Deadliest of Sins

Chapter 18: The End of an Era

Chapter 19:

Annalissa's POV

  The rest of the afternoon, I cried and packed. Noah came back with hundreds of boxes and immediately started on Athena's room. He didn't comfort me when I broke down into full hysterics as I packed up my kitchen cabinets. He didn't even acknowledge me when he passed me his cell. With shaky hands I grabbed it out of his and placed it by my ears. "Hello?"

"Mija? Annita is that you?" my mothers voice cracked at the other end of the call. 

"Si mami, soy yo." I whispered. Shame and something like longing filled my chest. Tears pricked at my eyes and made a whimper release. I could hear sobs from my mother and I couldn't help but feel guilty. She didn't deserve everything I had put her through. Not after she already lost one daughter 5 years ago. "My baby, I'm so happy to hear from you. When Sin called me, I couldn't believe it. Is it true? Are you really coming home?" The awkward silence from my end was more than enough to be worrisome. 

I glanced over at Noah and saw the look of anger and anguish shimmering beneath his beautiful hazel eyes. Without taking my eyes off his, I answered my mother. "Yes mom, I'm coming home."

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The Next Morning

Eight o'clock in the morning seems like a reasonable time for anyone to be awake, but when you are up all night packing your life into boxes and trying to figure out how you are going to tell loved ones you're leaving and possibly never come back, makes it nearly impossible. I laid in bed looking up at my ceiling, which would most likely be the last time, contemplating where the hell life went wrong. I didn't get much time before the sounds of movement downstairs caught my attention. I quickly pulled on my robe and my flip flops and headed to Athena's room to check on her. She was sound asleep still, and I wasn't going to wake her. She was going to need all the rest she could get. Life was about to get crazy again and most likely overwhelming for her. The last time she saw the majority of her family, she was an infant.

As I descended the stairs, I could hear Noah talking to what I assumed were movers. Six big burly men lifting various items of furniture and boxes that I had stacked in my living room the night before. All of the movers greeted me with a good morning miss as I stood at the end of the stairs, but one in particular winked at me. Male attention always bothered me, but after the attack it manifested into actual disgust. It would make me want to vomit or get a sour taste in my mouth. Ethan was the exception to that though. His attention always felt safe and loved, not lust and skin crawling.

Noah seemed to notice the wink and positioned himself in front of me and glared at the mover. The guy just shrugged and continued working. A warm calloused hand wrapped around my bicep and lead me back up the stairs. "Get dressed." Noah growled at me, eyes blazing. "The hell do you think you are doing, going downstairs half naked?!" he was pissed, but the accusation annoyed me. I wasn't half naked. I was wearing shorts, a tank top, and a robe! "I'm sorry your majesty, but I was unaware you were bringing people into my home at eight o'clock in the morning! A little warning would be nice!" I yelled. My blood was boiling. How dare he act like any of this is my fault.

"How the hell did you think everything was going to be moved Annalissa? Did you honestly think I was going to take my time and move all of your crap when I had important shit to do back home?" He asked sarcastically. "No, I'm not. I am here to get you and take you back. I am not worried about all your precious fucking shit you have accumulated over the last two years. All I want is to go home with my child, and spend time with her where she belongs. Not in this god forsaken town full of goody two shoes and your lover boy." his words stung. It hurt almost as much as the scars I had from that awful night. I always knew  he could be a dangerous guy, but I never knew he was emotionally dangerous too. " The movers will have everything done in a couple of hours. They will later deliver everything to MY house and your stuff will be put into my guest house. Get dressed, and pack a bag of necessities to take on the road. I will get Athena ready. We leave in thirty and not a minute later. Do you understand?" his cold tone had me frozen. When I didn't answer him he pinched my chin between his thumb and index and brought my eyes to his. "Do. You. Understand." he had a deadly look in his eyes, one that told me it was useless to fight. I slowly nodded and he let me go.