Sweetest Confusion

Chapter Fifty-Four: Courage

DREW'S POV

Few weeks earlier

Leaving Maddi was the hardest decision I had to make. I couldn't let her know otherwise she wouldn't let me leave. It had to be done and this was the best way. I hated that she would hate me in the morning. I didn't even get to say goodbye.

I moved the hair out her face and kissed her swollen lips before kissing her forehead. I slipped on my leather jacket and silently crept out the window. I regretted not leaving a note, but there was no going back now. I walked round to my house and opened the door.

Jane was sitting in the living room with the tv on, but she wasn't watching it. "Sit down Drew." She ordered.

"Jane what's this about?" I asked.

"I want to know why you bought a license for a gun and have a duffle bag packed in your cupboard." She told me without turning her face from the screen.

"I need to leave, and I need to protect myself." I explained.

"What about Maddi?" She asked, looking at me. A pained expression flitted across my face. My heart felt like it was tearing in two.

"I nee you to keep her happy. Keep her distracted. She's going to need all the support she can get. Please can you do that for me Jane?" I pleaded with her.

"Very well. Why do you need to go and where are you going?" She asked me.

"I don't know yet, but there is something I need to do. It's for Maddi. I need her to be safe. I have to go." I told her in a voice that meant nothing she could say would convince me not to leave. She nodded and handed me my duffle bag.

"Before you leave I want you to have this. It's probably best if you destroy it after you've read it." She passed me a black file with the words 'deceased' stamped on it.

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's a file." She told me.

"Well that's obvious." I rolled my eyes.

"It's about your father." Every muscle in my body froze.

"It's what he did and I think you should know." She told me. "Officially." I know what she meant.

My father was a deep cover CIA operative. I've known for a long time I just didn't tell anyone. Anyone except my aunt. He was working in Hunter's gang, trying to find out who the top boss was. When he was killed I made it my mission to carry on what he wanted, but I didn't know what I was getting into. I didn't factor in Maddi and Weasel. I didn't factor in my mother, sisters and aunt. Most importantly I didn't factor in falling in love.

I nodded at Jane. "Thanks. This is going to help me a lot." I gave her a hug before going up to Anna's room. She was sleeping there so innocently I couldn't wake her. She was the best thing that happened in my life before Maddi. She still was and always would be. I sat on her bed, savouring the last few moments with my little sister. I kissed her forehead before going to my older sister.

The engagement ring glinted off her hand as the moonlight shone on to it. I smiled. "Have a good life sis." I whispered before kissing her forehead too. I sighed as I closed the door and crept down the stairs. Jane had gone to 'sleep' but I know she'd be watching me from the window hoping I'd turn around and forget this suicide mission. She didn't want another person from the family to die at the hands of this gang but she understood that this was what I needed to do.

It was the hardest thing I had to do and I wasn't proud that I was leaving in the dead of night to start. But I knew if I woke up to see Maddi's face in the morning I wouldn't be able to leave. I drove my car out the garage and made my way out to the nearest 24 hour Internet cafe, which happened to be in the worst part of town. I parked outside and walked into the cafe. There wasn't anyone there, except for a few heavily tattooed men who were probably in the drug trafficking business and a prostitute updating her profile on some website.