Chapter 22 #2
“The first time I saw Liot I was ditching his daughter. He met me under the worst circumstances. Let’s just say I wasn’t gentle.
Some months after she killed herself. I’m the main reason she’s not here anymore.
And I fear Aiden is next. And he’ll eventually come for Love if I stay,” I inform him of every detail he should know.
“You’re staying, Dom,” Love interjects and Josh smirks for one second, he finally has an excuse to remove me from their lives. From Love’s life.
“He can’t. As soon as he’s fully recovered he’ll go back to Caltin,” Josh says and I fight the urge to stab his eye with the fucking needle.
He cuts the string. “All done. Say goodbye, Love won’t be anywhere near you ever again.
You put her through too much danger. You have become a liability and if you refuse to go, I might have to erase you,” he’s enjoying this too much, but if he believes I’ll ever remove myself from Love’s life he’s bluntly wrong.
I will never leave Love’s life. But I do need to erase Liot and make an example out of him.
No one threatens Love’s integrity and lives to tell the story.
“You can’t do this, Josh. I’ll never forgive you,” Love practically screams pushing Josh against a wall.
“I’ll never forgive you, Josh,” she whispers, her eyes filled with tears.
When one falls I have to stop myself from sending the needle straight into Josh’s head.
And I only do so because then she would never forgive me.
“And I’ll live just fine with it,” Josh says pulling Love in my direction, “You better be quick, I’ll be staying outside,” Josh says and Love looks at me furiously, her face filled with disgust.
“How could you? How could you not say anything?” she asks this time hitting me, she doesn’t do it to hurt me, she does it because she’s hurting. “Don’t stand there all emotionless and let Josh dictate our life,” our life. “Why are you smiling?” she asks outraged.
"You said our life,” I say and she kicks the table beside me sending it to the floor.
“I’m not letting Josh tear us apart, Josh will realise Liot will never give up on killing you, because I’ll never stop loving you, and he wants to destroy everything I love the most. Josh will settle down with the idea that you’re safer with me around.
He’ll by all means hate and hit me, but he’ll conform himself to the idea. ”
“How am I supposed to conform myself to this life?-”
“You won’t have to. I’ll kill Liot. I won’t just kill him.
I’ll show everyone that no one plays with you and keeps breathing.
No one will ever dare mess with you again.
I was once feared, people think I softened.
Truth is I’m still a killer. And I’ll unalive anyone that comes in my way.
No matter who it is. With your friends and family as the only exception.
I’ll keep us alive at all costs,” I oath to every word I pronounce, looking up at Love she adjusts the table back to its previous place and sits next to me, holding my hand unsurely.
“Are you sure Josh will let us be together? I mean he has to, right?” she asks and I caress the back of her hand.
“He doesn’t really have a choice. I’m like this parasitical being that implanted itself in your lives, I will not leave, I will not budge, and I will not accept anything less than a happy long life by your side,” I say and by the time I end Love’s soft lips are against mine.
I claim her, her lips, her tongue, her mouth, all of her.
She’s mine. And that won’t change, no matter how much Josh wishes it would.
“I don’t want to leave,” Love whispers against my lips, and I shiver at her warm breath. It’s fucking cold here, but that’s not what eagers me. Love is choosing me. Over and over. No matter what the world brings our way.
“Go home, sleep, return in the morning. I just need one chat alone with Josh. Call him, please, will you?” manners, I learnt them for Love. I was so used to having everything and everyone I wanted effortlessly, I didn’t know manners outside of business. Because sincerely, I didn’t need them.
“I’ll only go if you promise me, I’ll be able to return tomorrow,” she says kissing my hand. I want more, my heat rises, my skin itches for another touch.
“I promise,” I say and she pushes away before I can get another kiss out of her, she doesn’t look back. I thank her, because I’d trap her here with me forever if I could. Just her and me inside our bubble away from everyone’s eyes and hostile hands.
I look at her leave but the door stays half open.
“What do you want, Ricik? I thought I made myself clear”
“You did. Now, I’ll make myself clear.-,” he tries to interrupt me but I shut him up by speaking louder.
“You will listen to me because I’m the only one who knows Liot’s house and his area, the only one that can guide you there and back untouched,” I say and Josh sits down with his arms crossed across his chest. “Good. I’m not leaving, Josh.
And you can’t make me. You know Liot won’t give up on Love, no matter what you do to me.
You kill me, he still kills her. You kick me out, he’ll still come for her because he knows my love hasn’t changed.
If you try anything of the sort, I’ll have to tell your father you’re expelling the only person who knows the inside of the Mitkian territory.
The only person who can and will kill Liot at any cost, and won’t leave space for anyone else to ever attempt anything against Love”
“I’ve heard the same speech with Spencer,” Josh says pretending to be bored, as if my presence annoys him.
And it does. And it feels amazing that he can’t do a thing about it.
I repress a smirk and look at the door. No movement, Love really kept her part of the deal she’ll try to sleep. And she will come back tomorrow.
“I was weak. I didn’t kill him. Mostly for Love. I won’t make the same mistake again,” I reply to Josh’s words, he’s weighing whether he should kill me now while he can or if he’ll accept my deal.
“Fine. You’ll stay if you keep your end of this agreement.
If you kill Liot successfully and manage to get Love out of the spotlights, I’ll tolerate your presence, and you being with her.
I will still oppose and try to change her mind, but I will not attack you or pursue a way to kill you in your sleep”
“I accept the deal,” I reply to him, he just nods, and walks towards the exit, opening the door and looking back for one second to say: “You had no alternative”. He’s right, I don’t appreciate it the least, yet it’s true.