ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴅᴇꜱɪʀᴇꜱ

Chapter 18

Amelia

Leaving his house and moving towards my own, I realized that he was in the suburbs. Far from civilization and city noise. Somehow alienated and isolated.

When the neon lights already started to burn my eyes and the zigzag driving on the heated asphalt made me feel nauseous, I knew we were almost there.

"Thank you."

I said silently to the driver with a forced smile, grateful for the total silence during the drive.

The sound of the apartment door being unlocked through the empty corridor rang out in my ears like a gunshot, causing a low shiver to spread through my body.

Glancing at my apartment, everything was the same as I left it. But I wasn't. Filling my lungs with more oxygen than my alveoli could hold, I dragged my grumpy body to the window.

Expecting to see a wooden gazebo with one move of the curtain to the side, my eyes met the grey of streets and sidewalks, brick buildings and only a few rows of trees.

And him.

My mysterious rider on his two-wheeled steel horse, chained with a helmet, was looking straight into my window.

A black shadow that didn't scare me more than my reflection in the mirror. In his gaze I could feel the intensity, the power.

Feeling nothing but emptiness inside, I let the curtain cover the window, cutting me off from everything outside.

The past, William, biker and him. Sebastian.

I turned on the hot water, which splashed through the shower head like Amazonian rain. Stripping of my clothes, I neatly folded his hoodie and placed it next to the pillow.

A million tiny droplets attacked my body like merciless soldiers, failing to wash away the feeling of emptiness that was covering me.

My mother's face suddenly flashed before my eyes and I knew that I could never let anyone get hurt because of me again. Except myself.

While I tried to find a position in which I could fall asleep, I texted Gabriel that I would come to work tomorrow. And I fell asleep.

I decided with all my morning energy, which filled me for a short moment, that I had to put myself in order and continue on. Not to think about William or Sebastian.

Turning on the television and pouring coffee into a giant mug, the voice of the journalist who was leading the morning news almost stopped me from my clear intention.

Police patrols have been at the crime scene since yesterday and are collecting all the necessary evidence. As a reminder, yesterday in the early hours of the morning, two warehouses which belong to well known  businessman William Kingston, who has already been linked to  questiomable business a couple of times, for none of which substantiated evidence was collected. Dozens of people were injured, while it is being determined whether the injuries occurred as a result of the fire or before the unfortunate event. First reports-

I immediately turned off the television, feeling as if all the forces of this world had conspired against me lately. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, until my frantic pulse took on a calmer rhythm.

"I got through much worse and I can go through this too."

With those words, I left my apartment, as well as the chaos that started tunneling in my life.

Getting out of the taxi and stepping in front of the company, the red tape at the place where I was almost shot froze me in place.

"A few days ago, there was an alleged shooting. The electricity went out for ten minutes and all the cameras were turned off at that moment. However, there were no injured, missing, or anything stolen. The case is unclear to the police, but as far as I can see, they aren't really interested in working on it without any indication or consequence."

Gabriel put his arm over my shoulders, seeing my pensive gaze towards that place. His voice startled me but I quickly shook any betraying feeling from my face.

"Mhm."

I muttered and we continued towards the elevator together.

"Are you better pumpkin? You could have taken a few more days to get yourself in order, given that you already know about last night's news... and William contacting you".

He said somehow.uncertainly, as if he was testing the limits to which he can reach with me at the moment, considering the situation.

"Thank you Gabriel, I'm fine. Don't worry about him, if anyone knows then it's you, what I went through with him. Nothing can surprise or scare me anymore."

While the elevator slowly filled with a half-loud mass of people, he lowered his hand and squeezed my palm tightly, while our fingers intertwined.

"If you need to talk or anything, I'm here for you. Anything."

I smiled at him, my smile barely reaching my eyes, and shook his hand as a sign of support.

The day passed evenly and overcrowded, just the way I needed it.

It was already past eight in the evening when I managed to arrange the paperwork for the last case I worked on today.

A gentle breeze was blowing outside, refreshing and playful. Waiting for Gabriel outside the entrance, while the wind played with the hem of my skirt, the sound of the two-wheeled beast rumbled in front of me.

I watched him inviting me on a  drive, with his still-armored gaze, pulling the accelerator several times.

I had enough of everything, of all the men who hid behind the mask of my saviors. If he wanted to be my protector, my shadow, he could at least show his face

"Leave me alone."

He continued to look at me until my thin voice began to reach its peak.

"I really mean it  I just want everyone to leave me alone!"

A warm and inviting embrace encircled my body as Gabriel's arms held me tightly in their captivity.

"I'm taking you out for a drink, beautiful, you need to relax a bit. I'm not taking no for an answer. You're mine tonight."

As I turned to follow his silly tone of voice and looked at his smiling face, my ears were pierced by the thunderous sound of the engine overpowering all the noise of the street roar.

He disappeared like a fury among the cars, leaving behind him the smoke of an enraged machine.

"I'm actually very much in favor of your suggestion."

Hand in hand, I allowed my friend to do what friends do - bring colors back into the gray tones.