“It’s ok,” Josh says and kisses the top of her head, starting to walk with her, I walk behind them and Love keeps checking on me while talking to Josh on the way to the infirmary. When we enter it, Love has my black jacket closed and after hugging everyone. She pulls Rian with her towards me, she holds Rian’s arm and my hand. While silently screaming. The whole time the small ceremony Marcus prepared, with prayers, stories and the final goodbye, screams sadness but also screams love. Vance Kane created a real loving, caring family, and I know Josh and I are ready to keep this chaotic reign in restraints and make this a safe place. Not today, not tomorrow, but someday, all of us standing in this room will find happiness. I’ll keep an eye on them. Not just Love and Josh. I owe my life to Vance, and I owe my happiness to him too. So I will not only keep my part of the deal. I’ll extend it to Marcus, Rian, Sammy, Maya, Damian and Aiden. Even the prick Aiden will stay alive. I’ll make sure of it. Chaos will not overthrow what Vance and all of us started to build.
Liot doesn’t stand a chance, and he’ll pay for all of this! I’ll make sure of it, even if it costs me my legacy.
Chapter 26
Love
I get up and Dominik isn’t in bed anymore, we decided to return to our normal lives, even with Liot’s threat. Sammy wasn’t dealing well with being locked up and Josh was fearing they’d do something insane if we were all in the same space for long. So during the night we’re in opposite sides of the condominium, boys in the entry, girls in the very end. Obviously, we still get together several times but try not to make it in patterns. Liot can take advantage of it to adjust whatever Machiavellian plan he’s been scheming for years.
I bathe, wash my teeth, dress myself and look in the mirror. I can almost see the ghost of my mother in me. And Josh is an almost identical copy of our father. They’re gone, we’re what’s left of them, and I’m not letting Liot take that away.
I hold my father’s necklace, his ID tags from the military. He survived war, he survived mafia, he was gone inthe most heartbreaking way. He would’ve never died if it wasn’t for me. I have to convince myself I did my best. However I acted out of fear, so I could’ve chosen better. Anyway, my father did the same move on several people including Josh. The incident just showed us to be careful with whom we do it to.
“You’re fine,” I say adjusting my still-wet hair. It’s finally warmer outside, so I can walk out like this with no trouble. I take a last look and grab my already packed bag and leave Dominik’s room.
“Good morning, guys,” I greet, Marcus and Damian. Damian is still here? “No work today, Damian?” I ask him and he chuckles.
“Let me have a break,” Damian says and I nod, grabbing my coffee cup from the kitchen. Whenever I spend the night here Dominik always leaves my iced coffee prepared for me. He leaves about thirty minutes before I wake up so the coldness is preserved by the travel cup.
“He’s been in a 60-day streak it was about time for a day off,” Marcus says and switches channels. I drink my coffee and see Rian try to sneak out without Marcus and Damian noticing.
“Got to go guys,” I say leaving with the cup in my hands. “What was that, Mr Denfell?” I question after I close the entry door behind me.
“I might’ve fought with Marcus,” he whispers as if Marcus could hear him through the walls. He starts moving downstairs and I follow him.
“Can you take me to Sammy’s shelter? We can talk all about it,” I say and Rian nods.
“Sure. But no talking,” Rian answers and I know something serious happened.
“Did he hurt you?” I ask sipping my coffee but planning Marcus' doom day in my head.
“What? No, he would never. Take that look from your eyes. He’s great. It’s my fault really,” Rian says and I try to understand his expression but I’ve never seen this emotion on him.
“Rian? What the hell happened?” I almost scream and see Marcus appear at the top of the stairs.
“Tell her, Rian. Or are you too much of a coward for that?” Marcus questions and Rian runs away.
“I’ll deal with you later!” I exclaim, quickly and go after Rian, running after him to see him rush to his car and close the doors. I’m so killing Marcus later.
When I see Rian is about to take off I go to my car and follow his, all the way to a dark alley. He wasthatinto Marcus?
“Rian!” I scream getting out of the car and running after him.
“Go away,” Rian yells his hands shaking, did he already take something?
“So you can relapse and get high? Stop moving, I’m going nowhere,” I say and his shaking is definitely not just nervousness or hurt. “Did you already snort something?” I ask when I reach him and turn him around, I have my answer, his eyes are bloodshot, and his pupils are fully dilated.
“I got this,” Marcus says appearing from behind me.
“You’ve got nothing, fuck off Marcus,” I say and grab Rian from Marcus’ arms.
“First of all, you don’t know what happened, so back off. And secondly, I can handle this,” Marcus says and looks at me like this isn’t the first time he did this. I need to know why and when the last time happened. I’m not letting Rian go down that lane again. “I need you to trust me, little Kane,” he says taking Rian back in his arms. “I’ve got him”
“Thank you,” I say and get back to my car after checking Rian gets in Marcus’ car and is safe. When I see them talk, I drive past them. I see that Rian is holding Marcus’ hand, still tripping but holding onto something. He finally found someone who won’t let him go or self-destruct. All his previous dates were junkies as well. Not the best company for him, the worst in fact.
I kept him away from all that. It’s strange to have that task taken from me. Yet I get it. He found his Dominik. I don’t go to Rian as often as well, I can’t judge him. Actually I’ve withdrawn myself from everyone’s lives too much the past few weeks, everyone but Dominik. I was grieving, still not an excuse.
Sammy’s birthday was last week, but we didn’t celebrate it, we were still too shaken by everything. Maya has a surprise party at our apartment tonight for her. Everyone bought gifts. I helped Dominik and Josh choose theirs, they tried, they really did. They just don’t know Sammy. Dominik doesn’t. Josh knew more than he showed he did, which makes me think the kiss they had, maybe wasn’t fully meaningless as Sammy made it seem. Josh just never made a comment on it. He actually said “deal with your own life” and left. His only answerfrom then on was a furious look at an equally mad-looking Sammy.
