Page 100 of Lost In London

“Nah.” I stepped back done with this conversation.

His deep rooted issues had him blind to see the truth. “I can heal her heart. It will take time but I can make the memory of you become less and less.” I caught the flash of hurt in his eyes. “The same way you gave her an ultimatum, either me or you. I’m giving you the same. Either channel your insecurities and issues to a therapist or stand firm in accepting that you won’t ever have access to her again. I protect her peace of mind.” I looked over his shoulder and watched his girls make funny faces against the glass.

“London knew she couldn’t replace their mother. She knew she couldn’t replace your wife. What she gave was friendship, love, and consistency. Those two little girls are smiling at a time when they should be acting out and crying from the loss of a parent. Your son is thriving.” Tai was questionable. “When death felt easier because her life was hard, you stepped in and gave her a reason to live again. When she should’ve been afraid of every man to walk this earth, you taught her how to trust again. How to trust in her judgment and find power within herself. She never abandoned you, Cassian. She never left you. She isn’t your mother or your wife. She’s still there. She still wants to be there. Yes, she fell in love but she wouldn’t have been open to it if you hadn’t taught her that love doesn’t have to hurt. She’s still there. She hasn’t abandoned you. Are you ready to walk away from what you and her have built? Are you ready to say goodbye for good?”

The underground illegal world was such a scary place. Men of valor with enigma personalities walking around carrying weapons of destruction. All of it made me believe that the boogeyman was real. On one of our many nights of kicking the shit out on his deck, Cassian told me the story of how Amell put himself in prison to avenge the man that abused JD.

Freakin mind-blowing.

I had a different level of respect for him. To sacrifice his freedom for someone else wasn’t something to be taken lightly. It explained JD’s high level of regard for Amell and why he came home so often, though Los Angeles was his new home.

“Are you ready?” Quest sat next to me in the cold stale room.

Since Cassian no longer wanted anything to do with me, I had to seek help elsewhere and that help came in the form of asking my soon-to-be brother-in-law if he could work his magic to get me a visit with Hendrix. I never met him a day in my life. Quincey has always talked highly of Natalie and I witnessed how her sudden death affected him. My request to speak to him came from wanting to thank him for doing what I’d been scared to do.

To act.

By the time the coroner took Natalie’s body from his house, Hendrix had Elgin’s and Wayne’s location. Donovan pulled a disappearing act but something told me he wouldn't be able to hide for long. And as far as the baby Dubri went, well Damien was trying to disassociate himself from his family for years apparently.

After news broke of Elgin’s murder, dozens upon dozens of women came forward praising Hendrix for killing their attacker. Then when news broke that Wayne was dead too, even more women came forward. This family has terrorized women generation after generation. And it wasn’t just the brothers.

Nope.

Their father, State Senator Richard Dubri wasn’t squeaky clean either. It seemed this evil abusive spirit had been in that family dating back to Richard’s great-great-grandfather. One of Richard’s brothers, Tim Dubri who is an awarded OB/GYN in Orlando, is currently under investigation and his private practice has been shut down due to the number of allegations of him illegally inseminating some of his fertility patients with his sperm.

Disgusting.

Complete madness.

Now I understand why God wanted me to wait. I’m not saying He moved things into place for Hendrix to kill those men, but what I’m saying is that there is the Kalmin family and then there is another family known as the Gordon’s and according to Quest and Luna, they run circles around the Kalmin’s and Luciano’s put together. Their head patriarch was none other than Hendrix Gordon himself until he retired from the lifestyle a few years ago. But it seems that Natalie’s death awakened the sleeping beast.

“Yes. Thank you again, Quest.” I don’t think I’d ever get used to Quest’s powering energy. I’ve been wanting to cash in on that talk he mentioned us having but I was too scared. A wise soul like him made me want to run for the hills.

Smirking at my nervousness, he stood just as the door opened and Hendrix was escorted in by a correction officer. My heart broke seeing him in the white jumpsuit shackled like an animal. His face held no emotion but you felt his menacing energy. His eyes were dark, so dark and chilling. He didn’t even smile when he and Quest hugged.

I guess there was nothing for him to smile about.

“I’ll be right outside.” Quest waited for me to nod before leaving us alone.

Hendrix sat down and just stared at me. Maybe I should’ve written him a letter instead. I was shaking in my heels, he made me so nervous.

“Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials. Quincey’s a good man.”

I sat, gaped mouth and eyes wide hearing his voice. It wasn’t at all what I imagined. It was deep indeed but it was so… so… it sounded like a calm thundering roar.

“Thank you.” I cleared my throat, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

My man is pretty amazing if I say so myself.

“Um, I asked to see you because I wanted to thank you.” My eyes pricked with tears. “And to apologize because…”

“There’s nothing for you to apologize for, London.” His eyes softened just a little. “And please don’t insult me by feeling blame for Natalie’s death.” His nose flared and eyes became darker. “There’s history between my family and theirs that dates back to before I was born. Wayne preyed on my sister as a revenge plot put in motion by his father. I’m sharing that small bit of information to make you understand that things aren’t always what they seem. Can I ask a favor of you?”

Oh, Lord.

I wasn’t the ride-or-die, shot’em up and rob a bank type of girl.

“Uh, sure.” My top lip and hairline coated in sweat.

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