Desire

CHAPTER FORTY

Jack

All things considered, Adelaide has been in a good mood. Cheery, bouncing off the wall. I know in my heart of hearts this is an act. She's pretending to be okay. I have been watching her. Making sure when she does fall apart I'm here to catch her. My brother should be here to catch her. I know what you're thinking. jack. You have the girl now. Now is your chance to have her for good, but having her means losing my brother. Even though my brother hates me and what I stand for. I never stopped loving him so no matter what I feel about Adelaide. I will never take her away from him. He needs her. Adelaide keeps him grounded.

Right now, Adelaide has decided that we're going on a road trip. I tried to talk her out of her, but she was strong in her opinion. She's trying to run away instead of wallowing. When I ask her she tells me she doesn't want to wallow, but I can tell that she's hurting. Trying to distract herself from feeling the pain.

Don't get me wrong I don't believe that Carter is good for her right now. He spends most of his years as an adult as a playboy. He needs to change, grow, and be better for her. He can't be what she needs right now. I know deep down Adelaide and Carter know that.

Ella has been quiet lately, with no more attacks on Adelaide, but I know that she won't stay hidden for long. She blames Adelaide for destroying her family. Even though, that's not what happened. Carter and Ella's mom had been separated her years, but she still has Carter wrapped around her finger, as she did when they were married. Ella knew this and exploited it.

Adelaide is in the kitchen preparing snacks for the road trip like sandwiches, pizza, and bags of candy all while smiling. I believe how calm and carefree she looks. I wanted so badly to walk over there and kiss her, hold her like she's mine. I guess there's a part of me that is possessive of her like she's mine. She's not though. 

She turns and looks at me with a wide smile on her face. I'm staring at her like an idiot in love and she caught me. I tried to play off as staring off into space, but she grins. 

"Are you ready to leave?" she asks. She walks to the door grabbing her suitcase. I immediately take it from her hands. A pregnant woman shouldn't carry her heavy suitcase. She smiles in reply. 

"I still think it's a bad idea to go on a road trip in your condition," I say pointing to her stomach. She scowls at me. 

"Didn't anyone tell you it's not right for you to point out a woman's weight," she replies. I shut my mouth knowing that there wasn't a good answer to that. Had I answered it would have been the wrong one. One that would end up with us fighting. 

Adelaide

Jack just commented on my weight. I used it against him so he would stop questioning me about this trip. Why can't he understand that I need this? I know it looks like I'm running away from my problem and that's probably part of it, but it's also a much-needed break from reality. Everything has been a rollercoaster that never stops spinning. I want to get off and take a break.

I want to breathe again.

Not just for me, but for my baby. It deserves that. I'll clear my mind and decide whether or not I want Carter back. Everything in me Is telling me to go back to him, but I just can't. What happens the next time his beautiful supermodel ex-wife comes calling for him? Is he just going to drop me the second she does?

He needs to change and the only way to do that is to leave him. Maybe now,  he can feel even a little bit of the pain and suffering I did.

I don't know how he did it, but he ended up carrying every bag we had into the care. He wouldn't even let me carry the snacks. I watched as he walked away, I found myself staring way too much at his body. I guess I never realized how hot and muscular he was or maybe I just never thought about it. His large muscles, his toned thighs, and his ass. 

Then I remembered, he is like this because he's a part of the Mafia. He has been training since he could speak. I want to ask him what's it like. why is he here with me when he should be running his mafia empire? 

"What is it, Adelaide," he speaks. I realized we were sitting in the car. I was too lost in my mind. Jack is staring at me with a worried expression on his face. 

"Why are you here?" I barfed out. His mouth opens and closes like he doesn't know what to say.  "I didn't mean it like that. I just meant-"

"Never mind." I turn around in my seat facing the window. Why did I say that? are you trying to push him to leave? 

"Adelaide," he says taking my hand in his. His hand was so hot to the touch I felt like I was touching fire. In a way, I was playing with fire. Hot-toned, with a devil grin, and an amazing body. He is Carter's brother I won't go that way, but it's fun to fantasize about it.  

"I'm here because I care about you. You need someone right now," he says softly. My heart melts. So far from the man I met a couple of months ago. So different than the man I loved. He stares into my eyes making my mouth dry. I drop his hand like it was fire. I was standing too close to the fire and I was going to get burned.