His Human Luna

Fourteen

I sit in silence, staring at the women who gave in so easily when push came to shove.

Although I don't regret it now, and although I'm actually happy with Kaiden. I still feel betrayed. She was supposed to protect me, or, at least that's what she claimed to me at my dad's funeral. But now, sitting here, in her overly spacious living room, awkward silence ensues between us as the green tea she served me grows colder by the minute. Neither of us knowing what to say to address the elephant in the room. We have been like this for quite some time now.

"I, um, added one sugar in there. I know that's how you like your teas. You should drink it before it gets cold." She sends me a tight lipped smile. I look blankly from the cup to her, and I raise a brow. She swallows, "You look fantastic by the way." She sounds an odd mixture of surprised and relieved.  

This ticks me off. "Well don't sound so surprised, Lisa. You were the one that assured me I'd be taken care of. Swore on my fathers grave, even."  I narrow my eyes at her, "Or was that just your way of getting me off your back so you could continue keeping them a secret?"

"Amelia..."

"No, Lisa, save your damn bullshit." I️ stare deep into her eyes, my blood pumps with the fury of it all. "You swore you'd always protect me, and what did you do? Sold me off the minute it benefited you."

Sweetheart, are you okay? Can I️ come in? Please let me in? What's going on? Why are you upset? What is she doing to you?

Lisa and I️ whip our heads to the front door when we hear a growl followed by uncontrollable knocking, "Lisa open this goddamned door now before I️ break it!" Kaiden sounds like he's going to lose his brain.

Babe, I️'m fine. I'm letting it all out.

Are you sure? Sweetheart if I could just--

Please, Kaiden.

The banging on the door ceases.

Lisa's eyes lit up, "That's remarkable! Did you mind-link him?" My face probably conveys zero bullshit, because she sobers up her enthusiasm. She takes in a breath, "I truly am sorry, Amelia. It was never my intent to hurt you, I was just doing what I thought was best. These circumstances make things hard, y'know?"

Oh come on!

"Really, Lisa? That's all I get? a half-assed apology?" I scoff and stand, grabbing my purse as I do so and start to make my way out of the door, unable to deal with the pathetic excuses of this woman I used to hold so dear to me. "You know, after dad died, you were all I had left. Your family was all I had left. You knew mom, you were her best friend. You told me everything about her. Everything I know about her was what I heard from you. You worked with dad, he trusted you with everything. And you cared for me, when I was alone the most you cared for me Lisa. I will always be thankful for that." I take a deep breath and look her in the eyes. "But I would have thought that you would have tired a little harder to keep me 'safe'."

"But you are safe now Amelia. Aren't you?" She stands and hesitantly inches closer to me.

My eyes narrow, throwing daggers her way. She stops. "Oh, please don't act like you care about my wellbeing now Lisa."

She shrinks back, my words are affecting her, good. So I continue, "Can you tell me with complete confidence that you knew that Kaiden and his men wouldn't harm me. Can you look me in the eyes and swear that you wouldn't be upset if the roles were reversed? If someone you trusted dear to you gave up your kids for the sake of something as pathetic as secrecy?"

She hesitates. "But they didn't hurt you."

"You're right, they didn't. But you did."

****************************************************