Page 23 of Damned By His Angel

“What?”

“Nos, what I’m about to tell you stays between us.” He doesn’t give me a chance to answer. “When King found out about Amelia, it was a rough time for her family. They had enemies coming at them from all sides. That woman is the reason why her family fought harder to secure a safe future for her. She healed her family without even knowing. All those brothers were pulling away from each other but because of her, they worked shit out because no one wanted to leave her side. They all have children of their own now but that girl will always hold a special place in each of their lives because every single one of them loved Amelia like she was their own child.”

“Fuck,” I mutter.

“Bishop let her go and freed her of the burden of being a Murdoch because he loves her like he loves Royal.”

“That just makes this shit so much more fucked up,” I force out.

“What do you mean?”

“She sought me out, Artemis. After she ended shit with us in Chicago, I had to get away and clear my head. She got under my skin, brother. I hadn't seen her since she kicked me out until the night with Taylan and Destiny at Bishop’s. Seeing her again fucked me up. It felt like my heart beat again just at the sight of her but what blew me the fuck away was her strength. She didn’t give up on her dream of freedom, she fought her family.”

“Is that what you want?”

“Huh?”

He sighs and I can picture him closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair. “Do you want your freedom from being in this life?”

I mull over his words for a minute. Is that what I want, to be done with this mafia life and live life as I am now? Have I not been content this past year to live in this small town and earn an honest living?

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly.

“Then let me help you. Cronos Argyros, as Don of the Godfathers Of The Night, I hereby release you from your vow and grant you your freedom from this lifestyle.” I suck in a sharp intake of air.

“Artemis—”

“This life has taken everything from you, Cronos. I won’t let you lose someone else you care about because of the choices our father made. If you feel for her even half of what you felt for… Aida.” I slam my eyes closed at the mention of her name, pain still ripples through me at the thought of her. “Then you go after her and fight for what you deserve, brother, because you do deserve happiness. You and I both know Aida would not want you to punish yourself. Be free of the burdens of your past, brother, and build the life you have always wanted.”

“I can’t just leave you?—”

“You can and you will. It’s not every day that you get a second chance at life or love, brother, so you get the fuck off this phone and go after your girl.”

“Artemis…” I let my sentence trail off, unable to say the words I need to.

“I once overheard a conversation between you and my girl. She once told you Aida wasn’t your greatest love. She said all the greatest loves are designed to be painful, love isn’t easy or comfortable. You need a love that is painful, soul destroying and consumes you whilst driving you insane. Aida will always be your first love, brother, and she will never be replaced, but I believe London was right.”

“How so?” I croak out.

“Aida wasn’t your final love. London is my greatest victory and always will be. If anything happened to her, Cronos, I would die. Every time I look at her, I see my own heart beating inside her chest. Loving London hurts so bad but fuck it also feels so good. You survived losing Aida. Amelia has forced you out of the shadows you have hidden in since you lost Aida. Let her break down those fucking walls you hide behind and give her your heart. Hold nothing back, because if it doesn’t hurt, brother, then she isn’t worth it.”

Amelia

The sun has set and I still haven’t moved from this spot since Beth and I got home. I refused to go inside and stayed out on the porch on the swing Nos and I sat on, with the ultrasound picture in my hand. I can’t believe it.

I’m having a little girl.

Tears prick the backs of my eyes. None of this felt real until I saw her on the screen. Hearing her little heartbeat for the first time robbed me of breath. I’ve experienced love and know what it feels like, but the instant I heard that heartbeat and saw her, my heart was no longer my own. It belongs to my daughter.

Daughter.

God. It feels so weird thinking that. I close my eyes and will my tears to remain where they are. I have cried enough these past few months and now that shit has to stop. It’s not just about me anymore, this is about my little girl and keeping her safe. She needs me to be strong and that is exactly what I’ll do, starting now.

“You’re gonna catch a chill sitting out here, little missy.” I turn my head to see Bill strolling toward me with a warm smile on his face and a throw blanket in his hand. I smile my thanks when he places it on my lap and sits down beside me, swinging us. We remain in comfortable silence for a while as we stare off into the distance, lost in our own thoughts. “Can I see that?” I jolt and frown at him. He flicks his gaze to the picture in my hand. I hand it over and watch as a smile so wide scratches across his weathered face. “Beautiful,” he whispers.

“I may be biased but I sure think so.”

“My Bethy tells me you’re having a little girl.”

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