𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘿𝙪𝙤 ; 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙗𝙮 [ BOOK 2 ]

TWELVE

CHAPTER TWELVE: BACK TO BLACK

"I knew it was you." Caroline's voice barely pressing a whisper. "Somehow, someway, I just knew it was you."

Thomas spoke through gritted teeth. "Now's not the time for an emotional reunion, eh, sweetheart? Go back home. You need to rest, because, you know, our baby growing inside of you."

His pleas fell silent to Alfie who licked his chapped lips with a dry chuckle. "Congratulations, I suppose. Although, I find it quite odd how my dear friend Thomas hasn't mentioned it before."

"I didn't realise you also took a liking to off-limit women's private lives."

Alfie scoffed arrogantly. "And I didn't realise you were still seducing women behind your wife's back to gain profit, but each to their own."

Suddenly snapped back to reality, Caroline faltered, staring at Thomas with startled sadness. "What is he talking about, Tommy?"

In the small room in which the Shelby Company Limited produced their own gin, heat arose from the grains in the ground to the specks of dust in the air - a furious warmth only created from the utmost whirlwind of betrayal and disappointment, not only from Thomas to see a flicker of emotion in his heartless colleague's eyes, but from Caroline who, was not only disgusted with her husband for continuing his rotten affairs, but herself for remaining loyal to a man who never returned the silent favour.

Without averting his eyes, Thomas kept his burning glare on Alfie. "I think it's time for our dear friend to leave, and take his brute of a nephew with him."

"Oi!" Alfie suddenly pointed his walking cane in the direction of Tommy's throat. "You leave Goliath out of this."

Caroline clenched her jaw. "No, I think it's time for you to leave."

Thomas pursed his lips, glancing angrily between Alfie and Caroline. "Right, I'll be on my way. Goliath, follow me and I'll take you to examine the boxing ring."

White knuckles from clenching his fist too hard, and gritted teeth from effort to remain silent, his hunched form exuded an animosity that was like acid - burning, slicing, potent. His face was red with suppressed rage, and when Goliath even set a finger on his shoulder, he swung around and mentally snapped, but regardless, was pushed out of the room by the much larger male before he could cause a scene.

Caroline's angry eyes were her shield and sword; they were the gathering of clouds for a rainfall nobody'll ever witness. Maybe one day she'd let them see that torrent - the release that feels like a downfall. But first she'd have to let them in and she'd been too haunted too open up, especially in relation to her husband's menacing ways in regards to adultery.

"I'm going to let him explain himself later, but for now, I need you to tell me the truth." Caroline swallowed the built up saliva numbly, blinking blankly. "Why are you really here?"

Alfie fumbled for words, but he breathed heavily and came to the conclusion to be truthful unlike her husband. "Besides business? Well, I did believe that you died a year ago, so when I heard you resurrected like Jesus Christ himself, I had to see the miracle in the flesh, and also, my deepest condolences for the loss of your little brother. What a shame."

The hole in Caroline's chest only widened, and yet, she smiled through a wince. "I must admit, it's a breath of fresh air to have your crude humour around these parts. As you already know, things have been bleak."

"No doubt you've been getting the brunt end of the stick."

Examining further, Caroline frowned. "It appears you have as well. Your face - what's happened to you?"