Chapter 26
Love
I get up and Dominik isn’t in bed anymore, we decided to return to our normal lives, even with Liot’s threat.
Sammy wasn’t dealing well with being locked up and Josh was fearing they’d do something insane if we were all in the same space for long.
So during the night we’re in opposite sides of the condominium, boys in the entry, girls in the very end.
Obviously, we still get together several times but try not to make it in patterns.
Liot can take advantage of it to adjust whatever Machiavellian plan he’s been scheming for years.
I bathe, wash my teeth, dress myself and look in the mirror. I can almost see the ghost of my mother in me. And Josh is an almost identical copy of our father. They’re gone, we’re what’s left of them, and I’m not letting Liot take that away.
I hold my father’s necklace, his ID tags from the military.
He survived war, he survived mafia, he was gone in the most heartbreaking way.
He would’ve never died if it wasn’t for me.
I have to convince myself I did my best. However I acted out of fear, so I could’ve chosen better.
Anyway, my father did the same move on several people including Josh.
The incident just showed us to be careful with whom we do it to.
“You’re fine,” I say adjusting my still-wet hair. It’s finally warmer outside, so I can walk out like this with no trouble. I take a last look and grab my already packed bag and leave Dominik’s room.
“Good morning, guys,” I greet, Marcus and Damian. Damian is still here? “No work today, Damian?” I ask him and he chuckles.
“Let me have a break,” Damian says and I nod, grabbing my coffee cup from the kitchen. Whenever I spend the night here Dominik always leaves my iced coffee prepared for me. He leaves about thirty minutes before I wake up so the coldness is preserved by the travel cup.
“He’s been in a 60-day streak it was about time for a day off,” Marcus says and switches channels. I drink my coffee and see Rian try to sneak out without Marcus and Damian noticing.
“Got to go guys,” I say leaving with the cup in my hands. “What was that, Mr Denfell?” I question after I close the entry door behind me.
“I might’ve fought with Marcus,” he whispers as if Marcus could hear him through the walls. He starts moving downstairs and I follow him.
“Can you take me to Sammy’s shelter? We can talk all about it,” I say and Rian nods.
“Sure. But no talking,” Rian answers and I know something serious happened.
“Did he hurt you?” I ask sipping my coffee but planning Marcus' doom day in my head.
“What? No, he would never. Take that look from your eyes. He’s great. It’s my fault really,” Rian says and I try to understand his expression but I’ve never seen this emotion on him.
“Rian? What the hell happened?” I almost scream and see Marcus appear at the top of the stairs.
“Tell her, Rian. Or are you too much of a coward for that?” Marcus questions and Rian runs away.
“I’ll deal with you later!” I exclaim, quickly and go after Rian, running after him to see him rush to his car and close the doors. I’m so killing Marcus later.
When I see Rian is about to take off I go to my car and follow his, all the way to a dark alley. He was that into Marcus?
“Rian!” I scream getting out of the car and running after him.
“Go away,” Rian yells his hands shaking, did he already take something?
“So you can relapse and get high? Stop moving, I’m going nowhere,” I say and his shaking is definitely not just nervousness or hurt. “Did you already snort something?” I ask when I reach him and turn him around, I have my answer, his eyes are bloodshot, and his pupils are fully dilated.
“I got this,” Marcus says appearing from behind me.
“You’ve got nothing, fuck off Marcus,” I say and grab Rian from Marcus’ arms.
“First of all, you don’t know what happened, so back off.
And secondly, I can handle this,” Marcus says and looks at me like this isn’t the first time he did this.
I need to know why and when the last time happened.
I’m not letting Rian go down that lane again.
“I need you to trust me, little Kane,” he says taking Rian back in his arms. “I’ve got him”
“Thank you,” I say and get back to my car after checking Rian gets in Marcus’ car and is safe.
When I see them talk, I drive past them.
I see that Rian is holding Marcus’ hand, still tripping but holding onto something.
He finally found someone who won’t let him go or self-destruct.
All his previous dates were junkies as well.
Not the best company for him, the worst in fact.
I kept him away from all that. It’s strange to have that task taken from me.
Yet I get it. He found his Dominik. I don’t go to Rian as often as well, I can’t judge him.
Actually I’ve withdrawn myself from everyone’s lives too much the past few weeks, everyone but Dominik. I was grieving, still not an excuse.
Sammy’s birthday was last week, but we didn’t celebrate it, we were still too shaken by everything.
Maya has a surprise party at our apartment tonight for her.
Everyone bought gifts. I helped Dominik and Josh choose theirs, they tried, they really did.
They just don’t know Sammy. Dominik doesn’t.
Josh knew more than he showed he did, which makes me think the kiss they had, maybe wasn’t fully meaningless as Sammy made it seem.
Josh just never made a comment on it. He actually said “deal with your own life” and left.
His only answer from then on was a furious look at an equally mad-looking Sammy.
I check my social media while walking towards the shelter and find a new post from Marcus last night. A photo of the moonlight with Rian’s hand slightly showing, with the caption “#mymoonlight”
There’s nothing that trails back to Rian, it’s his non-tattooed hand, but I have a feeling Marcus’ post was the reason of the fight. Rian was over conservative before Marcus at least.
“Vee,” Maya calls and I lock my phone looking up at her tall, curvy figure. “I need to tell you something-”
“May, hi! Not in the mood for gossip right now,” I respond and Maya looks at me like I’m making a mistake.
“Did you check Dominik’s socials?” she asks knowing Dominik matters would be the only thing I’d listen to now. She also knows my Rian relapsed face and probably knows why I’m trembling so much my phone almost falls out of my hand. And my freaking hand is closed around it.
“No, why?” I ask and before I unlock my phone, I see it.
Dominik hadn’t posted anything for several weeks, maybe months, and now there’s a new photo.
A photo of the two of us. It’s me smiling at him, but all you see of him is his hand on my cheek.
He made me the total focus. There’s no caption.
Despite that, since Dominik has a massive following, everyone is freaking out in the comment section.
And then there’s an update on the publication. I click the tagged people and there’s my profile. Right there is @notyourlove and then he comments “Indeed my love” and pins it. He craves the chaos at this point.
My phone starts blowing up. Everyone who follows me and isn’t close has an opinion. I mute every single message and notification and enter the shelter with Maya. With Maya and a stupid smile on my face.
“Sammy, how are the cats?” I ask her when I see a vet.
“Two more are in quarantine, they caught the conjunctivitis. But they’ll be fine in a few days. It’s just a check-up. Can you handle Dr Thomas here?” she asks, clearly, he’s the one who’s taking care of the cats today; yesterday it was someone else.
“Of course. Is everything ok?” I ask her and she nods grabbing her phone and car keys.
“Yes, I forgot something at home, I’ll be right back.
Thank you, Love,” she says kissing my cheek and leaving.
Maya goes towards the cat’s hanging out room, they’re all there during the whole day, nights are the only times they’re in cages, it’s strictly necessary for their safety.
There’s no one around in case of any fight and/or injury.
“Of course, take your time, we’ve got this,” I assure her, trying to make her not practically fly home and back in worry. Sammy blows a kiss my way and exits the shelter.
“Sorry, Dr Thomas, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Love”
“Thomas Alakai, nice to meet you,” he says smirking.
“Alakai? As if in Aiden Javol’s ex? Why does it seem like this isn’t a coincidence?” I ask him and his smirk morphs into a grin.
“You’re fast. It isn’t, you’re right. I’m here to exchange favours-”
“I’m not handing Aiden over-,” I gasp when Thomas grabs something quickly next to me, and have to control myself not to laugh it’s a water bottle.
“I’m not here to ask for that. I’m here as a friend,” he informs, “No one but Aiden can know where this information came from,” he says and I nod having a feeling this concerns Liot. “Before I disclose it, I need you to promise me you’ll give me Aiden’s new phone number”
“I don’t know you, and have no idea what you’re going to tell me, so give me some insight, or leave-”
“I’m actually a veterinarian so accompany me to the quarantine room, please,” he says and shows me a small paper saying “Bugs here,” “There’s the medicine you’ll need for the cats from yesterday,” he folds the paper and hands it to me, I put it on my pocket and walk besides him to the quarantine room.
When I close the door, Thomas’ smile fades. “I know something about Liot you don’t”
“Phone number first, right?” I ask and Thomas nods handing me his phone, there’s already a contact named Aiden ready for me to add a number. “I have to warn you if you hurt him, I’ll hurt you,” he doesn’t laugh as most people do, he takes my threat seriously.