Swedish Mess: Stealthy Games ||Book 3||

Cain

***

Oliver's support helped me a lot. My brain started working more deeply. How could I be scared of Edd? Edd! The guy, who was great at figuring my feelings and thoughts, who was best at making me happy, making me feel comfortable. My sharp reaction to the view was a sign for him to keep his distance from me. I didn't want it. What I wanted the most was to have him next to me, no matter in what role. Just to be around.

I was still in Laura and Aamina's room, trying to calm down and leave soon, because the girls might want to come back to their room, they left it for me and Oliver talked. Someone knocked on the door and I opened it confused. My breath had a harsh attack, when I noticed Edd standing behind the door. He looked up at me with some sad regret. Tears were gathering around my eyes without permission, when I looked at that bruised face. The way he was getting beat in front of me, I couldn't see it even in my scariest nightmares.

"I... I came for a small talk. Mind it?" Edd's voice sounded formal. He thought I didn't want to see him anymore. Yes, I didn't want to. Not him, but his bruises. I made the door wide open and stepped back, letting him in.

"Are you ok?" My voice barely sounded with no shiver.

Edd drew a light smile on his face and shrugged miserably. "Guess what? I am. Brother is doing good, sister is with him, both of them are safe, Jan is dead. You... you're safe now too. So, yes, I am ok." Edd's mood and condition depended upon me and his family. The most comfortable thing was he included me in his family with his answer. My mind sharply turned back at the update about Jan, and I sharply narrowed my eyes, asking, "wait a minute... Jan's dead? How?"

"How? Well, I hope, painfully."

"Edd..." I raised my eyebrow with a strictly scolding expression.

"Rob said your sister killed."

"Sanna? But Jan was his old friend."

"Sometimes people do sacrifices for other, dearer reasons. I don't know why but Sanna is a wise woman. She definitely thought before acting."

"While you don't."

Edd shook his head skeptically. "What?"

"Why did you start a fight with those jackasses? What if Mike didn't reach on time? Are you that dumb to fight in front of us?! Sara has been through enough, why adding more? Haven't you thought about her?"

"I don't know, I was thinking about you."

My heart skipped a beat hearing his answer, and the tears eventually gave up holding tight around my eyes.

"They got what they deserved. I don't regret anything I've just done. I only regret you had to witness it. That's what I truly feel bad for, I'm sorry." Edd tenderly grabbed my hand and placed it against his chest. His heart was beating crazily fast. "Bertha, if anything bad happened to you... I don't even want to think about it. All that time, in the park... My mind had been completely busy with you. Believe it or not, you gave me strength then. I don't figure your feelings, but mine is already firmly rooted. I'll wait for you, however long it takes. Your answer will change a lot, Bertha. With your answer nothing and no one will stop me: even your brother and uncle."

I was trapped by those deep, charming eyes on my face. His sad smile colored winters and faded out the brightest sunshine. I didn't say anything in response, but I felt a strong desire of his healing embrace. "Hug me, ok?"