Fatal Alliances: Chapter 45

Adrian.

Was it possible for the sky to get even darker than it actually was right now? Not a bloody drop of moonlight around.

“You’re still awake?” Ricardo’s voiced echoed from the doorway.

“No, I’m asleep right now.” I replied in irritation of his stupid question.

“Well, you seem to be rather bitter.” He chuckled as he pulled out a book from the bookshelf in my room, “I must say, I’ve never seen you look so drawn out, Adrian.”

“Why are you here?”

“Can’t I meet my favourite cousin?”

“Enough with the sh*t, Ric,” I said with a tired frown while adjusting the papers on the desk I was sitting in front of, “Did you get in contact with Gabriel concerning the officials?”

“Yes, we’re safe. Everyone’s freed from the burden of the partnership.”

“Good.”

“What’s the matter with you?” He raised an eyebrow at me, “I’d expected you to be at least a bit more cheerful of this accomplishment, but here you are deep in your own world. What happened with you and Miss Greene this morning?”

“Nothing happened.”

“Oh, so that’s why you’re so depressed?” He smirked.

“This is ridiculous.” I stated annoyed by his sudden teasing, “No. It’s not the reason. I was just thinking.”

“About?”

“A new project. Its foundation, flaws, possibilities.”

“I see.” He replied, suddenly picking something up from the ground, “Seems like she left this.”

A locket, her locket. She’s too agitated. And when I try to fix that she ends up crying about it. How old is she anyway? She’s too soft, too delicate. Honestly, if I had my way… Just the thought gave me goose bumps. She was beautiful, no doubt. Just too bratty. It’s irritating, when I begin to figure her out, she starts talking in riddles. What the hell did I not understand anyway? And then she comes up with this shit of hating me. God, I felt damned just thinking about that.

There was this inflicting feeling inside my chest, it was as if someone was clawing on my insides, including my soul. Was that even possible? Her words felt like stabs through my very being. Somehow, it was as if I was crumbling down. Damn you, Juliet. Damn you for being so sickly tempting, and murderously enticing. Damn you for being so addictive, so contagious. Somehow this place felt dead without you. Damn you for breaking me down.

“I had wanted to ask.” Ricardo suddenly brought me to reality, “Why’d you fire her?”

“What?”

“Why’d you fire her from the hotel? I thought she was doing a great job.”

“We talked about this already.” I answered.

“But you didn’t give me a reason.”

“Is it that important to you?”

“No. But I think it is important to you.”

“She was a distraction.” I stated getting up, and went to look out the window.

“To the employees or to you?” Ricardo asked with a short laugh.

I didn’t answer. Huh, all this time she had some kind of cryptic influence over me. I remember how soft and warm her lips were, it was like a drug, she was a drug- irresistible. I hadn’t meant to kiss her that first time, but I did, she was… No, I had to stop thinking about her. I hadn’t meant to want her. To crave her like a starving man. It wasn’t healthy. Every time I remember her I get this tormenting throb in my chest. I felt like I was in an endless kind of misery. This was more than just desire, craving. This was need, insanity. How could she do this to me?

“You’ve been unfair to her, Adrian. You abide by your rules only to have her suffer.”

“I don’t need your advice. I can think about that for myself.”

“I’m family. You take the advice whether you like it or not.” Ricardo said in a rougher tone of voice.

“You’re scolding me?” I scoffed with a laugh.

“You’re losing it, Adrian. You’re trying to be perfect like your father wanted you to be, but face it, no one is. The sad thing is you’re becoming just like want you don’t want to be- him.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that just because you don’t physically assault someone doesn’t mean that you’re not hurting them. Not all wounds are physical.”

As much as I wanted to rebuke him, I couldn’t. It would be stupid and immature to do that anyway when he had a point. I hadn’t meant to hurt her in any way, yet somehow or the other she finds some kind of knife in my possession to stab herself with. Honestly, I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the tears- crying, that pissed me off. I’d do anything for her to stop; hold her with me, kiss away the pain, buy her an island, hell- I’d even let her slap me again.

“I’m going to bed.” Ricardo finished and threw the locket at me, “Maybe that new project is a good idea. And maybe you should come clean to this new project.”

Looking at the locket, clasping it in my hand I thought about something. I didn’t think it was ever possible, but Juliet Greene broke me down. She ripped every wall apart and I could do nothing but fall into her orbit. Fall into her perfect smile and gentle heart. I tried to fight it so much. I tried to push her away but the more and more that I did, the further I fell. I needed to stop fighting this feeling. I needed to stop fighting with myself and just face the truth.

I walked out the room after he left. The place felt cold and lifeless. This feeling was really starting to fk with me. Running a frustrated hand through my hair, I entered a nearby room where I noticed Finny staring out the window. He seemed to be deep in thought.

“Where you here alone all this time?” I asked in a soft surprised tone.

“No,” His voice broke, “Donnie and I were playing pool a while ago. He just left.”

“You should get some rest, Finneas.”

“Can you?”

“What?”

“Can you sleep knowing about everything, Adrian?”

I couldn’t. I couldn’t sleep knowing about her being there alone. God knows what she’s doing. I couldn’t sleep without her. Without knowing that she’s asleep peacefully.

“Finny,” I tried to reason. He always hid when he was hurt.

“I need her back. I’m not strong like you Adrian. I’m not.” He stated with a soft sob, “She’s family.”

I’m not strong, Finneas.

I’m just so screwed up you can’t see how broken I actually am.

I knew he was hurt after seeing Melissa. I, on the other hand, didn’t even know how to feel about seeing her again.

Melissa…

No, I had to do this for Finny. He did so much for me all these years. I had to do this for him even if it means depriving myself of what I need. He deserved it.

“I’ll try to sort things out with Melissa, Finneas,” My voice ached.

He turned to me and I saw how red his eyes were. He’d been crying.

With a soft breath, he shook his head, “I wasn’t talking about Melissa, Adrian.”

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