The Girl He Left Behind

•15•

I think love is a flighty emotion. It comes and goes as it pleases. Most of the time it doesn't stay long, but when it does...

It leaves you more pain.

Because as an emotion it doesn't last forever. It lasts as long as you let it last and once it's gone, you can't force it back. You can't control it. And what's so infuriating is that love is painted as forever. Little girls dream of their one true love and end up loving many guys until settling for one.

I don't believe in forever, I think when someone associated it with love they were in love. But that doesn't mean it actually lasted forever. What I can say for sure is that there's always one. One guy who leaves a mark on you. A mark that leaves you with either immense pain or a fond memory of what couldn't be.

Of what wasn't forever, but felt like it should've been.

•

"So how is the case going?"

I glanced up from where I sat by the table, staring at Michelle's mothers file. Bright green eyes gleamed back at me and I fought the urge to pummel him. Not to seem like an agressive psycho, but this was one of Abel's friends and he was completely onboard with the whole kidnapping thing.

"Hows your thug life going?" I growled back glaring down at the papers in front of me.

Michelle's mother was in deep shit.

If only I could figure out which gang she was involved with. I could go and investigate and maybe get us the evidence we need to save her... My eyes flickered to the innocent looking man in front of me.

He was rambling about how good a boss Abel is. Yeah I'm sure he's great when he's not tearing you to pieces, physically or mentally. Deciding I'd had enough I slapped my hand over his mouth. What I wasn't expecting was for him to jump away as if I'd burned him.

"What was that Javi?" I asked reaching out to touch his arm, again he backed away as if I had a disease.

A nervous chuckle escaped him, "sorry muñequita, you're Abel's mujer, I can't touch you in anyway and neither can any other brother."

(Doll)

"Un-fucking-believable," I growled slamming the papers down as I approached the almost frightened looking man, "answer me one question and I won't touch you."

"I'm not the bargaining type," he said with a small glint in his eye that told me that was a total lie.

"What do you know about the gang that framed Michelle's mom?" I questioned watching his expression suspiciously.

He was so obviously nervous, it was a wonder they managed to keep secrets with him in the gang.

"I'm sorry, you'll have to ask the boss for help on that one," he replied curtly.

I smiled coldly as I watched Abel enter the room, "thank you, Javi," I said jumping into his arms to wrap him in a hug.

He immediately backed out and as gently as possible pushed me off, but the anger in Abel's eyes was there. And it gave me the strongest sense of satisfaction. But him being bothered by a hug doesn't help me or make me happy.

I'm still just a possession to him... I'll never be what she was.

"Abel, necesito hablar contigo," I told him as I gathered my papers and went to where he stood at the bottom of the steps.

(Abel, I need to talk to you).

"Speak mi niña," he replied as he pulled me up the steps and into what looked like an office.