Page 54 of Blood Ties
There's a gnawing in my stomach and I swallow down the lump in my throat. He was right. I should have stayed away. All I've ever done is bring him agony and suffering in the end. I couldn't take it if I did it again.
Walk away. You will only ever destroy everything you touch.
My happiness isn't worth his torment. How can I be so selfish? I finally see things for what they are the more he screams and cries in his sleep. The numerous bottles of pills on his nightstand and all the holes punched into the walls. I wanted so badly to rediscover what we once had, only everything good about the past is long gone and tainted. All that is left are my brokenpromises and the bad memories I'm not sure we can overcome. I kiss him again, my eyes full of guilt. "I never meant to hurt you."
I caress his face, kissing his forehead. He settles against me, his breathing evening out and his face going relaxed. As long as I'm here his nightmares might continue. I breathe him in one last time, taking a mental image of him laying beside me with sleep lines running down his face. I'll miss this, but if he gets taken from this world, I'll miss him more. Some things are best staying at a distance and our love is one of them. "I'll always love you, Mi conejito, that's why I must go."
I brush my lips over his and climb off the bed, searching for my clothes. I move quietly through the house, carrying my shoes in my hand. I don't put them on until I get outside. I step onto the porch and guns are being aimed at me from three directions. "Where is he?" Germo asks, his forehead wrinkling with worry. I lift my hands in the air, sucking in a sharp breath. "He's inside sleeping. I didn't hurt him, I promise."
"How do I know that?"
"I guess you won't until you look inside."
Germo makes a hand signal to one of the other men and they rush behind me, shoving me to the side. Feet pound up the stairs and minutes later Germo is staring down at his phone, sighing in relief. "You're lucky he's still breathing, or you wouldn't be. Why is there not a single guard in sight? Did he send them home?"
"Yes. They were no longer needed so I sent them away and now that you're here I can be on my way knowing he's safe."
Germo’s eyes widen. "He knew you did this?"
"He's the one who chose to let me stay after it was done. You don't have to worry about me coming back though."
"Good. If it wasn't for Marcus and Isaiah, you would have already had a bullet in your chest and one between your eyes. I made a promise and I intend to keep it. Now get in your car andget the fuck out of here. You're no good for him, Miguel. You never were."
I release a shuttered breath and leave without saying another word. I don't look back and I don't stop walking until I'm in my car. I had sent my men home too and am supposed to call them when I'm ready to leave, but I rather be alone with my thoughts. I'm back on autopilot and as long as I continue walking around the world completely numb, I'd be able to function enough without the one thing that makes me fully alive, the other piece of my heart.
I start the car and pull onto the road. Three motorcycles drive alongside me once I turn off the street Marcus lives on. One of the men is smiling my way, catching me off guard with his reckless behavior. There's a hard smack against my car and as the three riders drive away, something ticks, and an explosion goes off. I shove open the door the moment the fire sets off in my car and throw myself out while it’s still moving.
My body rolls fast down the paved hill, and I try my best to stop the momentum. I finally smash hard into a tree, groaning in agony, unable to see anything through my fogged vision. Loud ringing fills my ears and my body aches everywhere.
I'm too late. I had failed my family. Once again I let down Marcus.
Eventually the pain is too much to bear awake, and everything slowly fades away until I'm submerged in darkness.
Chapter 24
Marcus
The other side of the bed is empty and cold when I wake up. I finally make it out from under the covers and downstairs wearing one of my usual suits. Germo is drinking coffee, leaning against the kitchen counter, and confirms all my worst fears. "Miguel left this morning and wanted to let you know he wouldn't be coming back again. You can finally be free of him. We all can. I’m sure none of your guards will be too hurt by the news."
My face tenses.Gone?He can't be. Not after he made me a promise he swore he'd never break again. Even if he's gone, I'll never be free of him. He wasn't here for a long time. I continue to drown in our memories together and sometimes it's the good ones that helped get me through the day. I don't know what will now. He'd walked away willingly this time, taking more of me with him. There wasn't much of myself left to give to begin with. "These words actually came from his mouth?"
"Yes. He seemed to be in a hurry and couldn't leave fast enough. It didn't take much convincing from me to get him off the property."
"Are you sure?" I bite my tongue to keep from letting the doom I feel take over my expression.
"Positive. Unless he was lying when he said I didn't have to worry about him ever coming back."
I shake my head, turning around to reach into the fridge, blocking my body's response in case I'm unable to continue to remain unaffected by everything Germo is saying. I clutch onto the creamer, struggling to breathe.
"Miguel Juventino is a lot of things. A liar isn't one of them." I inhale sharply, grabbing the carton and closing the fridge. Steam rises from the hot liquid as I fill my cup. "I guess that's that then." I sip my coffee, not meeting Germo’s eyes.
I must have had one of my nightmares. He must have seen the real me in the light of day surrounded by evidence of my eternal demons. I'm no longer worth the fight. I clench my fists, holding back the tears and shoving the emotions away. I'm good at hiding everything else, this won't be an issue, but how long can a man walk around pretending to be someone else, hiding behind a facade.
"Yes. Miguel Juventino should be the least of your problems now."
I nod, forcing a smile on my lips. "We all know I could use less of those. Make sure to have my car ready in ten minutes."
"Have you watched the news yet?"
