Playing The Game - Book Four in The WSU Series

- Chapter Forty-Six -

"You're still here."

I turn to see Andrew entering through the glass doors that lead out onto the patio that overlooks their garden. "I am," I say with a smile as Andrew walks over to the kitchen to begin making himself his fourth coffee of the day, but who's counting? "And here's me thinking you were heading home," he responds as he begins making his drink. "Sofia told you," I comment as I make my way towards the kitchen to sit on the barstool opposite him.

"No," Andrew replies as he stirs his coffee, "I overheard the two of you an hour ago, you weren't quiet," he says with a smile as he leans back against the counter to watch me. "I can't protect you forever," Andrew states and I know that. I'm aware I've overstayed my welcome, "my question is why hasn't Kian come to get you?" Andrew comments and we both know I can't give him an answer. "I know he has people watching you, making sure you're alive, and well," Andrew says with certainty as he sips his coffee, his eyes trained on me, waiting for a reaction. I can't forget I'm still a part of the New York Famille, unless I've already been outcasted, but even then, Kian would have to punish me for my betrayal.

"Why hasn't he come to get you? He could of, Kian Bliss has the power to walk into my territory to claim you, and I would have to turn you in because you're a part of his mafia, not mine," Andrew admits the harsh truth. "So, why are you still here, free?" Andrew questions before shrugging, "maybe he decided it were best if you stayed away from him," Andre mutters and his words shouldn't hit too close to home. My heart beats and I feel the need to throw up, has Kian truly decided to give me freedom? Andrews right, Kian could have stormed into this territory to get me, but he didn't. He left me free, why?

For five months, Kian hasn't come to get me.

Five long, aching months, and he just let me be as if I meant nothing to him. As if what we had wasn't worth fighting for, he let me go the first time, and now for the second time. Doesn't he understand that I've never stopped loving him? For all the pain that he's caused me, my heart has never stopped beating for his. My only love sprung from my only hate, too early seen unknown, and known too late. Prodigious birth of love is it to me, that I must love a loathed enemy.

"Go home, Lizzie," Andrew repeats Sofia's words from earlier, "ask the questions you want the answers to," he says with a small smile as he leaves me in the kitchen alone. For five months I've been away from Kian, and he never came for me. Maybe I'm being naive in thinking he would come to find me, I did leave him after all. But I left him, clearly, he'd want revenge, something, right? I've made him look weak, how does he think the West will brand him? He couldn't even keep his wife, surely, Kian would want retribution. I know Kai would want it, but not him, otherwise he would have accepted my game, and come to find me.

But he hasn't.

For the first time after his betrayal, I realize that I'm truly lost without Kian Bliss. They say if you repeat a lie multiple times, you'll convince yourself it's the truth. When in truth, I never hated Kian Bliss, I should, I know that. But I don't, I left because I couldn't face the truth, my feelings being everything I should ignore. My father said that love is a weakness and in our world, that's a fact. But maybe, just maybe, love could be the answer to everything. Yet, if Kian loved me, wouldn't he come to find me?