Chapter Twenty-One

It’s hard to leave him.

I look back at him more times than I can count on one hand just to catch a glimpse of his face while he sleeps. I stroke my lips with my fingers, still feeling the tingling excitement where his lips have touched mine in a passionate embrace.

Can I really leave him?

Can I really try to figure this out on my own?

I don’t know that I can…

I used to think I was strong, but I’m learning that I’m not exactly as strong as I thought. All of the walls I’ve built have been torn down by the man lying in that bed right now.

Every single one.

Will is bound to feast on my profound vulnerability.

I bite my lip apprehensively, eyes closing briefly to contemplate one more time before I sigh and step through the doorway and out into the hallway. When Jay is with me, Mitch is not on the lookout which is perfect because it means I can easily sneak by without being noticed.

If Jay wakes up or someone alerts him, I’m screwed. He’ll hold me captive until what’s done is done.

And I can’t have that happening.

At nighttime, the house is even scarier. The silence is ominous. I’m afraid someone is lurking around every corner and it would be no surprise if I encountered someone who still harbored loyalty to Dominico and wanted to hurt me to get back at Jay.

I mean, I hope Jay was able to sift through who was here for him or here for Dominico.

God, all this mafia stuff has my brain hurting.

I hold my breath when I hear the footsteps of someone coming around the corner.

This is it.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I send a silent prayer that I’ll be able to avoid being caught and someone must be listening because the footsteps turn in the opposite direction and I let out a breath I was holding, aware that my lungs are screaming.

I need to get the hell out of here.

I frankly recall the way Cross brought me when he had plotted to kill me…

I retrace those steps, huffing frustrated when I reach a part of the home I’m unfamiliar with. I walk back the way I came, noting the familiar décor until I’m at a point that flashes in my mind.

I can’t be at this all-fucking night.

I need to leave and get to a payphone and call Will.

He better answer. Otherwise, I’m going to the house.

I get to the front door and my eyes widen. I open my mouth and make a gasp of joy as I move to it, but just as I swipe one of the sets of keys, I hear a voice behind me.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

I twist around and it’s Mitch. Of all people, for it to be, of course, it’s the man most loyal to Jay.

My luck isn’t as good as I thought it was.

I shove the keys in my pants and pull my lips into a tight smile.

“I uh, I wanted some fresh air,” I reply unconvincingly. My voice sounds too fake. Mitch arches a skeptical brow and I clear my throat.

“Just not feeling that good.” I nod to my healing shoulder. Mitch narrows his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest.

“Is that so?” He steps forward. “I don’t believe you.”

“You should,” I say.

“Okay, fine,” He replies, throwing up his hands in defeat. “I’ll come with you.”

“No! I mean… you can stay. I really don’t want to pull you away from whatever you’re doing. I was just gonna sit on the steps.”

Mitch runs a hand over his face.

“Cut the bullshit, Akira. You’re leaving.”

“No.”

“You can’t hide it from me. I watched you swipe those keys, anyways.”

Damnit! I thought I got away with that!

I inhale a deep breath and shrug while holding my arms up in confusion.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Really? So, if I searched your back pocket, I wouldn’t find a set of car keys in there?” Mitch interrogates.

“Nope,” I lie.

I’m awful at lying.

So unconvincing…

“No. You can’t come. I just want to be alone.”

Mitch shakes his head. “I can’t let you do it.”

I don’t want to have to do this... he seems like such a nice guy and if I threaten him, I’m sure he won’t be.

“Listen, if you don’t let me go right now, then I will walk back to Jay’s room after I tear my fucking shirt off and I will tell him you attacked me.” My voice doesn’t waver as I state those words. There is too much at stake for uncertainty.

“I swear to god, I will.”

Mitch shoves a hand through his hair. I expect him to be seething with anger, but I’m met with amusing respect.

“That’s dedication,” Mitch replies.

“There is something I have to do. I have to protect him.”

Mitch glances around us.

“If he finds out I let you go, he will have my head.”

I grit my teeth for a moment.

“Don’t let him find out, okay?”

Mitch scoffs. “Easier said than done. “He sighs and I get the impression that I’m about to get my way. “I shouldn’t let you go.”

“But?”

“Fuck… I’m going to walk away,” He announces.

All because I threatened him. I feel awful about it, but I had to do it. If I woke Jay up in the middle of the night asking to borrow a car, he’d insist ongoing.

Mitch huffs with frustration before he spins around. Before he goes, he calls over his shoulder.

“Please, be fucking careful,” Mitch says firmly.

“I will, Mitch. I will.”

I spin around and quickly hurry out of the house. I press the unlock button searching for which car it is, and my eyes widen when I rest on the silver car sitting in the lot. I dare a glance back at the mansion and gasp when I see Jay in the window. He’s staring down at me with hurt in his eyes.

“Oh no. This ruins everything,” I mumble. I run to the car knowing he’ll come after me. Throwing open the door, I slide in, lock it and start the car before I peel away from the house.

“If I get far away enough, he won’t be able to find me.”

I know he’s racing to follow me so I speed up trying to recall how the hell to get back to my apartment.

The downfall to being captive.

They don’t exactly give you directions to where it is you’re being held, hostage.

I follow a windy road until I start to see some familiar signs. After twenty minutes, I finally understand where I’m going.

I need to call him.

When I get as far away as I think is okay for a moment, I can’t find a payphone. I settle on going into a gas station and asking if I’m able to use their phone. They allow me to, thankfully because I’m only in socks.

It’s probably because It’s late. And I look like I need help.

The cashier asked multiple times if I needed help and I shook my head. After dialing the number, I don’t know what to expect.

Is he going to answer? Or will I leave a message? If he doesn’t answer I’m going to have to sleep in the car. I might chicken out. This is awful.

He answers. I feel that pit in my stomach that I’ve felt these past couple of years return until I am at a loss of words because of nausea.

“Will?” I call. He’s silent for a moment on the other end, but finally, after a moment of silence, he replies.

“Akira. Long time.”

Not fucking long enough.

I’m sure it’s phantom pain but I swear my hip begins to throb where he cracked it with his foot a few years ago.

What am I doing?

I remember Jay and that’s when I continue.

“I heard you were interested in getting me back?”

A short chuckle erupts from the other end and I swallow the bile in my throat.

“This is a trap, isn’t it?”

“No. It’s not. I’m alone.”

“Alone…” He trails.

Alone with issues.

I feel alone and foolish but it’s too late to go back.

“I want to make a deal with you,” I say. He snickers on the other end.

“And what makes you think I’ll make a deal with you?” He hisses the word “you” like I’m unworthy or pathetic and it makes my blood boil.

“You want me back, don’t you?”

Probably to beat me.

To make sure I pay for that video. To cleanse me and return me to my old glory where my life ended and began with him.

When he replies, I cringe, because regardless of my desperation to protect Jay, there is a part of me that wished Will would be done.

He clears his throat.

“Yes, I want you back.”