Sarah had done a damn good job at stitching me up. The wound was closed. Stitches had been removed but the skin was still raw. She had mentioned that moving, even slowly, would help the muscles. I hadn't stopped moving since I'd gotten home. Especially with pain meds, I tried to keep busy. Around the apartment, down to the ice cream shop at the end of the block, and always with Micah or Shay or Gina.
I quit my job because too much had happened and I felt like it was time to move on. Giovanni wasn't too happy, but he supported the decision. He made jokes that I would have plenty of time to visit Italy, and I seriously considered it.
With Micah, things were different. No matter how many dinners or dates, something had changed. I kept telling myself that it was because the club was opening in a week and there was a lot he needed to finish, but it seemed to be more than that.
Micah seemed more distant. Thoughts played through my head and my mind clouded my judgment. I was trying to figure out if this was the life I truly wanted to be a part of.
My phone buzzed on the counter as I finished cooking my breakfast.
Micah:
Hey baby girl
Micah:
What are you doing
for lunch?
I looked at the clock on the oven, 11:03. Letting out a deep sigh, I wrote back.
Me:
Hey. Just made
breakfast.
Plating the fried eggs next to the toast and bacon, my phone rang. I dropped the pan in the sink and picked up, "Hey."
"A little late for breakfast, isn't it?"
"Says the night owl."
"Touche. So lunch?"
"But I really want to eat my breakfast." It came out more like a whine than a statement. I had overslept and was still waking up. Micah heaved a sigh before he spoke again.
"Ok baby. You eat your breakfast. Will you at least come to the club when you're done? There is something I want to talk to you about."
"Is everything okay?"
"Of course. I wouldn't classify what I have to tell you as bad news. So you'll come when you're done?"
"Yeah. I'm going to take a shower, too. Then I'll head over."
"Perfect. See you in a bit."
Taking the first blissful bite of my breakfast, I thought about the possibilities of what he may have wanted to talk about.
No one had seen Ben or Romeo. Sarah thought that Romeo may have fled to family in Texas, but nothing for sure.
I felt like I was still waiting. Waiting for the next attack, the next gunfight, the next wound that would need stitching... Or the next time someone close to me, or I got a wound that couldn't be fixed.
I dropped my fork and leaned back in my seat. The last thought was what had me rethinking everything.
Death.
I brought all my problems to Micah's front door. It wasn't fair. I felt toxic.
Finishing what I could stomach, I showered quickly and changed.
When I pulled up to the club, there weren't many cars there. All of them I recognized except one. A pristine white Tesla Roadster, Florida plates. I slowed my pace as I passed it. With the top down, I could see the luggage in the back. Louis Vuitton chest luggage, thousands of dollars of luggage.
"Nice, yeah?" Looking up, my jaw dropped at the woman standing at the curb. She was gorgeous. Her dark hair stopped in the middle of her back and her eyes were just as rich as her hair. Her hourglass figure was modelesque and the hot pink romper glowed against her tan skin.
She gave me a half-smile as she slid her sunglasses on.
"Sorry for staring," was all that I could say in response. Not sure how she took it, the car or her, but I apologized anyway.
"It's okay. I'm used to it. I've gotta run or I'd let you continue to stare." She climbed in and pulled out before I could introduce myself or find out who she was.
Inside the club, I found Micah in his office.
"Babe! Hey, so I wanted to let you know," I stopped him.
"Who was that woman who just left?" His cool demeanor changed.
"It doesn't matter," Micah said as he waved his hand.
"How does it not matter? She was here. I'm guessing to see you, and your girlfriend would like to know who she is." I was getting upset. We never held back and sure as shit did not lie about who people in our lives were.
"She is a childhood friend. We sort of grew up together. Shit went down about two years ago and we grew distant. I'm sorry, it just isn't easy to talk about. Her name is Gia." Closing the distance, he ran his hands over my arms. "Is that okay for my bella fidanzata?" (Beautiful girlfriend)
"Yes, thank you." Giving him a kiss on his cheek, I got us back on track, "So what did you need to tell me?"
"Ok, but I need you to sit down." He was smiling like a schoolboy who had just seen tits for the first time. "Ben is no longer a problem." Taking a seat on the couch, I looked at him, dumbfounded.
"What?! How?" The thought of how he made Ben disappear came to mind, "Did you kill-"
"No, no, no! I promise I didn't kill him. I did everything through the proper channels." He took a seat next to me with a file in his hands. "I have a friend in law enforcement. I gave them his license plate and asked them to keep an ear to the ground. Anyway," he handed me the file, "he was found in Georgia. Romeo was dead in his trunk and he had the weapon that killed him. This friend assured me that, on top of the murder, with the number of drugs they found in the hotel room and in his car, he will be put away."
"Put away?"
"Either in jail or he will get the death penalty, but he will never hurt you again." I absorbed the information, my head swimming with the information. At some point, Micah had reached for me. Holding my hands in his, he waited for me to say something. Anything. So I said the only thing I could think to say.
"I don't know what to say."
"Baby girl, you're safe." When he leaned into me, I realized I'd made a decision before I had even left my apartment.
"I can't do this," it came out as a mumble.
"Remi?"
"I can't do this. I'm sorry. I can't do this." Without another word I left.
I felt him reach for me, but I moved away quickly. He may have followed me, shouted for me, but my body was numb. All I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears.
My eyes stung as tears came flowing effortlessly down my face. I could only think of one person to call. I knew I would be ok. I knew she would be able to tell me what to do.
"What's up hoe?"
"Can I come for a visit?"
"Mierda... What the fuck did he do?"
"No, I just need to get away. I need to.. I just need to come for a visit. Can I come?"
"Of course! Am I telling anyone you're coming here?"
"No."
"Okay babes. Call me when you land. I'll come get you."
"Thank you, Lex."
"Of course! Oh, hey! Bring a suit or swim naked. Love you bitch!"
For the first two days, Alexis didn't ask what happened. She didn't bring up Micah or DC. She just let me be and I took full advantage of the space. I'd slept. Feeling like sleep was my only way to truly avoid the entire situation, I resorted to avoidance.
Waking up the third morning, I awoke to someone carrying me, sheets and all. Before I had time to register what was happening, I was plunged into water. Coming up for air I heard Lexi's voice.
"Thanks Nero."
"Fuck! What the hell was that for!?" Wiping my face, I could see her standing at the edge of her pool.
"That was for moping like a high school idiot. Get showered and changed, we're going out." With my comforter slowly soaking up water, she left me in the pool.
Thinking in my head, a favorite line from one of my childhood favorites, "I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."
By the time I was changed and felt human enough to be seen in public I made my way to the kitchen. Makenzi, Alexis, Nero, and Luca were sitting around talking in hushed voices.
"Is there something I should know?" I cleared my throat and they scattered. Makenzi gave me a light squeeze and the twins claimed they had business elsewhere.
"Ready?" It wasn't really a question, because she didn't wait for an answer. Taking my hand in hers, Lex led me out of the apartment. Pausing only to get her purse.
Starting to feel like a scolded child, Lex dragged me to coffee then to small shops, finally stopping in a lingerie shop before she said something about Micah.
"Did you know he has been calling?" She asked.
"I had a feeling he would. What did you tell him?"
"I told him you were safe and that you would talk to him when you're ready. I also told him that he couldn't be a caveman and drag you back by your hair." She smiled at me, trying to make light of the situation.
"Did he tell you what happened?"
"He did." She browsed through some of the strappy bras.
"And?"
"Aaand... it is none of my business, but I will say this," she held up a silver outfit, "in all my years of knowing him, I have never seen him so head over heels for someone."
I bit my tongue. He wasn't the problem!
"In all the years I've known you," she continued, "I've never seen you happier. If you came down here to escape him, you can't. No matter what you decide, you need to tell him what is going on in that pretty little head of yours." She slipped into a dressing room.
"It's complicated, Lex."
Popping her head out from around the curtain, "Wait! Hold the motherfucking phone. Did you think love was clean-cut and perfect? If that is what you think, you're delusional!" Disappearing into the dressing room again, she continued, "Love is messy. Love doesn't always happen in a straight line and for fuck's sake, it makes people do dumb shit!"
"You're one to talk," I mumbled to myself. Lex had found love just for him to push her away.
"Shut the fuck up and listen to me." Swinging the curtain wide open, she had the silver strappy suit on, barely covering her nipples. She ran her hands over the material saying, "Do as I say, not as I do. I'm not the poster girl for love. Let me ask you something. Do you love Micah?"
"Yes." The answer came easy.
"Okay, would you marry him?"
"Yes, but-" she cut me off.
"One more. Why are you here?"
"I'm not good for him," I wasn't able to get my explanation out before she cocked an eyebrow and sneered at me.
"The fuck are you talking about? Not good for him? Are you fucking kidding me?!"
"I brought Ben to his door, caused trouble for him and his family, and-"
"And you're the best thing that has come into his life."
I stilled. Turning away from the mirror she cupped my face, "He loves you unconditionally. If you think that Ben was bad, you don't know shit. Micah has dealt with bigger, badder, shitheads in his life than your lowlife ex." Swiping a thumb across my cheek, she wiped a tear that had gotten loose. "You were targeted which made it feel worse, but he isn't taking chances with you. Did he tell you he is selling the club down here? Giving it to Tweedle D and Tweedle Dumb." I laughed at her reference to Nero and Luca as I shook my head.
"He didn't say anything about that."
"Of course not. He wants to be with you. Only you. He can't do that if he has to keep going between Florida and DC." She wrapped me in a hug. For a moment, I forgot she was nearly naked. "I just want you to really think about it, about him. Now go pick something out, my treat."
She was gone again. Back into the changing room to try on a different piece.
There was a lot to consider, but she was right. I did need to talk to him, but I knew I wasn't ready yet.
Turning on my phone for the first time since I landed, my phone buzzed non stop with messages and 2 voicemails.
The texts were the same, but I listened to the voicemails, both from Micah.
"Babe, I'm not sure what I've done, but please let me know you're safe."
"Remi, it is tearing me up that I don't know what is going on. I know you're in Florida, so I'm guessing you're with Lex and Kenz. Please find it in your heart to talk to me. Baby girl, I'm dying over here. I just want to hear your voice and know you're ok."
I'd barely charged my phone so it died before the message was finished. The tears streamed down my cheeks as my heart clenched at the strain in his voice. I knew what I needed to do, I just needed to get strength to do it.
***
I realized my next chapter of Cobalt has a spoiler for Seeing Red, so I couldn't post it. This meant that I had to get my ass in gear and write my 'leaving Micah,' chapter.. :(
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