Ashes - (Sequel to Dark Flame)

Ch. 5

Liam POV:

Have you ever been totally and utterly lost? Not lost as in ' I can't find something ' or 'I don't know where I am '. Lost as in my life is a fucking mess without her. I made the worst mistake of my life, and I don't know if I can undo it. I have no knowledge of what is going on in London right now, because of where I am. I pick up a cigarette from my bedside table and light it. I inhale the cigarette and take a sip from my bottle of whiskey. I catch a glimpse of myself in the bottle; I have chin stubble, my hair is long and curly, and I have dark circles under my eyes. This is lost. This is it. Never have I ever been so confused in my life. I want to go back; to her, to the baby, and to my gang. I let everyone down. I'm a failure. I wish I could escape from it all. Turn back time and make sure Essie never got kidnapped.

If that wouldn't have happened, everything would have been fine. I could have been a fireman like I wanted to be. I could have been saving people, instead of making their lives a living hell. 

But if it wouldn't have happened, would I have ever met Juliet?

I missed her. More than anything and anyone I have ever missed before.

I was starting to get bad. I wanted nothing more than to be with her and my son, but I knew that may never be. 

I grabbed my gun off of my bedside drawer, and placed it against my temple. 

I can't do this.

Juliet POV:

It was Sunday evening, and I heard a knock at my front door. I looked through the peephole and saw a girl around my age. I opened the door.

"A-are you Juliet?" she asked.

"Yes, can I help you with something?"

"My husband was killed last year by a gang member...and now my daughter and I are homeless. I swore I would never do this..but could I please have a job in the..uhm..your..uhm.."

"Yes. I have a son, and I understand what you're going through, trust me. What's your name?"

"Essie." She spoke.

"Essie what?" I perked up, hoping and wishing that she would say 'Payne'.

"Essie Conelly." 

"Oh...okay!" Wait. This could very well be Liam's sister. She had brown hair and brown eyes; and the eyes were filled with the brown, familiar sadness that I loved on Liam.

"I hope you don't mind me asking, but what's your maiden name?" 

"I can't remember...I was kidnapped by a gang member when I was younger. He's still alive and very dangerous. I ran away...with his child. He's been trying to find me ever since." 

"Oh my god." was all I could mutter.

"Is everything okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I sort of have."

"What do you mean."

I hugged her. "Please, come inside. I'll tell you everything you need to know."

--

"I'm related to him?" she asked when I showed her a picture of Liam.

"Yes."

"That fucking man killed my husband!" She burst into tears.

"He what?" 

"He murdered him. It's all his fault!" She screamed. 

I hugged her and she sobbed in my arms. She was a broken young woman who had been to hell and back, and now she found out who her family was, and wasn't happy.

"Essie...would you like to talk to your mother?" I asked.

"My mum?" She asked, looking up to reveal a red, tear stained face.

"Yes. I'll call her if you want."

"Please, would you do that?"

"Of course." I dialed Deb on my cell and waited for her to pick up.

"Juliet! Honey, I'm so happy to hear from you, I was just about to call you actually! I have some news for you!"

"So do I."

"You first, hun."

"Your daughter is alive." I said.

There was silence on the phone. 

"Please Juliet.. you know that upsets me.." she began to cry.

"No, no. She's here."

"Mumma?" I heard Essie say. "May I talk to her?"

"Of course."

"In private?"

"Yes."

I handed her the phone and she walked out of the room. Thirty minutes later, she came back in tears. "Thank you," she sobbed, "so much."

"You're welcome."

"I forgive him."

"Who?"

"Liam. He's the brother I had almost given up on ever seeing again. I love him, and I'm scared for him."

"Why?"

"Well, he ran off, right?"

"Yes.."

"Well, apparently he has had a long series of depression and tried to kill himself last year. He hates being alone."

I felt my heart sink, and now I was the one in tears.

"She told me everything about you and Liam, and since I can't leave London, I'll be here for you."

"Why can't you?" I asked through sobs. 

"He'd know." She said, refering to Enrique, I assumed.

"Please stay here with me." I begged. "There's a spare bedroom."

"I will. We'll help eachother, Juliet. I promise." She said, hugging me.

an: short chapter, but i finally updated! and this update was filled with...a lot of stuff! i hope you enjoy :)