24. Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Miguel
The morning light coming through the window brightens the room. I open my eyes, unable to move my right arm. I smile when I remember why. Marcus turns over to his side, nudging his face into my chest subconsciously. I press my nose into his hair, inhaling his comforting scent. Most days I'm wound up tight and unable to settle, but whenever I have Marcus in my arms, my body is grounded and my mind quiet.
My phone buzzes under my pillow and I reach for it to read the incoming message. It's from a blocked number. Becoming more alert, I open it, knowing I may not like what I see.
Unknown : I know all the places your boyfriend goes when he's alone. It's not too late for you to come home. The longer you take, the more likely you'll find Marcus's body spread throughout The Rose Garden in Loose Park. I won't stop there either. I'll take your boys, sell them to the lowest bidder, and have you watch everything taken from you before slowly bleeding the life from your body. It's you I want, not them. It's not too late to make the right decision. Tick tock.
The message is from yesterday. I didn't notice it before. I grit my teeth, slamming the phone down on the nearby nightstand. The sun leaves a slight glow along Marcus's skin and my heart falls into my stomach when my gaze lands on his scarred back. With it being dark on the boat and his back being partially covered in the club, they didn't stand out to me as much as they do now. It's more noticeable in the daylight and I may have felt them before, but seeing them is an added stab to the chest. I run my fingers over the welts, and he stirs in his sleep. His eyes remain shut and he whimpers. "No, don't. Please." His words come out as soft whispers. I press a kiss to his forehead, stroking his back with my palm. "I got you, Mi Conejito. I'm right here."
He pounds his fists against my chest, shaking his head frantically. "Please don't hurt them. Kill me instead," he begs. Tears pour from his eyes and my heart rips in two. If only I could take his nightmares and pain away.
You were part of it. You're the reason he ended up in that cellar. You will soon be the reason he ends up dead.
There's a gnawing in my stomach and I swallow down the lump in my throat. He was right. I should have stayed away. All I've ever done is bring him agony and suffering in the end. I couldn't take it if I did it again.
Walk away. You will only ever destroy everything you touch.
My happiness isn't worth his torment. How can I be so selfish? I finally see things for what they are the more he screams and cries in his sleep. The numerous bottles of pills on his nightstand and all the holes punched into the walls. I wanted so badly to rediscover what we once had, only everything good about the past is long gone and tainted. All that is left are my broken promises and the bad memories I'm not sure we can overcome. I kiss him again, my eyes full of guilt. "I never meant to hurt you."
I caress his face, kissing his forehead. He settles against me, his breathing evening out and his face going relaxed. As long as I'm here his nightmares might continue. I breathe him in one last time, taking a mental image of him laying beside me with sleep lines running down his face. I'll miss this, but if he gets taken from this world, I'll miss him more. Some things are best staying at a distance and our love is one of them. "I'll always love you, Mi conejito, that's why I must go."
I brush my lips over his and climb off the bed, searching for my clothes. I move quietly through the house, carrying my shoes in my hand. I don't put them on until I get outside. I step onto the porch and guns are being aimed at me from three directions. "Where is he?" Germo asks, his forehead wrinkling with worry. I lift my hands in the air, sucking in a sharp breath. "He's inside sleeping. I didn't hurt him, I promise."
"How do I know that?"
"I guess you won't until you look inside."
Germo makes a hand signal to one of the other men and they rush behind me, shoving me to the side. Feet pound up the stairs and minutes later Germo is staring down at his phone, sighing in relief. "You're lucky he's still breathing, or you wouldn't be. Why is there not a single guard in sight? Did he send them home?"
"Yes. They were no longer needed so I sent them away and now that you're here I can be on my way knowing he's safe."
Germo’s eyes widen. "He knew you did this?"
"He's the one who chose to let me stay after it was done. You don't have to worry about me coming back though."
"Good. If it wasn't for Marcus and Isaiah, you would have already had a bullet in your chest and one between your eyes. I made a promise and I intend to keep it. Now get in your car and get the fuck out of here. You're no good for him, Miguel. You never were."
I release a shuttered breath and leave without saying another word. I don't look back and I don't stop walking until I'm in my car. I had sent my men home too and am supposed to call them when I'm ready to leave, but I rather be alone with my thoughts. I'm back on autopilot and as long as I continue walking around the world completely numb, I'd be able to function enough without the one thing that makes me fully alive, the other piece of my heart.
I start the car and pull onto the road. Three motorcycles drive alongside me once I turn off the street Marcus lives on. One of the men is smiling my way, catching me off guard with his reckless behavior. There's a hard smack against my car and as the three riders drive away, something ticks, and an explosion goes off. I shove open the door the moment the fire sets off in my car and throw myself out while it’s still moving.
My body rolls fast down the paved hill, and I try my best to stop the momentum. I finally smash hard into a tree, groaning in agony, unable to see anything through my fogged vision. Loud ringing fills my ears and my body aches everywhere.
I'm too late. I had failed my family. Once again I let down Marcus.
Eventually the pain is too much to bear awake, and everything slowly fades away until I'm submerged in darkness.