Page 61 of Mafia Rules

“I want the life I had before him.” I swallow back tears, needing to leave this place soon. I had to get to his condo and leave right away. Or forget my iPad altogether.

“Are you sure he’s with her?” Macy’s voice squeaked as her eyes narrowed. “I mean, he was pretty into you from the start.”

“They’re in a penthouse, luxury suite as we speak. I showed up, and he was in the shower.” I fidget with my hands, thinking of his clothes and her clothes on the floor together.

“Oh.” Macy recoils. “He was never good enough for you.”

I nod, the pressure in my chest building up again. I take a deep breath to calm myself, remembering the grounding techniques my old therapist taught me in my teens.

“I should go.” I pick up some clothes from the floor, the same ones I wore yesterday, and take them to the bathroom to change into. I didn’t have the energy to struggle with closing my bag after getting clean clothes.

I close the door and lean my forehead against it. He’s on my mind every minute, every second of every day. I’ll never know how he’s doing again, if he’s happy, and when he meets his end on this earth. It seems strange to think I’ll never know those things about the person I love…but he never loved me. That’s the hardest part of all of this. He doesn’t give a shit about me. But I meant everything I said to him.Will I ever stop loving him?

I force myself to take off my jammies and put on real clothes. Splashing water on my face to wash off the tears and make-up as best as I can. I steal a little of Macy’s fancy face cream. Lingering a moment on its sweet smell. A break from the constant thoughts of him.

I gave myself one more check over in the mirror, not that it mattered. My hair looks like I hadn’t brushed it in days, so I grab Macy’s hairbrush and run it through. There…Presentable if I need to stop for the bathroom or gas.

I say my goodbyes to Macy and grab everything I can carry. Macy takes the rest down to the rental car. With one more long hug, I’m off to his condo. I’ll be in and out as fast as I can be.Then, I can heal from all of this.

35

ASH

Idrove to my condo first to find all her things gone. I left immediately and went to Macy’s, hoping to see her there. Instead, Macy greeted me with a cold shoulder and told me Eve had just left but wouldn’t tell me where.

Back in my car, I think about where she could have gone. She wouldn’t go back home. Her parents constantly belittled her. I head back to my condo, ready to gather whomever I needed, to locate her. I’d search the ends of the earth until I find her.

When I open the door to my place, I spot her leather bag slumped on the wooden chair near the window. “Eve?” Heart pounding, I call out as I race towards the bedroom. I hear the bathroom door close as soon as I enter.

“Baby?” I put my hand on the door. “I’m sorry, Eve. This weekend was a whole fuckup. I should have stayed here with you.” I try the door handle, but she’s locked it.

The sound of quiet weeping seeps through the heavy door. A fierce protectiveness makes my soul ache to hold her. I wait forher to respond, only to hear her body press against the other side of the door.

“Open the door, Eve.” I lower my voice, pressing my body against the door. “Please, Love.”

“You fucked her!” Eve screams at me through the door, then pounds her fist or feet against it, the wood shaking with each impact. “Get away from me.”

“I didn’t, Eve. I fucking hate her. I’d never do that to us. I was wrong about leaving, but I wasn’t with Sasha.”

“I was there,” she sobs again, “You were in the shower, her shower!”

“No, my love. That was Hardy. His shower didn’t work. I’ll call him right now.” I pull my phone out of my pocket and put it on speaker, not waiting for her to respond. “Hey, Hardy. Where were you when you heard the voices?”

“The shower. Did you find Eve?” Hardy’s voice was eager for news.

“Thanks,” I say, ending the call. “It wasn’t me. Now, can you please open the door? I need you in my arms. I don’t feel right.” A storm of emotions rages inside me. The things this girl did to me.

“I can’t.” I hear her breathless against the door. “I never want to see you again.”

“I don’t believe you. We were fucking made to be together, love. I love you so much, Eve. I’ll do anything for you to open this door and look at me. I’m a fucking mess without you.” Tears fall down my cheeks, and my voice shakes. I don’t care that I’m breaking.I need her.

I hear the faint click of the door unlocking, and I waste no time opening it and taking her in my arms. Her body trembles, each sob racking through her as she cried into my chest. “It’s okay, Eve. I love you. I love you. I love you.” I repeat in her ear, pressing gentle kisses on her neck.

“I feel sick.” She pushes past me, a slight shove against my chest.

“Nothing happened between Sasha and me. Hardy came with us, and we’ve been working on getting through all the deals. I tried to call you and text, but you fucking blocked me, babe.” I reach for her face and pull her to me and kiss her lips, which she willingly parts for me. I move my tongue into her mouth, at first soft and sweet, then hard. Because I needed to be in her. I need the kind of closeness only that brings.

She yanks back, her eyes about to overflow. “No. You don’t get to do that to me.”

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