The Story of Blood and Roses Chapter 119

"Why do you think they want to know about you?" He directed his question towards me, clearly forgetting about the person I was pinning to the floor .
"I don't know . " Something flashed in his eyes, and I didn't like it one bit, but he didn't meet my eyes after that . He focused solely on Cienna, who was gasping for air .
"We'll have to find out, then . " The calculating look didn't leave his eyes .
"Don't," I whispered . It almost sounded like a plea . I didn't know what I was asking for, but he seemed to snap out of his thoughtful stupor and look directly into my eyes . This time he had no residual coldness that was present a few seconds ago .
"Don't what?" he asked, as expected . At that moment, I suddenly realized what I was asking him not to do .

"Don't think about selling me out to regain some closure with Darcy . " The paranoia was lingering between her . His eyes widened and then narrowed as anger seeped into his features .
"Let her go," he growled and jerked his head towards Cienna . My body, as if tuned to his command, let its grip loosen and then I got up without any further question .
"What of her?" I asked, doubt lacing my thoughts . What was he planning to do?
"Run . " He commanded . I knew it was not directed towards me, but it rattled me to the core of my being . The anger that was there made me want to take a step back .
At a distance, I could hear Cienna scrambling on the floor trying to get off and run for her life .

"I asked you to run before I cock my gun at you and blow your skull to pieces . " She didn't wait around to see if he would carry out his threats . He usually meant what he said . I could very well imagine the spatter of bits and pieces of her grey matter strewn across the furnished floor and the sides of the white linen sheets of the bed . It was not a pretty image . I could understand why she would run like someone had put fire on her non-existent tail .
"What if she runs away?" I asked him incredulously . He just glared at me without giving my question any heed . As he took two strong steps towards me, I fought the urge to prepare my body to fight . The unadulterated fury that I saw on his face beckoned me to crouch and be prepared for his assault . It never came . He just came too close and then stared . I looked up at him and just kept our gaze locked as I saw the swirls of anger moving around his pupil waiting to burst and incinerate me .
I waited patiently .
It never came .
What does come, is a low string of words that leave me dumbfounded .
"Not even for a second did I think of selling you out to befriend that piece-of-trash, Luke . " My heart almost melted when I heard the words . The shock made my body go still, and my knees go rigid before starting to weaken . I held my breath in and urge my knees to remain strong . And then in a snap, he ruined the moment . "He's stolen much from me . I will not let him get off so easily . Do you understand me?" The low, menacing quality to his voice, suddenly, did nothing to me . I was mostly amused that he felt the need to state the obvious reason . I'm a bit pissed that I even thought that he would care enough about me to protect me even if it was of no interest to him and I was confused because one part of me didn't believe that he didn't care for me . He would protect me . He had gone mad over a single bullet that stuck in my arm . How would he risk leaving me for dead? He wouldn't .

He cared .
I was ecstatic .
"I wouldn't sell you out, either," I blurt out suddenly . There was a rush of excitement at the prospect . My heart started beating faster as a smile spread across his face . But then it vanished as soon as it arrives .
"Never doubt me again," he growled and then takes one more intrusive step towards me . "You're my partner . If we can't trust each other, I can't trust anyone . " I nod curtly before taking a step back . The distance provided me with clarity .
"We are two very different people, Anthony," I stated the obvious .
"I don't think so," he admitted matter-of-factly . "We're so much alike that it's scary to even think that we are two different people with different goals in life . "
"Different goals? We both earn money and live in the world of organized crime?" And that was when I started to entertain the idea that I was like him, just a bit younger .
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Chapter end