Running With The Gang Leader

Twenty Four

By the time we reached New York, it was clear that something was very wrong with Zamon. He'd been ignoring me the entire time, even before we'd left.

We'd decided to fly there instead of drive, then rent a car once we arrived. Jason sat between Zamon and I, and they were both tense and quiet. The one time Jason did try to speak to him, he snapped and faced his body away. Once we landed at JFK, he was quick to push his way through the tiny isle to the door of the plane and outside.

Jason glanced at me then hurried after him, tightly gripping his carry on bag. I grabbed mine and Zamon's, instead walking with the flow of people. I found the two arguing just inside the terminal. As soon as Zamon spotted me, he abruptly stopped and turned away. I frowned. Something was definitely wrong.

***

I stared up at the hotel we were staying at; the Park Hyatt. Apparently, this was where the meeting was taking place as well. The 3 of us sauntered up to the front desk, where Jason collect our keys. We awkwardly waited in the elevator until we reached our floor. Zamon fled, but before Jason could do the same, I grabbed onto him.

"What's wrong with him? What happened?" Jason stared at the door Zamon had just retreated into.

"It's not my place to tell you. You'll have to ask him yourself, but... you won't be happy." With that, he left me confused and worried as he entered his own room. I contemplated knocking on Zamon's door, but decided against it.

I opened my own door, instantly marvelling at the suite before me. Opulent was the only word that came to mind. I left my suitcase and spun around in circles, forgetting abput Zamon for a second, before freezing in front of the balcony doors.

He stood with his elbows on the balcony, focused on something unseen by me. I looked around before deciding to join him. He tensed at the sound of the door opening, but didn't move as I stepped onto the cold tiles.

I copied his stance, staying quiet for a few minutes, trying to give myself a pep talk. I opened my mouth a few times, before just blurting out the question.

"What's wrong?" He turned to me, a hard look on his face.

"Why do you care?" I gave a dry laugh, unsure if he was joking or not. He raised his eyebrow.

"Because I care about you." I frowned, watching him.

"You shouldn't, Rebecca. I'll just end up hurting you in some way. I'm poison." I stepped closer, grabbing his hand before he could pull away.

"Zamon, what happened?." I asked quietly, trying to get him to open up. His voice cracked as he exhaled.

"I love you." He choked, looking at me with watery eyes. He griped my hand as he continued."The other night when Tilly's father came, he revealed to us that he is the leader of The Shadow's." My eyes widened as it clicked. I knew that I knew his voice from somewhere. "When Tilly and I were engaged, it had been arranged between our fathers to bring his original gang and ours together, to create the largest gang in the northern hemisphere. Tilly and I had been dating for 2 years before we were engaged, so we weren't exactly forced into it. When she cheated on me, she had no choice but to tell her father. He didn't care though, and demanded we still go through with it. My dad paid him off, but it turns out he made a deal with Chad that kept the contract going. My dad tried cancelling it once he realized I was in love with you, even stopped paying, but Chad wouldn't take no for an answer. The other night, he threatened me with something I couldn't refuse. I'm so sorry, I'm... I'm engaged to Tilly again, Rebecca."

I stared at him. Just stared at his face. The face I'd stared at for 3 years, nearly everyday. The same beautiful blue eyes, that currently seeped tears. The same dark hair and strong jaw. I stared as my own tears welled and fell. As my throat began to burn and I began to choke on my own breath.

He let out a pain filled groan at my reaction as I was reduced to a blubbering mess. He reached out for me, but I stepped back.

"I'm so sorry. I love you Rebecca, I love you, not her. I'm sorry, please..." I blocked out the rest of his apology as I turned and stepped back into my room, closing and drawing the curtains behind me.

I ignored his loud knock to the glass as I stood, not knowing what to do or how to react. I crumpled to the floor, sobbing into my arms.

I was too late. I'd ignored my own feelings for years, and now the man I'd fallen in love with was engaged to his ex, who he didn't even love. I knew that he didn't, I wasn't naive, but there was no way out of this, nothing we could do.

I don't know how long I laid on the floor feeling sorry for myself. But by the time I pulled myself up, there was no more banging on the door. I pulled my suitcase to my bedroom and hung my dress in the wardrobe before putting on an oversized shirt and lying on the plush bed. Once again I began to cry, mourning over a relationship that had hardly began and had ended too soon, and I fell asleep.