SHE IS THE MAFIA (BOOK#2)

Chapter 36

***Elias POV**

I close the door to Tempest's hospital room, my fist pressing against my mouth. I hear her screaming my name, yet the door never opens. Her sobs ring in my ears as she pleads for me to return. I stand here for far too long before letting the handle go and walking down the hall.

I finally understand why she didn't want to tell her friends about us.
I am just a charity case.
A boy who got his childhood and life taken away.
I see why she didn't want to tell Carlos about us. She doesn't want to be judged about her poor choice of men.

This whole time, I was so worried about how I was going to tell her about my life. How I was going to persuade her to love me regardless of my flaws? I should have known from the day she agreed to the deal. She just wanted someone to fill in a space beside her. She was willing to let me go after our two-month agreement.

This isn't love.
This was never love.

So, it's only right I change the rules and leave.

As much as I want to go back into the room and scoop her up into my arms. As much as I want to kiss her and put a ring on her finger. As much as I want to leave with her by my side. She was right. It's time for reality to set in.

I must get home.
I must help my mother plan the burial.
My family must come first. 

I pivot on my heel, turning back in the direction I came from. My legs don't walk. I just stand looking at the door.

Maybe I should go back.
Maybe I am making a big deal out of nothing.

No.
No. I can't. She lied to me.

I turn around to walk away only to collide with someone.

"Oh, my goodness—" the man says, "Are you alright there?"

"Yeah, yeah. That was my bad, sir—" I look at him.

An older man, maybe the age of my parents.
Silver hair parted to one side and gelled.
He smiles at me, exposing his yellow teeth.

But his features look familiar.

"If you're not injured, then I guess I don't have to pay to keep you in one of these rooms," he laughs.

I give him a fake laugh and nod.

I don't like the way he looks at me.
But he nods and walks down the hall.

I don't think much of it and continue leaving.

My inner voice screams at me to go back.
My nerves are going haywire.

The automatic doors slide apart as I rush out of the building, looking for my car. Frank had brought earlier this morning before Tempest was awake.

He seemed tense and I asked if everything was okay. He just held Tempest's hand and had a worrisome and fatherly look on his face. Then, he told me about Kindle's death. Frank is worried about how Tempest is going to react after hearing all of this. In addition, his pregnant wife is having problems with the baby, and she has been hospitalized. He is torn and stressed.

I promised to take care of everything I can, which is why I can't leave now.
My car's tires smear the asphalt as I back out of the parking space too quickly.

As I speed through the parking garage, I pass by a black van.
A black van in which the man from earlier climbs into the passenger seat.
Something seems off.

But I don't have time to investigate something that involves me. I take the fastest route to the Moore mansion, barely even parking the car as I rush into the house. It is eerily quiet.