Damned: Chapter 48) Truth

“Jesus.” I heard him say softly.

“Well, I mean it’s Katherine but I guess I can work with Jesus if you want.”

Not a moment passed by when I felt strong arms embrace me.

“I thought you were-” He choked within his sentence filled with joy and sadness and a somewhat bitter longing. “But you’re here, you’re okay.”

Returning his hug, I felt so many emotions swarm within my soul, “I missed you, James. I was looking for you. You said you’d come back two years ago and-”

“I did Katherine, believe me, I did. My heart broke when I saw you in the hospital in that state I just didn’t know what to do. I felt like I failed you, I disappointed you and Marc. I didn’t get to you in time.”

“James,” I said faintly, “Marc-”

“I know, but I keep telling myself that he’s in a better place.”

In that second the back door near us bolted open and an awestruck Moe stood with his face paled as he saw James who released me slowly and faced him with kind eyes, “Jamie?”

My voice dripping with agony brought his attention back to me, “James, what happened two years ago?”

It took about five to seven beers for Moe to fully register James who sat around the bar table with us.

“I just can’t believe you’re here. It all feels surreal.” I voiced towards James.

“Piranha, three o’clock,” Moe elbowed me.

“It’s eight actually.”

Sighing he pointed at the door where I saw a very annoyed yet shocked-looking Natalia. Annoyed at me, shocked at James being there, I’ll bet the odds.

“What the hell.” Natalia stared dumbfounded at James as she somewhat fell to the seat next to me, “You’re actually here. Katherine was right.”

“I actually am more than you all give me credit for but I’m not bragging,” I say as I throw my hands halfway up.

Shifting in his seat, James rubbed his jawline a bit hesitant, “You asked me what happened two years ago, and I’ll answer that but first I need you to promise me that you’ll move on from this. Katherine, this needs to be left in the past.”

“I’m listening.”

“I did receive the folder and the diary along with it. But Katherine, believe me, I didn’t want you involved in this. It was too dangerous. Too many lives have been lost. We’re lucky to even be alive right now. I did go to Gianmarco Vincelli’s house but not as a hostage. I went for Violet, I wanted to see with my own eyes what she became. Somehow I wasn’t surprised, just disappointed. She killed her own sister.”

“You went with the folder and diary to his place?” Moe frowned.

“No. I handed it over to someone to keep safe for me. I couldn’t risk that. There were names of men who needed to be brought in and their crimes. It was all the evidence. I just went for Violet.”

“Love makes us make terrible decisions and trust awful people,” Natalia said softly, almost to herself.

“I got out that place in time. Before-”

“And Vitaly?” my heart ached as I said his name.

For a few seconds, James stared into my eyes almost as if he was absorbing my pain, “I’m sorry Katherine, he wasn’t with me.”

And just like that, I felt as if everything frosted around me and a deep internal chill iced within my heart, my soul, and my spirit- breaking me to the very core. Every. Single. Piece. Whatever little hope I had, gone.  

“But the necklace I saw on the table, his necklace.” I tried to protest for a different response.

“I brought it to you. After the incident I went back to the mansion, I saw it on the ground and somehow I just felt like it belonged to you. I didn’t know it was his.”

No no no.

This wasn’t happening. Vitaly can’t be dead. Please no.

Natalia placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. At one point I wasn’t even sure it was her who needed the support or me, “Katherine, maybe it’s time we contemplate on leaving. You got what you want, James, and your answers.”

I locked my eyes on James but I couldn’t read his expression, something wasn’t right or maybe I couldn’t just accept the truth. Maybe it was all in my head. Whatever it was, I just didn’t want to be here right now. I wished to be in solitude.  We all had dinner together there however I hardly spoke and gave briefly forced smiles to the others. God, my heart hurt so badly and it wasn’t with the excessive amount of wine I was having.

The morning after, I woke to find Natalia packing her luggage. “I booked us a flight that departs at 3 pm. Moville is staying back a little. I assume it’s to catch up with James. Before you protest-”

“It’s fine. I’ll pack.” I say silently, heading back to my room.

Moville and James met us at the airport as we awaited our flight.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Moe said to me.

“Homesick,” I muttered softly as we walked alongside each other.

“Now why do I have a feeling that that’s not true, Piranha? Did you want me to come back with Natty and you?” He questioned, yet I could sense the uneasiness in his voice. And God, I wasn’t a selfish bitch to say yes to him even if I know I’ll miss him but I knew that wasn’t the case of why I was so morbidly quiet and out of character.

Turning to face him, I wrapped my arms around him, slightly taking him aback. “Moe, you stayed with me on days that you didn’t need to. Even when the time of our situation expired you chose to stay, to always make sure I am okay, and somehow you never leave my side when I make terrible and rash decisions. I lost a lot of my family Moville, but after this whole crazy shit we all went through I know I gained amazing ones. You proved to me that one doesn’t need to be blood-related to care and love as one’s own.”

“Katherine,” He said in a soft breath, finally absorbing my eyes with his. “I’ll miss you too.”

“Ready?” Natalia called to me as both she and James walked alongside each other.

“Yeah.”

Before I turned to walk away, I walked towards James and I still felt my heart contract after what he told me at the bar. “Thank you.” I manage to say.

“For?”

“Everything. For helping me when you didn’t have to and for coming back like you promised, even though I was sort of in a state of unresponsiveness. I owe you, quite literally a car.” I manage to joke, “Thank you.”

“You’re treating me like a stranger, Katherine.” He smiled warmly at me as he pulled me in for one last hug, “Moville and I will always be in your life, any place and any time, I’ll always love you like my own.”

I turned to walk away but turned back again to face him, “Why do I feel like you’re not telling me something?”

“Katherine,” He pressed, “Whatever decisions made would and will always be for the betterment of your sake.”

Before I could have asked him to elaborate, Natalia pulled me by the arm, “Katherine, time to go or we’ll miss the flight.”

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