Chapter 18
Jacob sat on the floor trying to regain his composure, trying to think straight, trying to catch his breathe, watching as the ambulance took Jay away.
He felt sweat dripping down his chin and his hand trembling. The blood did not only splash on his face but also stained his black suit and the white shirt within
He could not bring himself to look at Amber who seems more shocked than he is.
"Jacob, I know it was an emergency but still...."
"Why did you follow me?" Jacob interrupted, having seems to come back to his senses
"Is that what is important to you right now? Someone is about to die!" Amber raised her tiny voice at him
"I was only trying to protect my friend" Jacob clenched his fist "He would have killed Enzo if I didn't step in. It was self defense"
"He could die!" Amber bursted out "What will you do if he dies?"
"He will survive" Jacob said with hope
"Are you sure about that? You shot him in the neck, the fact that he is not yet dead is a miracle"
"Then what do you want me to DO?!" Jacob flared up, panting heavily "Would you have preferred him killing Enzo? I tried everything I could, I was not willing to kill him but he had a grudge against my best friend. He fired the gun at Enzo, me being able to make Enzo dodge the bullet was also a miracle"
"Jacob, you...."
"It's not like I intentionally shot him, I just had no other option. Why exactly are you mad at me?" Tears gathered in Jacob's eyes as he tried to blink them back "Do you think I am also happy with this situation? My whole life is already mess and now this would add to it"
"Listen to me..." Amber seems to have a lot to say buy Jacob was not willing to hear any more of it
"No, you listen to me" he took some steps closer to her "What exactly are you afraid of? Me being a Mafia?" He placed his hands on both her shoulder
He was trying so hard and holding himself back from saying words that would hurt her but with the way things were going, seems he would not really succeed in that.
"Fine" he let out a deep breath "It's all my fault for making you get married to me knowing fully well I am a Mafia, a criminal"
"Jacob, I never called you a criminal" Amber clarified herself but her reaction to him shooting Jay made him doubt that
"I sincerely apologize for letting this happen. I can't let you get a bad reputation because of me Amber, so... Let's just go our different ways now"
"Jacob!" Amber yelled out his number "Why won't you listen to me?!"
"What do I have to listen to? Your face says it all" he tilted his head to the entrance where Enzo was waiting and watching them
"We can divorce whenever you are ready" he gently released her shoulder and headed to the entrance to meet Enzo.
Enzo had an apologizing look on while his gaze was on Amber. He felt like the whole thing was his fault.
Maybe if he had stopped Jacob from shooting Jay, it would have been another story
But then he would be dead by now.
The whole thing is just so complicated.
"Let's go" Jacob ordered when he got to him and headed straight to the car.
Enzo quietly entered the car and made a signal for the mafia who was at the driver's seat to start driving.
He thought of what to say to Jacob but could not come to conclusion.
Should he thank him for saving his life or should he apologize for being the reason why he had to get into a misunderstanding with Amber.
Perhaps, he should just start with the latter
He cleared his throat and turned his gaze to Jacob who was staring through the window
"Young master, I am grateful you saved my life. I owe you one"
Jacob scoffed shallowly "You are my only friend, I can't let you die"
Enzo sighed as he prepared his mind to apologize "And I am sorry for....."
"It's not your fault" Jacob interrupted "Just think of it as self defense and forget about it"
"But Amber seems pretty upset. Are you really getting a divorce?" Enzo seems worried.
He knows well that Jacob can't really do well without Amber by his side
One way or the other, he needs her
"If she wants a divorce then I have no other option. I am willing to let her go this time" He said sullenly but one could see he did not really mean that.
******
Ian walked inside his apartment and was about to take off his jacket when he noticed something was off. He remembered switching the lights off before leaving in the morning but now the lights were on.
He stretched his body, getting ready to attack the burglar.
As he stepped inside his living room, he clenched his fist, getting ready to throw a punch but was a little bit relieved to see that it was just Mason who was inside.
He tensed up as he finally removed his jacket and collapsed on the couch
"i know you are my brother but you can't just come into my house anytime you want. Do you want me to sue you for trespassing?"
Mason who was playing with Charlie, the puppy Ian bought the other day with Amber, sneered
"When did you get this puppy? It was not here the last time I came here?" He grinned, stroking the dog's hair
Ian sighed tiredly "I bought it recently. Why are you here?"
"I am here because I miss my little brother, what else?" Mason grinned more widely and that made Ian believe he was here for another reason
"Just get straight to the point, I am tired" Ian was trying so hard not to fall asleep "What do you want?"
"You always talk so coldly to your older brother, do you hate me?" Mason teased but his jaw dropped by Ian's reply
"I am glad you asked, I hate you"
Mason turned to charlie with a sad look "Your Dad said he hates me"
"Mason, what the hell do you want?" Ian sat up "Just ask what you wanna ask"
"My dear brother, I need your help"
"For what?"
"Father wants me to take some goods to Nigeria"
"Nigeria? Is that not a country in Africa?"
"Yes" Mason nodded "Can you go on my behalf? I don't feel too good lately"
Ian scoffed in disbelief and folded his arms "Are you crazy? Why should I go on your behalf? Why are you being irresponsible? You know well I am just coming back from Dubai because Father told me to go make a deal with a mafia Lord there"
"I know, I know" Mason nodded his head severally "But, can't you just..."
"You keep complaining about Father not entrusting you with his jobs when in the real sense, you are the problem. If father hears this, do you think he would want to trust you again?" Ian was slowly getting mad
"Who are you raising your voice at??" Mason narrowed his eyes furiously "Have you forgotten I am your older brother?"
"Know your place" Ian warned "I don't care if you are my older brother or not, just know your place"
"Son of a bitch" Mason scoffed in disbelief "Be honest, why did you pack out of the house that time? It was because you wanted to search for Jacob, right? Do you think Jacob is your brother"
"Then what is he?" Ian glared "You are the one who does not acknowledge him as your brother, not me"
"Get your act straight Ian, Jacob is very dangerous and he is a threat to both you and me so....." Mason was interrupted by Ian's phone buzzing.
Ian picked up his phone and gasped on reading the text that just entered.
He stood immediately and suddenly start to clear his house, ignoring Mason
"What are you doing?" Mason had a puzzled look on
"Get out" Ian replied him.
But since Mason was not willing to leave, Ian dragged him out and locked the door behind him.
He just got a text from Amber, informing him of her visit.
Jacob's Mansion was just 30 minutes drive from his own apartment so he had to hurry up before she would get there.
He immediately checked his fridge to see if there was some refreshments for her and fortunately for him, his Fridge was loaded.
Seems his mother visited with some things.
It has been like that since he moved out, he was always too busy to do grocery shopping so Lilian would always visit him with food stuffs and other things he would need including toiletries, does not matter if he is at home or not.
So, he never really had to worry about buying things home.
In few minutes, he was done cleaning the house and spraying air freshener.
The house was dirty in the first place has his maid has already done the cleaning but he just had to make sure it was sparkling.
First impression matters a lot.
He had also prepared some snacks for her.
He had to wait 10 minutes extra for her arrival.
Finally, he heard the doorbell. He checked himself in his phone camera to see if his face was okay and adjusted his shirt
"Hi" Amber greeted faintly as he opened the door.
That was not the Spirit he was expecting.
"Welcome" he ushered her in "I am glad you didn't go through any trouble before getting here" he grinned awkwardly
"What's there to be troubled about? You live in an apartment and so I just took the elevator and checked for your house number" Amber explained dryly
"I see" Ian grinned, rubbing the back of his neck dryly.
Charlie ran to Amber, waging it's tail
"Hi there" she bent to pat his head "How have you been?"
"I was not at home for a few days so my maid has been taking care of her" Ian said as he also bent beside her
"I guess you are also the busy type" Amber sighed and stood upright while Ian does the same.
She looked around the house and was impressed by how it was clean and neatly arranged.
It does not look like a house where a bachelor lives but it does make sense since he has a maid.
"Do you really live alone?" Amber asked again just to be sure
"Yeah" Ian replied with a nod "By the way, why do you look kind of upset? Is anything the matter?"
"I am okay" she forced a smile and took a seat, carrying charlie with her "I am really happy to see Charlie"
Ian was not convinced by her answer.
Who in the world looks so sad when they are happy to see someone they miss?
He sat beside her on the couch but not too close "You are a terrible liar"
"Am I?" Amber scoffed shallowly "I guess I am"
"You need someone to talk to, right? You can talk to me" Ian said in a reliable tone "I am a good listener"
Amber could not help but chuckled by his last words "You don't look like a good listener tho" She narrowed her eyes doubtfully
"You got me there" Ian gave in "But, if itd you then I am ready to listen".
Amber looked at him, trying to get hold of what he just said. Just by looking at him and hearing his words, he looks like a player
"By the way, do you also work as a mafia?" She asked
"My Father is a Mafia Lord, of course I am a Mafia" he replied her with a chuckle "Why do you ask?"
"No reason" Amber shook her head "But, can you choose not to be a Mafia if you want?"
"You can. But my father has a bad temper so not choosing to do the things he wants will be very hard so, if we want to get on his good side, we have to do whatever he tells us to do" Ian replied and sucked in his teeth "If you are so curious about mafias why won't you ask Jacob?"
Amber was mute and he threw his head back in muse
"Did you guys fight? Why?"
"Are you happy as a Mafia?" Amber ignored his question to ask hers
"You keep asking ridiculous questions, what in the world happened between you and Jacob" Ian changed the topic as he seems not to have an answer to her last question.
Amber dropped charlie and turned her head to focus on Ian "Why are you so nice? I heard you are ruthless like your brother so why are you being so nice right now? Are you just pretending?"
Ian folded his hand and grinned, if there is one thing about Ian, it is that he is straight forward
"I am only nice to people I like. I can see how scared you are right now so I am trying all my best so that you can see me as someone reliable".