CHASING ASH (GXG MAFIA) BURN THE DEVIL SEQUEL

Chapter Twelve

Chapter 12

Lifting my phone off the bedside table as I yawn, I glance down at the message telling me that George took care of Henry. Wow, he must be desperate. I let out a silent sneer before placing my hand back on Jane's back, rubbing little circles as she rests on my chest. Part of me wishes I could keep her here forever, but I want her to want to be here. I don't want her to look at me like she used to, I felt as though her eyes held warryness every time she looked at me, even at the softest moments. I knew she didn't trust me to keep her truly safe. "Lets go, I'll drive you home" I voice bluntly, bursting the blissful quietude.

She lifts her head slightly, raising her eyes to look at me. Her features look confused, like she's processing to check if she heard me correctly. "You're letting me leave?" she asks in disbelief, her voice a still little croaky from the rest she's just had.

"Yes, I'm letting you leave, now get dressed before I change my mind" I mutter as I watch her lift herself off of me, following suit, I put my trousers on silently, hoping she doesn't catch on to my change in temper. I toss little glances at her as she dresses, her back arching as she reaches for her shirt, her ass staring back at me. Stop it Carmilla, this is not the time to get horny. I shake my thoughts away as I pull my attention back to my shirt laying at the edge of the bed, sliding it over my white undershirt as I stand up to walk up behind her. "Will you let me see you?" I question, my voice tender as I wrap my hands around her waist, pulling her into my chest with her back against me.

She lets out a low exhale, shutting her eyes as she leans the back of her head in the crook of my neck. Her slow pulse makes me feel as if she's taking in my scent so she can remember it for longer, cherishing this fever dream before she has to return to her previous reality. "Carmilla, you know I can't do that," she whispers. I plant my lips on her hair as I breathe in her familiar scent, gently kissing her head in silence. "But I will try," she finishes. Biting down the wide grin that is craving to escape, I lower my head down to kiss the side of her neck, closing my eyes as she lets out a strained moan.

"Why don't you leave him? I could give you the world "I mumble into her skin, her warmth fading as goosebumps tickle my lips at my words. "Besides I think Adeline and I would get along" I remark before she halts her enjoyment to turn to face me.

"Carmilla, no. You are not going near Adeline," she warns, her eyes glaring through me. "And I'm not leaving him because he's my husband, and I love him" she states firmly as she attempts to leave my grip but I don't budge.

A little nerve gets struck in my chest at those words, how comfortable she is, talking to me as though she didn't cause this whole mess. "I understand, but don't talk to me like that, youre getting a little too comfortable. You need to remember, I love you, but I don't love you that much '' I rebuke, my eyes connecting with hers until she lowers her gaze. I push down the urge to just keep her here for longer to remind her who makes the rules around here, but slowly, I loosen my grip around her waist to head to the front door. "Come on, it's late." I nudge as she stands still in the middle of the room, pondering over my warning.

The night drive was quiet, slow as I breathed in the fresh midnight air yet my lungs felt as if it's being crushed. The ups and downs were starting to tire me, one second she hates me, the next she wants me to hold her and cherish her. I can't figure her out. I let my eyes fall on her every few minutes, analyzing her silent awe of our surroundings as she stares out of the window. I steady the car as we arrive in front of her apartment complex. "Sleep well my love" I state softly once the car comes to a complete stop, yet she doesn't aim to exit the car. Instead, Jane finally turns to face me.

"I'm sorry" she says gently, her crystal blue eyes glistening under the light above us. My brow lifts slightly at her apology, confused by her sudden need to say something like this. "I'm sorry for everything. I love you and I should have said it back that day and maybe our lives would have remained with another, or maybe we might have taken our separate ways, but" oh there goes the 'but'. "If I did, I wouldn't be where I am now, with you. With Adeline. Finally happy and secure. I can't give that up because a life with you isn't promised, with him it is." she finishes, and suddenly the tightness in my chest makes a little more sense. For some reason, her words right now, hurt so much more than the night she mentioned. The blend of her admission that she loves me with her rejection makes my heart fight against its strings.

"Jane, he can die just as easily as I can. Fuck, he will most likely die before me if you consider my track record. He can't give you what I can, and you still have Adeline. She isn't going anywhere "I voice, trying to convince myself as much as I do her. "Give me a chance, me and you. No games, no weapons, just me and you. I deserve at least that, no?" I question, yet it spilled out into a plea. Her brows knit as she searches for an answer, "don't give up on me yet" I whisper.

Jane remains silent for a moment, although it felt like an excruciating eternity, waiting for her to give me some sort of response. "I'm sorry, but I can't," she finally says. Inhaling deeply, I turn my head away from Jane as I press the little button on the door that opens the door to the car. If I look at her I'll crack into dust, I keep replaying her last words as I see her eyes still on me through my periphery. "Carmilla?" she calls out gently.

"Just go" I utter, waiting for Jane to get out of the now chill car. Pondering her options for a moment, she silently leaves the car.

Jane P.O.V

The car door closes once I stand on the pavement, turning around to say goodbye but I don't get the chance as she speeds off, her car disappearing in the distance. The cold breeze tickles my cheeks as frustrated tears warm them, biting the inside of my cheeks as I exhale in stammered breaths. I wish I could go back in time and take everything I said back, I should have just said thank you and left.

My mind is only thinking of her as I walk up the stairs to the building, my steps echoing in the stillness of the night. The heavy guilt in my chest, holding me back as I enter the elevator slowly.

Wiping away the tears, I knock softly, not wanting to wake up Adeline. Fuck, Adeline. Carmilla's face has completely filled my head to the point where I forgot I was about to see Adeline. My fists reach the door once again to knock but George opens the door before I get a chance to touch it. Without a word, George engulfs me in an embrace, lifting my body in the air as he holds on tightly. I grip my fingers onto his shirt as he sobs into my shoulder quietly, his tears dampening my clothes as it seeps through to my skin.

I close my eyes as I take in his odor, my chest feeling light once again at the warmth of his body wrapped around mine. "I was so scared" he whispers in between cries, slowly letting my feet reach the floor as he loosens his grip to look at me. I watch his eyes scan me, searching for any evidence of harm. "Are you hurt anywhere, did she hurt you? Are you hungry? Has she been feeding you well?" he rambles in a worry as he cups my now dry cheeks.

I let out an assuring smile, placing my hands over his wrists. "No George, she didn't hurt me. And yes she fed me, I'm not hungry," I responded softly to his questions as he kept his eyes on mine, his brows furrowed in distress. "I'm okay, I promise" I whisper as he leans forward to place a kiss on my forehead. "Is Adeline asleep?" I ask, desperate to see her.

"Yes, she is in our bed. She missed you so we've been sleeping in our bed together, it was the only way I could get her to stop crying for you" he explains, yet I know he needed her there as much as she did. I nod in response before making my way to the bedroom, creaking the door open as silently as I can to find her. Her little body is curled under my duvet, her personal blanket, tucked in her neck and over her lips. I watch her body rise and fall gently as she sleeps on my pillow, her hair messily overtaking most of the pillow's space as her little tongue sticks out ever so slightly against her blanket. I tiptoed my way to the bed, sitting down at the side of the bed beside her. I place my palm over her forehead gently, tucking the hair covering her forehead behind her ear.

She looks so peaceful, her puffy eyes make my heart quelch in guilt at being so reckless and leaving her behind. "Hi baby" I whisper, not wanting to wake her. "I'm so sorry chicken" I mutter as George walks into the room, placing a clean pair of pajamas at the edge of the bed. My eyes blur her delicate face as a relieved tear falls on my wrist.

"Get in bed, it's late" he whispers as he places his palm on my back, rubbing away my stress. I nod before wiping my tears away quickly and get up to switch into my clean clothes.

Gently getting in, I shift Adeline to the center of the bed, crawling in as she cuddles up into my chest in her sleep. I intertwine my hand with Georges as he lays behind Adeline, watching him close his eyes with a tired smile. An unfamiliar sensation fills my gut as I lay with my eyes open, I got what I craved for every waking moment yet my heart feels incomplete. For the first time, my heart is splitting in two, one half pumping for them and the other searching for Carmilla's warmth, touch and embrace.