Page 60 of Encircled in Darkness
Chapter 18
James
Ifeared that Amayawould finally shatter, the full weight of her sister being gone, and the horrible reason they both were made to suffer. Even though the men were dead, I worried the weight of what happened would crash down on her. It was the day of Natalia’s funeral and she had just gotten out of the shower when I heard her sobbing. Running into the bathroom, I found her on the floor with her wet body wrapped in a towel. She looked up at me, her eyes swimming in tears, and I scooped her up in my arms and carried her to the bed,
Sitting down with my back to the headboard, I let her cry and wail, small fists beating against my chest. I took her pain filled strikes, absorbing her heartache, and channeling it back into love. Devlin had come to the apartment last night, explaining that her mother had died a few years prior from a heart attack, and she showed no emotion. After he left, she asked me to contact Preston Pierce, and let him know I had located her.
Deciding to wait until after the funeral, I held her all night as she fought the demons who captured her in the darkness. When she woke up, I could see she was hanging on by a thread and I was powerless to help her. She fell asleep on my lap, her arms wrapped around my neck, and I let her sleep for a little while. We had a couple of hours until we had to be at the cemetery, and she needed the rest.
A few hours later, we pulled up to the expansive green lawn dotted with granite and marble headstones, and I wrapped my arm around her as we walked to the tent. She was wearing a yellow dress; Natalia’s favorite color and I had a yellow tie on in remembrance of the beautiful woman whose life was cut short. Amaya held a single yellow rose in her hand and everyone in attendance was asked to wear a yellow flower.
A moment after I sat her down, the sound of thunderous engines filled the air. Her bottom lip trembled when the entire chapter of The DeathHounds pulled up. Devlin and Elise were seated behind her, and Elise reached up and squeezed her shoulder in support. The MC filled the seats and stood, forming a protective barrier around Amaya that I knew would last forever.
These deadly men had never met Natalia, but their respect for Amaya had them standing there, some sniffling and trying to show their toughness as the minister quoted scripture and blessed Natalia’s soul for her heavenly journey. To see such hardened men, all dressed in leather, wearing a yellow rose on their cuts had me swallowing the lump in my throat.
Amaya kept wiping tears as we watched the coffin being lowered into the ground. She stood and walked to the open hole, her eyes staring down at her sister’s final resting place. Tossing the rose she held onto the lowering casket, I felt her link her hand with mine, seeking comfort and strength.
I took the flower from my lapel and tossed in into the open grave. Amaya stood nearby and cried against my chest as we watched our friends, our family, pay their final respects to Natalia. As the funeral concluded, I took Amaya by the hand to lead her to the car. We made it a few feet before she stopped, and I tugged against her. She was looking at a man who was standing under a nearby tree, and I recognized him immediately.
Cursing under my breath, I turned to Amaya. “I need to talk to him and Devlin’s going to take you to the car. I’ll be right back.”
“I know him.” Her confused and emotional gaze met mine and I sighed loudly. “How do I know him?”
Tucking a fallen lock of hair behind her ear, I wiped the falling tears and kissed her on the forehead. “That’s Preston Pierce. He’s your father.”
“I thought... you said...” her bottom lip quivered, and I pulled her against my chest.
“Let me talk to him.”
She nodded, her gaze meeting his briefly before Devlin and Elise surrounded her and escorted her to the waiting car. I stalked to him and he walked out to meet me. Extending his hand, I wanted to punch him in the face for upsetting Amaya today. Instead, I gripped his hand and pulled him to me.
“Explain why you’re here, Preston. Today was not the day for a reunion. How did you even find out?”
“Your brother called me this morning and explained everything. I wanted to be here for my daughter... if she needed me.” I could see the emotions building on his face, the realization he had located her causing his brown eyes to glisten. Clearing his throat, he continued. “I understand why you haven’t told me yet, but I needed her to know I was here. I need...”
“Would you like to join us for lunch?” Amaya’s sweet voice sounded behind me and I turned, quickly wrapping my arm around her, and bringing my face to hers.
Preston stood silent and I watched a small smile grace her face. Glancing over her shoulder, I saw Devlin and Elise along with the DeathHounds, observing with curiosity. I tucked Amaya under my arm, and she wrapped her arm around my waist.
“I don’t want to intrude on your family time.” Preston replied and his hand twitched.
I could tell he wanted to embrace Amaya, but I wouldn’t let him touch her if she didn’t want it.
