Chapter twenty two: Matrimony
"As in the coke king?" Matthew spluttered an unbelieving laugh. "That's not possible."
Sighing. "Not anymore. We put a bullet into his skull and let his house crumble to a pile of ash with his body inside."
"Don't be ridiculous. You don't have the heart to kill anybody."
Margo leaned against the railing and saw Ben itching towards the door with a beer in his hand and stress lines on his forehead in confusion. "You don't know what I'm capable of, Matty. But now, I have to go. I love you, baby bro."
"I love you too, Margie." Matthew's voice reeked with uncertainty. He was clearly afraid of losing his sister due to unknown circumstances and as well as that, the activities she'd partaken in during her time abroad. "Please come home."
"With any luck, I'll be home in a day or two." When the door squeaked open to reveal Ben, she soon wrapped up the conversation with a heavy heart. "Stay out of trouble, kid."
When she ended the call with tears, Ben sighed and pulled her into his arms. She tried to push back in order to grieve for the future alone but he only held on tighter, whispering sweet nothings to coax her back to reality. They were going home and she would see him soon.
"Baby, baby, hey." Ben rocked the pair back and forth. "You'll be home in no time. We've just gotta make a quick stop to the legal team to process the money and we'll be on our way again."
Margo looked to him with bloodshot eyes from both the crying and alcohol intake. "It's not just that." She spoke with a trembling lip. "I killed Tom. It should've been me!"
Ben froze at the sudden mention of his name and he chose his words carefully. "I'm glad it wasn't."
"How can you say that?" Margo was baffled and her tone and widened eyes emphasised the shocking statement. "He's known you for seventeen years and I've known you for a minute compared to him. Plus, I left you all and he stayed. How is that fair? It should've been me! I deserve it, Ben. I'm a-"
Ben shut her up with a kiss. He could taste the salty twang of her tears and absentmindedly, he released some as well and as they both moved their lips against each other, their tears recognised each other from heart-broken encounters prior and sank into their skin to mark their everlasting territory. After nights of crying themselves to sleep, mourning the loss of both money and a friend, intense physical endurance, high to low altitudes and fiery spats, they deserved the syncing of their hearts.
They deserved a love so enthralling and the millions of dollars to keep them pampered in a life of luxury. But the question was, is she willing to sign herself up for a life of commitment when she still held feelings for William? Or was she always going to have feelings for her brother but know it was best that they weren't together anymore? Who was she in love with? Or was she in love at all?
While kissing Ben and feeling his hand grip her thigh, she moaned and granted his tongue access into her mouth, and yet, through the sparks that flew wildly with their connection, she couldn't help but think back to William and how he kissed her as though his life depended on it because he could see it; how they were destined to be together but she chose the wrong brother and maybe, just maybe, the kiss she shared with him made her heart tug in his direction, because after all, history tends to repeat itself.
She felt exceedingly accountable for the lives she'd ruin yet again if she decided to run away. It was for the best; to run away from her problems, without a trace so nobody would be able to find her. Eventually, they'd forget she ever existed and get on with their day to day lives without the memory of the heartbreak she caused to all those who ever got close to her. But then again, nobody ever paid heed to her, why should she show mercy to others?
After many years of building the characteristics of a cynical, ferocious woman, the brothers managed to knock the wall down in an instant and she hated how they both had that hold over her. She couldn't run away from them, not now. She'd been sucked in too deep and while she wanted many years of loving someone who loved her back so effortlessly, she wondered if that was what life had in store for her, and if Ben would be able to provide it for her. She'd heard stories from Catfish about the man he became and she wondered if she could change his ways to suit her own song.
"I love you, Margo."
Margo chucked into the kiss, enjoying toying with his tongue that tasted of whiskey. "You're drunk."
"So are you." Ben pulled away and trapped her between his arms against the railing. When he rested his sweaty forehead against hers, his hot breath hit her lips and she could smell the alcohol and the cigarettes. "I mean it, Margo. I know you don't want to hear it but I do. I can't imagine being with anybody else."
"Why not?"
"We survived together." Ben chuckled, his eyes reflecting the moonlight and a slight tinge of fear of rejection. "And not in that metaphorical shit kinda way. We literally survived together. We're fugitives on the run with nothing but love and hell, you make one sexy, bad ass bitch."
Margo ran her fingers through his long, chestnut brunette hair and focused on the way the curls collided together upon removing her hand. "What happened to you not being romantic?"
"You know me better than anybody, Marg. No matter how long you've been gone for and no matter how much I change, you'll always know me. The real me." Ben licked his lips and with anxiety wrapping round his neck, he wanted to give up but he had to keep going. "None of that cowboy shit. It ain't me. But romance is my secret forte."
Margo shook her head with amusement. "You still are a cowboy, Miller. You're a gangster on a goddamn rodeo bull but you ain't no prince charming, nor do you love me."
"You don't know shit, baby." Ben nervously bit his lip. "Cant you see how scared I am right now? It's all because of you. You're just- you're perfect and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
"Don't let this go any further, Ben. You've had enough to drink."
Ben shook his head with sincerity. "I've only had three. Why ain't you listening to what I have to say? Why are you so afraid?"
"I ain't afraid of shit." Margo pushed through his barricading arms with a contorted expression. "You just have no idea what you're getting yourself into. I may know you, but you don't know a damn thing about me."
Ben reached out and grabbed her limp hand. "I've never begged a woman to stay with me but if you can't see how bad I want you and need you, you're blind."
Margo snorted and sneered with spite. "Why would you need to beg when they all flock around your cock like STDs?"
In bafflement, Ben raised his arms and with his brows furrowed, he quickly grew irritated. "Yeah, and I'm sure you're not so innocent yourself. I did what I had to do to get over you but when I saw you in that fucking arena, everything I felt for you came flooding back and by the look in your fucking eyes, I can tell you felt the same."
Margo remained silent and Ben sighed in defeat. He then pulled her hand and with no energy to fight back, she let herself be reeled in by her Boyfriend and he positioned her between his legs. With his hands letting go of hers to trail up her neck, he tilted her head with his finger to make her look at him and when they locked eyes, both had a distinctive trait of solitude. They'd both been lonely for so long that they didn't know how to correspond with foreign emotions that attacked their psyche like a virus. But somehow, upon their union, they fixed each other's wounded souls.
"I know it's soon, baby, I do." Ben's grumble came out low to hide the desperation. "I know you're scared and so am I, but I know this is the right thing to do and I'm going to fight for you. You keep pushing people away because you're afraid to be left, even though you're the one to leave first. So I want to give you a reason to stay. I'm going to make you feel love again."
Just hearing his words made her heart swell and fill with warmth. No matter how hard she tried to run away and covered her tracks, he only followed close behind her to remind her that he'd always chase her like a looming shadow whether she liked it or not. She hated knowing how devoted he was to her for she'd only butcher him in return with betrayal that would scar his tainted heart. Even knowing she was a lost cause and that he deserved better than what she had to offer, she foolishly gave in and pressed on at the matter.
"What are you proposing, Benny?"
Ben wrapped his arms around Margo and pulled her back into his chest and with his lips pressing kisses on the nape of her neck, he smiled against her skin. "I'm proposing to you."
Author's note // when this story ends (which it will in another two-three chapters! 😥 ) Should I either make A) a Stranger Things fanfic or b) Peaky Blinders fanfic??