Page 15 of Memento Mori
I started shaking my head. He grasped my hand, and a small smile lifted at the corners of his mouth.
“He does, Aaliyah. It’s in the way he looks at you. It’s like he sees his future. And it’s in his smile when you say something, no matter how geeky it may be.” He chuckled and nudged me. “I know he loves you because it’s the same way with me.”
Abel had never shied away from his feelings for me. We were together for four years before we decided to end things. We both understood we weren’t meant for one another no matter the love we shared.
And I did love Abel, but I wasn’t in love with him. My heart belonged to another man. But even though we both knew this, the sadness in his eyes always hurt when he spoke of his feelings for me. Feelings one day I hoped someone else replaced because he was a good man. He deserved to be loved.
“I don’t know if I can get pass this Abel. It was like I didn’t even exist to him.”
“You only paid attention to his actions because of the hurt you were experiencing, but I looked into the man’s eyes. He was miserable while he played a part.”
Before I began to protest, he placed his finger against my lips. It was something he always done when he felt what I needed to hear was too important to interrupt. With an exasperated huff, I rolled my eyes.
“Let me finish,” he said, dropping his finger from against my lips. “I’m not making excuses for him. What he did was wrong, and disrespectful. You have every right to be disappointed and hurt by what you saw. But I do believe you should hear what he has to say, before you shut him out. And if you don’t want to have anything else to do with him after he explains his actions, then I will be the first one to get you away from him.”
Remember, Bella, I love you. Never forget that. We’ll get through this, together.
Antonio’s words replayed in my head. But could we get through this?
“It hurts, Abel.” I placed my hand over my chest. “Every time I think about the way he was with that woman, my chest aches, and it gets hard to breathe.”
That should have been me sitting there with his family, while Abasi and the Don spoke business as I shared pleasantries with his mother. That should have been me holding hands and sharing kisses with him. Instead, it was some other woman.
Does he even think of me, like I think of him when we are apart?
“Even more reason for you to find out his side of the story.” Abel placed a kiss against the top of my head. “You love him, Nzuri. I know because of the amount of pain you are in right now. And if you don’t get the answers you deserve, then I will kick his ass while you walk out the door.”
This was the first time I had laughed since I left the restaurant this morning. After my early business meeting, I was going to go straight to Antonio, because I missed him even though I hadn’t been gone that long. I never expected to see him with another woman, much less be in another woman’s arms. I pushed the bile down crawling up my throat, while watching them together. When I could no longer sit and watch the man who promised me the rest of our lives together with another woman, I ended my meeting and rushed out of the restaurant.
“Thanks for being there for me, Abel.”
“I know we didn’t work out, but I only want what is best for you.” He stood then kissed me on the cheek. “I always have and always will. And I believe Antonio loves you. Hear him out.”
“I will,” I said, giving him a half-hearted smile.
“Whenever you’re ready, I will meet you at the door,” he said before he exited the room.
How do I start my life over after Antonio? I expected to marry this man, and now everything has changed. I took a deep breath, hoping to release the heavy weight of anger and sadness that consumed me.
I pulled myself together as best I could despite the circumstances. Although my heart hurt, and my life was collapsing around me, I needed to maintain an image of strength around these men, and anyone who could be watching. I was still the face of Abasi’s organization and couldn’t portray weakness to anyone. There was a job that still needed to be done whether or not I was on the clock and despite my heart breaking.
One day to relax and cry over my failed relationship. Tomorrow will be a new day and hopefully I can forget all about Antonio Rizzo, Jr.
I made my way out of the bedroom to the cabin of the plane, hiding my red swollen eyes behind a pair of sunglasses. Abel met me at the plane’s door with his stoic look but gave me a slight nod of encouragement. I squared my shoulders and lifted mychin. I was a strong independent woman. I didn’t need anyone, not even Antonio Rizzo, Jr.
Chapter Six
I AM HIS AND HE IS MINE
Aaliyah
Over seven hundred miles away from the man who betrayed me, and I couldn’t get him out of my head no matter how much I tried. While we rushed from the airport to the hotel, usually the sight of the city calmed any anxiety I suffered from but not today.
I loved New York. It was the first place I visited when I first came to America, and I often came whenever I needed a break from the dangers of work. However, this time New York did nothing to soothe my soul. I’d done everything short of crying myself to sleep to keep my thoughts from drifting to him, but it was no use. My fingers itched to touch his olive skin and ink tousled hair. I longed to gaze into the obsidian pools presently haunting me. I couldn’t escape him. I missed him. It was like my heart was dead and my soul was missing its other half.
Maybe Abel is right. Maybe I should let him explain.
From the safety and comfort of the luxury suite, I settled onto the king size bed, facing the balcony, and observed as the nightlife awakened with the sunset behind the skyscrapers. If you would’ve told me last week I’d be in this place in my relationship with Antonio, I would’ve called you a fool. I never thought he would be the one to betray me.
