Next to Me

Chapter Twenty: Undeserved Anger

Ethan glared at Sergio knowing that he had waited a long time for this, he had spent a lot of time looking into his sister’s murder and he knew that the Sevillian had been involved; he wanted to make everyone suffer for what had happened to Charlotte.

Sergio had allowed the younger man into the room after he had ended his call, he knew that this had to be important if Ethan had come looking for him.

“So what I do for you?” the Sevillian asked as he eyed the blonde warily, he had heard that Ethan had a short temper and he wasn’t sure if he was prepared to deal with the younger man; he had just heard the best news and he didn’t want to fight with Ethan now.

The younger man stared at him for a moment before he clenched his hands, he couldn’t believe that Sergio was pretending that nothing was wrong; his sister was dead and Ethan knew that the other man had been involved.

“I know you were involved in her murder,” Ethan spat making Sergio still, he looked at the younger man fully knowing that this wasn’t going to end well; he swallowed hoping that this wasn’t going down the road that he thought it would.

Ethan continued to stare at Sergio, he wanted the other man to admit that he had been involved in Charlotte’s death; Victor had tormented him about what had happened and he was still no closer to finding out what had happened.

“Ethan… I can explain,” Sergio said carefully knowing that no one knew that Charlotte had survived and was now living a life in Seville; he had done so much to protect her and he would continue to do so now that she was having his baby.

Sergio quickly ducked out of the way as Ethan lunged at him, he glared at the younger man knowing he couldn’t hurt him; he doubted Charlotte would be pleased to hear that he had been fighting with her brother.

“You’re the reason my sister is dead,” Ethan shouted as he again tried to hurt Sergio, he wanted to make the man suffer for what had happened to his sister; he wanted to end the Sevillian and he was going to make sure that Sergio suffered for what he had done.

Sergio swallowed knowing that he had to do something to make sure that this didn’t end badly, he was so sure that this was going to end in bloodshed unless he told Ethan what had really happened.

“Charlotte’s not dead…” Sergio said as he tried to calm the younger man, who tried to punch him; Ethan glared at the Sevillian for speaking his sister’s name, he halted slightly at the words that he had heard but he didn’t believe them for a moment.

Sergio sighed as he carefully tossed Ethan his phone, he knew that it was the only item that would be able to convince him that Charlotte was very much alive; Ethan stared at the item that he had been given before he realised who the screensaver was.

“I faked her death to protect her… she’s alive and well back in Seville,” Sergio said as Ethan stared at the image shocked, he could tell that it had been taken recently and he couldn’t stop himself from wondering what was going on.

***

“I can’t believe… she’s been alive all this time,” Ethan whispered after Sergio had told him what had really happened when Charlotte had been abducted by Victor; he had known that there was no way that Victor had been honest about what had happened when Ethan had confronted him.

The Sevillian nodded his head as he sipped on his drink, the two were sat in a small café talking since Sergio didn’t want to do this in his hotel room; he wanted witnesses in case the younger man lashed out and tried to kill him after what had happened.

“I thought it would be better if no one knew that she survived, Victor wanted her dead,” Sergio said remembering what had happened when he had saved her, he swallowed the lump that threatened to form; he didn’t like to think of what Victor could do if he ever discovered that Charlotte was still alive.

Ethan nodded his head knowing that the Sevillian was right, this was the best way to protect the blonde; if Victor was to ever discover that she was alive there would be trouble.

The two men were silent while Ethan wrapped his head around everything that he had learnt, he had spent months grieving for his sister and now that he had learned that she was alive, he couldn’t wait to see her again.

“So when will you return her?” Ethan asked as he looked at Sergio, he was grateful for everything that the Sevillian had done for her but he wanted to take his sister home with him where she belonged.

Sergio stared at him knowing that there was no way that he could return Charlotte, she was having his child and he was determined to be there for her and their unborn child; he had yet to tell Ethan that they were expecting, he had a feeling that Charlotte would want to wait before they told anyone.

“Ethan… I can’t, we’ve been together for four and a half months and I love her,” Sergio said as he tried to explain why the blonde wouldn’t be returning to Madrid; it wasn’t safe for her to do so and he wasn’t about to change his mind on this.

Ethan frowned as he stared at the older man, he hadn’t been expecting him to rush even if he was dating his sister; he wasn’t going to back down on this since he wanted Charlotte back in his life.

***

Preparing for bed Charlotte sighed as she checked her phone, she knew that Sergio had ended the call because he had company but she was a little sad that he hadn’t called her back yet; she wanted to talk to him more about their baby.

The blonde sat down on her bed as she picked up a book, she couldn’t help a smile as she thought of the person that was growing inside of her; she was silently thrilled that she was going to be a mother, of course she had wanted to wait a few years but she didn’t mind it happening now.

Charlotte settled down as she started to read, she worried her lower lip as she tried to read her book; she huffed as she closed her book and settled it down as she thought about her and Sergio, she hoped that everything would work out for them.

The blonde carefully rested a hand on her still flat stomach, she smiled softly knowing that there was a small person growing inside of her; Stefan had guessed that she was around six weeks pregnant now.

Charlotte smiled as her phone rang, she reached over for it and answered it; she knew that it could only be Sergio since Mirian was still upset that she didn’t know what was going on.

“Sese,” the blonde greeted as she tried to fight back a smile, she knew that they were still a long way off where they needed to be but she couldn’t help but be in a good mood; she frowned however as she heard the worry in her boyfriend’s voice.

Charlotte listened to Sergio’s instructions and nodded her head, she swallowed as he explained to her that he had found her brother and things hadn’t ended well between them; she couldn’t help but worry what Ethan would do if he learnt that she was settling into her life as Sergio’s girlfriend.

“Okay… I won’t leave the apartment,” Charlotte agreed knowing that this wasn’t going to end well.