mine.
He looks similar to her. Dark hair and eyes. Beautiful as ever. I try to think back to how he started working for me, but it’s been so long, I don’t even remember how it all started. All I know is that he is one of the good ones, and to be caught up in this mess isn’t fair to him. I owe his family more than that.
“Enzo, get better, get the girl, and be happy. You have nothing to thank me for.” He completely dismisses me and turns around to walk out of the room to leave me be.
As much as I think being alone is the right thing, it feels wrong. Thoughts of Amara come rushing to the surface, and I wonder what she’s going through. How much longer can she hold on? Is she even still alive?
It’s those thoughts that remind me how much I love her. I will do whatever I can to save her, and then apologize to her for my actions. I refuse to allow her last memories of me to be of the evil monster because, though it may be true, I’m also someone else. I’m a lover, and I love her.
“How does your leg feel?” Jared asks as he sets a bowl of soup in front of me. It’s been a few days since I started walking around again, and I’m just getting used to moving around more and more. My muscles ache, and sometimes, I feel like I might collapse, but then I think of Amara and all she must be going through.
“It’s fine,” I respond, dipping my spoon into the broth of the chicken noodle soup. It smells delicious, and my stomach growls in approval. Though I was hungry, a tinge of guilt burrows into my mind, and I drop the spoon into the bowl. I can’t eat, not knowing what is happening to her. It doesn’t matter what was said or what had taken place. The way I treated her… There was simply no excuse. I should’ve known better.
“You don’t have to feel guilty about eating,” Jared chimes in. I can’t force myself to look at him. I don’t want him reading my thoughts. I am supposed to be the King, the man who runs everything with an iron fist. Instead, I run nothing. My empire has crumbled, and everything that meant the most has been stolen from me.
“It’s not guilt,” I lie. I’m on the verge of losing my temper again. I’m tired of being caged, being told what to do, and how I need rest. What I need is Amara… safe and happy. I don’t care about anything else.
“Well, that’s a crock of shit.” He laughs, setting his spoon down on the table. I don’t know where to go from here. There is nothing I can say that would help. I need to take action.
“Call it whatever the fuck you want. I don’t care. I need to figure out a plan, then I need to implement it because I will get her back, and I will gut Mack. No one lies to me and gets away with it.” Simply admitting he had pulled the wool over my eyes angers me. It makes me feel weak in the eyes of my people, and I’m not weak.
“Whatever. Do what you need to,” he says, frustrated with me. I can’t blame him. I’m frustrated with myself.
“Have you talked to Eli?” I ask, trying to change the subject.
“No,” Jared lowers his voice. “I haven’t heard from him, and he is ignoring my calls.”
“Great. Either he is dead or found a new alliance.” It’s hard not to be bitter about it. I grit my teeth so hard my jaw hurts.
“There is someone else I talked to. Matter of fact, he is going to come by today.”
“What the fuck, Jared?” I bark at him. No one is supposed to know where I am.
“I know, I know.” Jared waves his hands at me like that’s gonna calm me down. “I should have asked you, but I didn’t think you’d mind–”
“Who?”
“My dad. I called him this morning to ask for help. I didn’t think he would at first, but when I told him what happened, he agreed to help right away. It’s kind of odd, to be honest, but he said he has to tell us something in person. It’s about Amara.”
“What the hell does your dad know about her?”
“I don’t know.” He fishes his phone out of his pocket and looks at the screen.