her, something in me shifted — something I’ve spent years locking away.
I turned my head slightly. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, brushing across her face. She was sleeping on her side, her hair spilling over the pillow, her lips slightly parted. Peaceful. Unaware of the storm she’d caused inside me.
I could still feel her hand in mine. Still remember how it trembled when I caught her earlier, when she almost fell.
The way she looked at me… like she didn’t know whether to run or stay. Like she saw the man beneath the monster everyone else sees.
I tightened my grip on the pillow, cursing under my breath.
“Damn it, Mayi.”
I turned away, forcing my eyes shut. But the warmth from her body radiated through the space between us, refusing to be ignored.
By dawn, I was still awake. I slipped out of bed quietly and walked out to the balcony. The cold morning air bit at my skin, but it helped clear my head — a little.
The city was waking up — distant car horns, faint light bleeding into the horizon. I lit a cigarette and took a long drag, exhaling slowly.
There was a time when I thought I understood control. When I could switch off emotions like flipping a light.
But lately… she was testing that control in ways I wasn’t ready to admit.
“Sir?”
Msizi’s voice came from behind me. I didn’t turn around.
“Report.”
He cleared his throat. “We tracked Jayden’s He’s been moving from Capetown to Durban But he’s not hiding well. My men are on him.”
I exhaled another puff of smoke, jaw tightening. “And my family are they helping him?”
“For now they haven’t .”
“Keep watching,” I said coldly.
He hesitated. “Understood, boss. And Mayibuye?”
I flicked the cigarette off the balcony, the ember dying midair. “What about her?”
“She’s… adjusting,” he said carefully. “But the guards say she’s restless. Feels… trapped.”
My throat tightened. I didn’t need to hear that.
I’ve been keeping her safe, not caging her. But I know how it looks — the constant guards, the surveillance, the limits.
She doesn’t understand that every freedom she takes could cost her her life.
“Tell them to give her space,” I said finally. “Not too much — but enough to breathe.”
Msizi nodded. “Yes, sir.” He hesitated again. “You care for her.”
I turned slowly, my eyes locking onto his. “That’s not your concern.”
“You slowly falling for L word”
“Get out before my wife wakes up, “
He lowered his gaze. “Apologies.” Then he left, closing the door softly behind him.
The silence that followed was heavier than before.
I walked back inside. She was still asleep, her body curled up under the covers. For a second, I allowed myself to look — really look.
She wasn’t like the women I’d known before. She didn’t chase power, didn’t fake affection for money. She didn’t flinch when I raised my voice, didn’t tremble when I was angry. She challenged me — made me question the parts of myself I’d buried.
Maybe that’s why I can’t stay away.
I ran a hand over my face and sighed. “You’re going to be my downfall, Mayi.”
She stirred slightly, eyes fluttering open.
“Roy?” she murmured, voice groggy, soft. “You didn’t sleep?”
I straightened instantly, trying to mask the exhaustion on my face. “Had work.”
She sat up, her hair messy, the strap of her nightdress sliding off one shoulder. The sight almost made me lose my composure.
“You work even in your sleep,” she teased faintly. “Do you ever rest?”
“Rest is for people who don’t have enemies.”
Her expression fell a little, sadness flickering in her eyes. “You always say that.”
“Because it’s true.”
She sighed, pulling the blanket closer. “Sometimes I feel like your enemies get more of your attention than I do.”
That hit deeper than she knew. I looked at her — really looked — and for a moment, I almost said something honest.
Almost told her that she had my attention in ways that scared me more than any enemy ever could.
But instead, I said, “You get my protection. That should be enough.”
She gave a small, humorless smile. “Protection isn’t the same as love, Roy.”
The words lingered in the air, cutting deeper than I expected.
I clenched my jaw. “Love is dangerous in my world.”
“So is loneliness,” she whispered.
Her voice was soft but steady. I didn’t have an answer for that. I turned away, pretending to look for something on the dresser just to hide the war in my expression.
She stood from the bed, moving past me toward the bathroom. I could feel her presence brush past, and something inside me snapped — an impulse I couldn’t fight.
I grabbed her wrist gently, stopping her.
She turned, startled. Our eyes met.
For a heartbeat, everything stilled.
The distance, the rules, the fear — all of it faded. It was just her and me, breathing the same air, caught in something neither of us could name.
Her pulse fluttered under my thumb. “Roy…” she whispered.
“Don’t,” I said softly. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you see more than you should.”
She smiled faintly. “Maybe I do.”
I swallowed hard. “You shouldn’t.”
Her voice was barely a whisper now. “Then stop making me.”
That broke something in me. I stepped closer, my hand sliding up to her neck, my breath brushing her lips. I could smell the faint scent of mint and jasmine on her skin.
She didn’t pull away.
For a moment, the world stopped turning.
Then —
Knock. Knock.
We both froze.
Msizi’s voice came from the other side. “Sir, your mother is here. She says it’s urgent.”
I cursed under my breath, stepping back immediately.
Mayi’s eyes lingered on me, her lips parted, her cheeks flushed. “You should go,” she whispered.
I nodded, forcing my voice steady. “We’ll finish this later.”
She gave a small, trembling smile. “You never do.”
Her words followed me out of the room, sticking like a thorn in my chest.
By the time I reached the study, dad was already pacing inside, face dark and stormy.
She looked up the second I walked in. “Where is he, Roy?”
“Who?”
“Your brother!” Mom snapped. “Jayden. He’s missing — and you won”
“Careful,” I interrupted, voice sharp as steel. “You’re in my house.”
She glared, breathing hard. “Then find him bring him back home you can work this out. .”
She stormed out, slamming the door behind her
I stood there, fists clenched, my mind
Brewing storm
Because the storm that was coming for my family… would soon reach her.
And I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to save her this time —
from the world,
from them,
or from me.