49. Christian
FORTY-NINE
CHRISTIAN
“Who invited her?” Osama whispered when Umaima went to the kitchen to pour some food.
The way to get to Adelaide was through Umaima, but I hadn’t called her.
When I got back from Moonshine, the apartment was empty. She’d been avoiding me ever since—not that I could fucking blame her—but I missed her.
We didn’t get to have a full day together.
Whose fault is that?
“Do I look like the kind of girl who needs a fucking invite to her best friend’s place?” She grabbed the island chair from beside Osama and dragged it to the other side.
Hasan and Umaima were at odds too. He talked to her, but she didn’t reply, and he was torn between lecturing her or apologizing to her. Not that I fucking knew how that worked. Apologizing was easy when you weren’t the eldest brother and were forced to take care of your baby sister. I felt for the guy because he loved Umaima, but because of my fucking plan he lied to her.
On the couch, Yunus slept peacefully in Hasan’s arms while he watched Umaima with a saddened face.
Osama, on the other hand, walked on eggshells. Whatever the fuck had happened between them—I couldn’t tell you.
“Believe it or not,” she put kimchi on her spoonful of rice. “I want to help you win her back.”
“Why?” Shocked was a fucking understatement.
“She might hate you right now, but I’ve never seen her love someone as much as she loves you.” She took another bite. “When she’s with you, she’s happy. That’s all I want for her.”
“You’ve forgiven me?”
“Fuck no,” she scowled. “That doesn’t mean I don’t get why you did what you did.”
My lips quirked. “There’s a chance you’ll forgive me—in the future, that is?”
She hummed in response.
That was good enough.
“I planned on telling her the same day you found.” Umaima listened quietly. “She was bursting with extreme fucking happiness. I didn’t want to take that away.”
“She’s hurt, Christian.”
I knew that.
“She’s acting strange—not the good kind where she’s a girl boss, but the kind where she’s bound for spontaneity.”
“What makes you say that?”
Without looking at Osama, she answered. “I have a feeling. ”
The doorbell rang.
“I got it,” Hasan stood with Yunus softly snoring.
Umaima ate in silence, Osama stole glances at her, and I was fucking lost.
“ Son ,” his voice boomed in my ears.
A man’s first best friend is his dad. I’d lost my dad and best friend the same day I lost my mom. From all-night conversations to barely speaking, our relationship tattered into an author’s unfinished manuscript. Our story never put itself together and I chose not to touch it.
My throat constricted.
I hated the man but hate initially came from a soft place.
He’d grown more than a couple of white hairs on his head. His clean-shaven face now full of a silver beard. There were lines on his forehead and bags under his eyes. He looked… distressed.
Why the fuck do I care?
“Mr. Hayes,” Osama stood before me—standing awkwardly like he didn’t know whether to hug or be repulsed.
All of it came rushing back.
Eomma.
Him and Eda.
Adelaide.
Low and deadly, “Get out of my house.”
“I need to tell you?—”
“I said,” I slammed my hand against the table. “Get out of my house!”
“Adelaide is with Starlight’s board members at the house right now.”
Light drained from my face. “What?”
“There’s no time for questions, you have to go to her before it’s too late.”
“Dammit, I should have known when she spoke with Harry today.” Umaima called Adelaide’s number.
Quiet ringing echoed from upstairs.
Shit.
All up in my father’s face, I gritted. “This better not be some fucking trap.”
His face told me it wasn’t.
Fuck.
My legs led me, running out of the apartment to my car. Busy New York traffic plundered around me in the sounds of horns and curses, but nothing mattered.
Nothing but getting to Adelaide.
Rowlen picked up on the second ring.
“Why the fuck did you let her do this?”
He muttered a curse under his breath. “How do you know everything ?”
I wish I fucking did.
“She’s alone .”
“She’s a grown woman who can take care of herself.”
“Fuck you, Rowlen.”
“Christian, chill the fuck out. She’s fine because I have eight people with me as backup and she knows when to call me in.”
“These men are animals. They’ll do anything to her.”
My vision was blurring, my mind contracting with the pain of losing her.