Saving You Losing Me

Chapter 43

CHAPTER 43

CLARA

I ’m in shock. Marry Atom.

I watched him go without another glance in my direction and a thousand questions follow him.

Why does he want to help me?

To get you to leave.

That inner voice tells me what my heart came to terms with the moment we stood in Lucy’s apartment. Atom wanted me once, but that day has passed. He is angry, tortured even and trying to do the right thing while protecting his pride.

I wander back into the apartment and Sophia says innocently, “Who was that, mommy?”

“Atom.” His name leaves my lips and brings tears to my eyes. One word that meant, and still does, everything. I loved him hard and deep and sacrificed our future to save him. He doesn’t see it that way and, ironically, is doing exactly the same now.

“Will he come back soon?” Maria asks, her innocent eyes staring at me with hope.

“Of course.”

I turn away and attempt to carry on where I left off and start clearing away the lunchtime mess.

“Candy told me Atom is the boss here. What does that mean, mommy?” Sophia asks, and I take a deep breath.

“She’s right, honey. Atom is known as the president of the club. They call it The Dark Angels and he’s the boss because he started it.”

“The Dark Angels.” Sophia sounds excited.

“I love that name. I love angels.”

“But angels aren’t dark, Sophia.” Maria says sweetly. “They are white with white wings. They are pretty, too. I love angels.”

I switch off as my mind is full of the past. He called me his Dark Angel. I am the person he named his club after and Maria is right. Angels are considered good, sweet, and kind. The white versions are anyway. Even then, he knew I had a dark soul. Why else would he call me that?

Now he has made me an offer. My second one from two very different men for polar opposite reasons.

Michael wanted me to further his standing in the town. He wanted what I could do for him, a business arrangement if you like.

Atom is offering the same deal because of what he can do for me. He was right. In saving me, I lose him. What he doesn’t realize is that I made the same decision ten years ago. I saved him and lost myself because of it.

Will I marry him to solve the problem that goes by the name of Emilio D’Angelo? Will I use him when I know it’s the last thing he wants, or should I revert to Plan A and leave town? Go abroad and start again, far away from my problems and the two men who have their own reasons for making me their wife and none of them acceptable ones.

A knock at the door causes me to jump and Maria cries out with a hopeful ring to her voice, “Atom?”

Fuck, even my kids are in love with him after two minutes in his company. I am so screwed because if I marry him and then walk away, they will wonder what the hell is going on.

I open the door to find Candy watching me with a furrowed brow.

“Are you okay, honey? I saw Atom storm out from this direction. I mean, tell me it’s none of my business if you like, but I want to help.”

I open the door wider and whisper, “I could use someone to talk to.”

The girls squeal with excitement as Candy swings each one of them around in turn and then produces two story books from her purse. “I thought of you when I saw these in the bookstore. Rose Red and Snow White. Two sisters.”

Sophia accepts the book with a blinding smile and says happily, “Come on, Maria. I’ll read them to you.”

They run off to their room and I sigh gratefully, “Thanks, Candy. You’re an angel.”

She chuckles softly. “We all are, honey. This is the home of the Dark Angels, after all.”

She perches on the stool against the counter and I nod to the coffee machine.

“Usual?”

“Thanks, honey.”

As I set about making us a coffee, she rests her face on her hands and watches me with concern.

“Please don’t tell me you’re leaving when I’ve just found a decent friend in this place.”

“I’m not sure.”

I hand her the coffee and wrap my hands around mine and shrug.

“It appears that Emilio D’Angelo wants Michael’s companies that I now own.”

“That figures.” Candy pulls a face. “That maniac has been doing Michael’s dirty work for years now and is probably wanting to step into his shoes. That’s bad news for you, though.”

“Tell me about it. If I stay I bring heat to the Dark Angels and if I go, Emilio will force me into a situation whether I like it or not. Atom told me Emilio wouldn’t have the cash to buy the businesses, so the only other option is to put a ring on my finger and seize control another way.”

“Fuck, Clara!” Candy gasps and then glances around to check the girls weren’t listening.

She lowers her voice. “You can’t marry that creep. I won’t let you.”

“Even if the creep is none other than your president?”

The penny drops and her eyes widen and she sets the mug down and says a slow, “Well, fuck me.”

“I have a choice, it seems. Marry Emilio and replace Michael with a more brutal animal, or marry Atom for protection and sell up as soon as I can.”

“I know what I would do.”

I smile at the fierce expression in her eyes.

“Even if that when the ceremony ends, I pack my bags and leave town under his instructions.”

“Wait, what do you mean, leave town?” Candy is confused, so I enlighten her.

“He doesn’t want to marry me, Candy.”

My heart physically hurts as I whisper, “He told me either way I was heading through that door. Once Emilio realizes he has been beaten, he will leave town and start again somewhere else. As soon as that happens I am free to leave and do what the hell I want with the businesses, but he, Atom, won’t be a part of it. He hates me, Candy, and I don’t know what to do about that.”

Candy rounds the counter and pulls me in hard and as she holds me tight, she whispers, “Atom loves you, Clara. Any fool with half a brain can see that. He always has and the day he watches you walk out of the door, hell will freeze over and the world will end.”