Wrapping my arms around his neck, I rested my forehead against his, hoping he would see my side of this and it would calm him.
“It’s better that I go with him. I don’t want to create any problems for the Bratva. I’ll go home, settle those doubts, and come back here within a few days.” While escaping my family seemed childish at the time, I had no fear that they would screw up my life.
On most days, they were great parents, so once this whole thing settled, I was sure they would see the error of their ways.
Or so I hoped.
“No,” Radmir snarled. “No one takes away what’s mine. I can protect you here. There is another way.”
“It’s better this way. They just need to see me home and calm down.”
His grip squeezed my waist tighter as he kissed me, not caring in the least for the audience. His lips took mine prisoner as we collided in a deep, short kiss. All too soon, he let me go, and I gasped.
“Stay put in the States. I will come after you as soon as I can. I won’t care if you had conversations with them or not. You are mine, and your father and the law can go fuck themselves,” he said harshly, then turned me around. “Edward Jackson, you didn’t win.”
My father grabbed my hand, tugging on it lightly, so I had no choice but to follow him. I threw one last glance to Radmir, when my father murmured, “We will see, Radmir. We will see.”
I hurt from the separation that had happened between us, but hope still lived in my heart, because I knew Radmir would move mountains and everything else to come see me, and I wasn't afraid of my family.
However, life didn't go according to plan.
Little did I know, my happy bubble would burst and nothing but emptiness would be left.
Radmir
Vivian slowly padded along the bare floor, her feet probably getting cold as the AC was running loudly. I wished to wrap my hands around her feet and rub them so she’d feel nothing but warmth. Hopping on the bed, she scooted closer to me and then extended her hand, in which she had a fluffy, purple photo album. “It has photos and my thoughts on… stuff.” Her voice hitched, but she took a deep breath and continued, “I think it would be better for you to read on your own.” With that, she tried to move back, but I grabbed her arm, plastering her against my chest as our lips brushed against each other. With a moan, she accepted my kiss as I poured into it as much as I could, my apology and love. When it got too much, she let go, and as we breathed heavily, I stood.
“I’ll read them alone. You need to rest.”
She didn't say anything, and her swollen red lips along with that fucking perfect skin of hers marked with my bites almost made me wish to go back to her and ravish her once more.
Mine.
But I couldn't do it as I held a precious thing in my hands, and I knew she needed for me to read it as much as I needed it.
With one last glance as she dug deeper into the covers and smiled sadly at me, I walked to the living room, opened a balcony door, and sat down on the comfortable round chair as the night breeze cooled my heated skin.
Flipping open the album, I got to see Jake’s pregnancy sonogram, his first few months of life, his first birthday, and so on as I turned pages, with Vivian’s perfect handwriting on the side mentioning dates and important events.
I didn't notice my tears until the droplets dripped on the glossy photos, as I watched the images of my baby growing. I’d missed it all.
Rubbing my fingers on his smiling face when he had his mouth full of his first ever birthday cake, I focused on one of the pages of her written diary and started reading, breathing heavily from the pang of my heart inside my chest.
Then another and another, as certain paragraphs from each one of them stood out the most to me.
October, 2011
I never wanted to keep a diary, and had previously found it so stupid. But somehow, it became my only salvation, as in here… I can talk to you for hours and pretend you can hear my every thought and understand me. I don't have to randomly write about my feelings, so in a diary, I have you.
Pregnancy is going well and “according to plan” as the doctor says, and I believe him. I got lucky and don’t have morning sickness.
Sometimes, sitting all alone and waiting for an appointment gets me; it’s when I see happy couples, both parents excited to meet their baby.
Why didn't we get such a chance? Why did we have to fight everyone and everything, and still lose?
Alex promised to set me free once a certain time passes by. I don't know what kind of secret he needs to keep, but it's important enough that he keeps his word. He promised I could testify in your favor and give you an alibi.
I have no clue how it happened that they got a testimony signed by me. I couldn't believe my eyes, and no matter how much I tried telling the judge it wasn’t true, he wouldn't listen to me. The date indicated it happened in the hospital, so someone must have slipped in this stupid confession while I was signing discharge papers. The judge kept on telling me it didn't matter anyway. That they had enough evidence without it to lock you away for life. But still, I hated myself for being so stupid and trusting. My body still shivers in revulsion when I think about his awful grin and cheery mood as if he had won the jackpot.
