Mafia Men IV: Rossi

Bonus Chapter 38: Tyler Morelli

We drove back in the car silent after I dropped Brandon and Miranda off. I didn't dare to look at Cameron after that phone call. I never seen the life drain out of someone's eyes before. Seeing it in my best friend was the worst thing in the world. It didn't add up. I know Lia loved him. There was no faking that. She loved him more than anything. She had to be forced to say it forced to push him away but she hit him where it hurt. I know it. We pulled over to the house and he got out the car and lit a cigarette.

"Hey man-"I started and he put his hand up to stop me from talking and stared into the distance

"I..Im not right..right now" He said blowing the smoke out of his mouth

I nodded and knew that I shouldn't bother him further especially in this state. I know he was fighting all the demons that he suppressed all this time. The same demons that Lia's presence kept at bay. Everything was brimming. He went into the house and I followed him. There was no way in hell I was going to leave him alone. The man looked like he had no will to live and I wasn't taking any chances. He went upstairs and I sat on the steps giving him a bit of space so I wouldn't suffocate him but remaining close by. I sat there as the guards walked by and soon heard crashing up stairs. The house shook and I ran upstairs and opened his room door. The windows were busted the dresser was on the ground. The mirrors were shattered. His hands were bleeding. His fists were tightened and he was breathing heavily and I grabbed his shoulder and he punched me in the face. I felt the iron taste in my mouth and he kept coming at me and I blocked his hits. Soon I tripped on the ground and I kicked him knocking him to the ground too. He hovered over me and I held his fists.

"Cameron! Hey!" I yelled and one of his fists were lose and he punched me again. My jaw clenched and I punched him back knocking him to the ground. His nose was bleeding and I held his fists down on the ground and he tried to get from under my grip. He screamed loudly and I felt all his pain. I felt the tears blur my vision as it did him.

"It hurts so fucking bad" He cried and I let his fists go and sat next to him. He rolled over on the ground and he laid face down in the carpet. "It hurts so fucking bad. I just need it to stop"

I placed my hand on his shoulder as he cried. "I know. I know" I repeated as he laid there. "I'm here Cam. Im here"

----

The next morning I woke up laid in the chair across his bed and he wasn't in bed where I left him. I quickly got up and ran downstairs to see him in the library. He was pouring himself a drink at 8am. I looked at him and saw the dried blood still on his face.

"Hey" I said and he looked up at me

"Good morning" He said smirking and leaning "Can you accept my apology for hitting you in the form of a drink?"

He poured me a glass and pushed it across his desk. I took the glass and drunk some. It did ease the sting from the punches he threw. "I normally accept flowers and chocolates" I said

"I'll work on it." He said smirking and leaning back in his chair

"You're in a better mood" I said to him sitting in the chair across from his desk

He looked up at me. "Of course I am. What's the use in pining over a woman who doesn't love me? Who I'm not good for or never deserved. The answer is no use" He said with his jaw clenching and downing the drink

"It's kind of poetic when you think of it. First Ellie then...her." Cameron said pouring another drink

"You want to know my theory?" I asked and he shook his head

"I'm done with theories. I only want facts. And the facts are what she said. You didn't hear what she said or how she said it. It was all the truth and truth is fact to me. So i'm done. I'll let her be happy with him. I'll let them get their happy ending. Let him-"Cameron trailed off sipping his drink

"Let him have her? Let him touch, kiss and fuck her? Father her children?" I said and Cameron's jaw clenched.

"Shut the fuck up!" He yelled

"That's the Cameron I know" I said "That's the man that doesn't take no for an answer. You know how she feels about you. There's no faking that. You've been on the other side of those glances, those touches, those words. You know better than anyone how she feels for you. No acting is that good. But for you sit here and sulk and let her go. That's not the Cameron I know. This here is the weak side of you. You're scared. You're scared of rejection and I get it. I do, but letting him get away unscathed after taking what is yours. I don't know who the hell you are. Come find me when he gets back."

I downed my drink and walked out the office.
"Tyler" I heard and soon turned around to see him coming to the door way with his glass in his hand. I smirked at him. This was my best friend. The man I trusted with my life even though he threatened me a bunch of times. I hoped I could get through to him for him to see that the fight wasn't over that it only began.

He came closer to me and looked me in the eyes.
"That Cameron is dead." He said and in his dark eyes I saw no emotion and it was the scariest thing. There was a bunch of nothingness. My smirk dropped and I nodded walking out the house and slamming the door behind me.

Where do we go from here?