Bruise Me Twice (Twice #3)

Chapter 14

                                                                                       Brookyln

The door jarred open as a woman came inside, slowly walking towards me with a tender look on her face.

I knew straight from her eyes who she was, they were the same green eyes that I would helplessly gaze at. She sat down on the seat beside me bed where I was sitting up in, my copy of Pride and Prejudice open on my lap

"I never thought things would go this far" She said, breaking the silence that bored over us

"How are you now?" She asked me

"I'm fine now" I said, closing my book

"I'm sorry for all the trouble we've caused you Brooklyn" She said sincerely

"I understand why, you're just protecting your family" I said warmly

"Ever since he met you, I could see a change in him, he was...happier than usual. I knew he had something going on that he never told us, I just never expected this" She explained

"And ever since he came back from the trip, he'd spend days in his room crying and his nights drinking and he'd come back covered in bruises, I've never seen him like that, he didn't even eat" Evanna said, starting to tear up

"I can't even imagine how you've been" She continued

"And that's when we decided to draw the line and we told him it's alright, we never thought it would end up like this"

"Thank you, but he's gone now" I said, giving her a sad smile

"You can convince him, just please, don't give up on him" She said as a tear escaped her eyes

"I never did" I replied

"Thank you dear" She said, pulling me closer to her

"And please, be mindful of yourself, you don't deserve that pain" Evanna said as she pulled away

Another man came into the room, giving Evanna an affectionate kiss on the cheek and he turned to me with a guilty expression.

"Brooklyn, I couldn't tell you how sorry I am for what happened" He began

When I first saw him, I was trembling and almost about to fall, he was the kind of person who would make another person cry at the sight of him. I always looked up to him nonetheless because he cared about his family, it wasn't that he run the biggest mafia in England and the third most feared man on earth but because he loved his family. I wished I had a father like him because he cared. I looked up to him as much as I feared him but this time, he was here not as Blake Medina but as a father that was talking to his son's lover, knowing that she could help his son and make him happy.

"You have nothing to forgive Mr. Medina, you were just trying to protect Vaughn"

"Thank you, for the impact you've made in him, and no need for formalities" He replied

"You're family to us now dear" Evanna added with a tender smile

"Shall we get going?" Blake asked "I've sent a car for you" He added

I was again alone in my room, but at least I was free from this hospital.

The door opened once more, and this time there were a huddle of people; Audrey, Bella, Mateo and Conan.

I went with the girls back to my apartment, which was now cleaned. Vaughn was the only one who would have the key. I went over to the counter where the pictures lay without the frames and on top of them was a piece of paper.

Stay safe

2 words. Just 2 but it meant a million things. Tears welled up in my eyes as I picked it up. I ran out of my apartment and Bella and Audrey didn't follow, they know why I was going. I ran out to the streets, catching a taxi to the only place I knew he would be. I raced up the stairwell of the clock tower until I got to the top. There he was. Standing by the railing and gazing out at the star-painted sky while he was smoking a joint.

"Put it away" I said softly as I stood by him

He did what I said, burning it out and shoving it in his pocket, still not facing me but the sky.

"Why did you come here Brooklyn, you should be resting" He said, breaking the silence of the night

"Just" I lied

"I'm protecting you, don't you get it, I'm a danger to you, what happened was proof of that, when I ask you to stay away why can't listen if it protects your life" He said, raising his voice

"The same reason, I can't, I don't have the strength to do it and even if I could, I wouldn't stay away from you" I said, keeping my voice calm

"It was because of me you ended up in the hospital, because of me you cry and because of me that you got hurt" He yelled, his voice cracking as tears leaked out of his jade-like eyes

"You want to know the truth then, Yeah it was because of you I ended up at the hospital, I've gotten hurt because of you, it's all your fault so yeah you're right" I said, my volume matching his

"But have you looked at the reason, I can't be without you, what more can I tell you to make you realize that" I kept going as he stood in shock while listening to my words

"I knew being with you is dangerous but it's far worse being without you" I finished, letting him take in my words as another tear fell from his eyes

I knew that was his breaking point, he knew I meant what I said and as much as it slapped to him, he knew that I wasn't lying.

As if it was written in the stars, he gently placed his lips on mine, full of longing and pain. It was soft and gentle, in its own way I knew he was saying sorry and telling me I won the war between his head and heart.

I smiled as he pulled away, his face mirroring mine as I wiped the tears from his face placing a kiss in place of the tear drop.

"I love you Brooklyn" He said as he wrapped his arms around me, the puzzle pieces in place once more. How three words hit me was unimaginable, those three words coming from him were all I needed to carry on. Now there were no barriers holding us apart, we were free to be us.