~Aleecia's POV~
"Where have you been?" I questioned barging into Ray's room, he'd been missing for two days now. This wasn't like him. Especially since Mia was in so much danger now more than ever. The cruise ship would dock in a couple of hours, bringing who knows what to the island.
He grunted sifting through his drawers in frustration.
"Row. What is happening to you?" I questioned with concern and he stopped, turning to look at me. I flinched at the sight. He was a mess. His clothes were dirty, his eyes puffy like he hadn't slept, his hands were bruised and soiled like he'd been fighting and his hair looked like that of a mad man.
"Did you kill someone?"
He shook his head and I nodded with relief, finding the first aid kit and signaling that he sat on the couch.
"Is she okay?" he asked and I nodded, trying to keep a level head as I sat beside him. Actually, she'd lock herself in her room since their fight in the training area and hadn't been out once.
I wiped his hands clean of dirt with alcohol, shamefully taking pleasure in his reaction.
"You're enjoying this aren't you"
I smiled. Of course I was. I warned both of them to keep away but no one listens to Aleecia.
"What's going on?" I repeated my question applying the ointment to his cuts. From the looks of it, he'd been exercising and training in the wild for hours without sleep or rest.
"I don't know" He answered honestly "Al, I can't control what I do when I'm around her. She makes me furious. I want to rip her to sheds for making me feel like this but when I look at her all I want to do is kiss her. I swear to God, I almost killed her. I think I'm broken." He snatched his hands from mine and I stopped him before he could splatter the ointment in his hair.
"You're not broken. You're in"
He held up his free hand in rebuke. "That's not possible. That's not what I feel. She just makes me angry, that's all"
I nodded, wrapping his hand with the bandage in silence. I groaned inwardly, knowing I must have influenced this fight between them somehow.
"What did she do to make you furious?" I probed taking his other hand
"She defiled her lips with garbage" he whispered, anger surging through his words. I winced letting his hand loose and he rested his head in his palms.
"She kissed Caleb?"
"What the fuck?" He cursed getting up
"I'm sorry" I soothed trying to calm him but it didn't.
"I have to go"
"No you have to stay" I blocked his path "The ship docks today Row and I can't continue doing this. I am not her Shadow you are. You say you don't love her but your acting like someone who's crazy about her" I bargained "I've never seen you like this. Pull yourself together. Please."
He nodded his head hesitantly
"Did you find out who sent me the envelope and almost killed your source of fury?"
He nodded, taking a seat on his bed "Mal" he answered trying to focus without much luck.
"Row focus, is she going to be a problem?" I walked up to him so I could look into his eyes and hold his attention
"No"
"Does Mia know she's the daughter of her deceased mother?"
He nodded. I sighed. Who would think that little miss Stennett could touch the heart of a Shadow. I had done a horrible thing. I grunted, Michael trailing across my mind-I couldn't continue like this.
I stepped back and he gripped my arm "What did you do?"
"What?" I stuttered, knowing that he was referring to what I told Mia. I didn't even try to comprehend what made him think I did something. Nothing could be hidden from him.
He let me loose after a thoughtful moment "I'm sorry. I'm just tired" he fell back in a lump unto his bed and I swatted him on the leg. This was exactly what I meant- he was so far off his game. He was questioning himself and he never did that before.
"What?" He asked getting up and pulling me onto the bed beside him. I made myself comfortable by wrapping his hand around my waist and he buried his chin into my neck.
"Other than the fact that you stink, I think you should tell her"
"No"
"O please. This isn't about Caleb as much as it's about your life. I kissed you multiple times to get to her. Obviously, there was going to be some kind of retaliation."
I felt his body tense and his grip around my waist tightened.
"If I wasn't so unattracted to you, I'd make you suffer" he scoffed pushing me off him and I laughed.
"Your unattraction is what made us friends. I'll say that's a win"
"My dead brother made us friends" he stated without emotion and I felt the slightest urge to slap him.
"Just tell her" I grimaced getting up. "I don't know what she sees in you. You are a disgrace to romance and love"
He gave me a middle finger and I rolled my eyes "I'll tell her then. I have no intention of being the barrier between you two any longer"
"You'll do no such thing" he looked up at me with persistence and I slid off the bed. He sat up to look at me.
"The only thing that can stop me is if you tell her first. You know the only reason she kissed Caleb is because of me and we aren't even real. This needs to stop. You love her and you know it. She's a part of your life now whether you want her to be or not. So, do yourself a favor and stop making this harder than it already is."
"I say this as a friend Al. If you tell her, I will destroy you" he snapped before laying back onto his bed and peering up into the ceiling. He was serious but I was invested and because of that, he'd lost. I was a bitch, still am and I know when to fold and this was not the time.
"Get out" he warned. I scoffed disapprovingly. I loved Row but sometimes he could be a pain in the ass. I walked away leaving his door open as a means of spite, deciding it was time to make it partially right with Mia. She hated me from the depths of her toes to the peak of her head and I had to admit, I cared a little bit. Everything I ever did up till now was to protect her. She is my little sister after all. I never wanted her to get hurt and it kills me that I couldn't stop that from happening. It kills me that I couldn't do more.
I took a deep breath before knocking on her door but there was no answer. Ray came to the entrance of his room to intimidate me and I rolled my eyes at him.
"Mia?" I called, knocking once more but received no response. I became a bit nervous and so did Ray. He unfolded his arms before pacing to the door and pushing it open. We stepped inside, she wasn't on her bed or in direct sight. Ray strode to the bathroom door, shoving it open. The room was empty. My eyes widened in complete horror, as endless possibilities flashed across my mind.
"Amelia?" Ray began to yell into every room he knew she had access to but she was nowhere to be found. I watched him anxiously, waiting for him to dismantle me. He turned to look at me, slowly making his way towards me and I held my breath.
"I thought you said she came back" He spoke leisurely, trying to control his anger
"I had no idea she left" I defended and he inhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"So you're telling me, she's been missing for days and you had no idea" he stormed past me and I followed.
"This isn't my job and it isn't my fault"
He stopped turning to look at me "You're right" his eyes hardened and his face became its regular unreadable, cold form. Only then did I realize that the cold heartless Ray I once knew had disintegrated and had given way to a more humane person. Mia had done that. It would be a shame if they couldn't be together anymore or if I allowed this callus side of him to re-embark. I was going to put a stop to this at all costs. He retreated to his room and in less than a minute, he returned in clean clothes
"Let's go" he muttered, wrapping his bandaged fingers around my arm and pulling me through the front door.
Mia was in so much trouble.