"We can remain friends, though, right?"
"Of course, Felix. We can remain friends because it's my fault that I fell in love with a bastard."
"Everyone has their destiny, we were clearly not meant to be lovers."
Her back was leaning against the wall of the building, reflecting on the conversation she had had with Felix. His words still echoed in her head. She still cared about him, wanted him close to her, but not as a lover, but as a friend.
Was there a way she could use to help her ex-boyfriend?
Ian's uncle was fierce, and worse, incalculable. He intended to get rid of Felix if the boy defied him.
Would he really have to run and hide for the rest of his life to avoid falling into his hands?
She took another look at the text message she received from him as they hurriedly separated from each other on the playground. The boy had a premonition that they were being watched, so he asked her to take shelter and wait for him.
She felt more and more uneasy with each passing moment, as forty minutes had passed, and he still wasn't there.
Clare looked to the side when she heard the sound of an oncoming motorcycle. The person on it stopped right next to her with a squeal of tires. The blonde watched the attractive girl as she removed her helmet from her head and the wind blew her long brown hair. She ran her fingers through it and fixed her gaze on Clare.
- If you don't have a twin sister, then presumably you are Felix's ex-girlfriend?
At first, she was stumped. She was seeing her for the first time with her eyes.
- Yes.
- So get on your motorcycle and fix what you destroyed. It's your fault that Felix is now in danger.
- What are you talking about?
- Get on, for fuck's sake! - yelled at the blonde, piercing her with her eyes. - If he drops even a hair from his head, I swear I'll tie you up in the middle of the road and run you over with a motorcycle!
- Did Felix send you here?
- Fewer questions, more action. - The gray-haired woman took a deep breath to get her nerves under control. - Felix guessed that by meeting you he would put his head on a platter, well, they actually got him. Nevertheless, he was willing to take the risk to see you, so now you'll come with me and I don't give a shit what you do, but you'll fix the life you screwed up for him.
The blonde's blood drained from her face. On trembling legs, she approached the stranger and took a seat behind her.
- Who are you that you know everything?
- His current girlfriend, so I will not hesitate to do anything to protect him," she replied, handing her her helmet.
*
They were in front of an abandoned warehouse when Clare heard disturbing sounds from inside. With frightened eyes, she looked at the girl accompanying her.
- I was watching you guys. I was there when they dragged him into the car. They did it in front of me.
- Were you following him? - She asked in a whisper and ignored the chilling look the gray-haired girl threw her way. - That's fortunate. At least you saw where they took him.
- You'd better prove that you can act and not just talk.
With a ferocious step, she moved toward the entrance, and the normally brave Clare froze. Next to this girl, she was like a frightened puppy.
Felix had found the perfect half for him.
- Are you just going to go in there like that? They can remove us with the snap of a finger.
- So I'm supposed to wait until they kill him? The clock is ticking, damn it! - shouted the gray-haired woman in a whisper in response.
Clare felt tears coming to her eyes. It was her and Ian's fault that Felix was in danger. They could have killed him because he had fallen in love with her in the past.
- It seemed to me that Felix's taste at all times was for tough grandmothers, not slobs. Show that you have balls, girl. - The gray-haired woman crossed her arms over her chest and looked superiorly at Clare. - Do it, if you ever cared about him.
She went inside, not afraid of what awaited her, or worse, of what she would see.
- At most, you will lose your life in a heroic fight for your ex-boyfriend. Don't be an ass, Clare," she said to herself, then followed the gray-haired woman.
Her heart was beating like crazy with fear as she crossed the threshold of the dark warehouse. She heard screams and crackling sounds that made her feel cowardly. She felt like taking her legs by the waist and running away where the pepper grows.
Nevertheless, she tightened her lips and walked ahead, unable to leave her boyfriend, who was suffering solely because of her, to die.
His current girlfriend was right: Clare had to make it right, even at the cost of her life.
She hid behind one of the bookcases and took her cell phone out of her pocket. Breathing loudly, she dialed the number for Ian, wanting to hear his voice at least one last time.
- Why don't you answer my calls! I'm going out of my mind! Where are you, Clare? - His panicked voice caused her to stifle a cry inside her.
- Despite what you did, remember that I love you, moron," she said in a whisper, clenching her eyelids from under which tears flowed.
She hung up and watched the phone screen on which calls from her husband appeared for a long moment. She put the muted cell phone in her pants pocket, then took a deep breath.
The scream that echoed against the walls of the building was not that of Felix, but that of his woman.
With no strategy, she walked ahead drenched in tears. She wiped her wet cheeks with the palm of her hand and stood slightly apart as the shocking sight of a badly beaten Felix appeared before her eyes. He was sitting on the cold floor, embraced by his girlfriend. Ian's uncle was hovering around them, looking pleased.
- Try to touch him again, and I'll break your hands, you bastard! - yelled the gray-haired girl, being horrified by the state of her boyfriend.
- Why do you keep doing this to him? Why didn't you let go when I got married to Ian? - the blonde spoke up and only then caught the attention of everyone present in the warehouse.
Felix looked alarmed by her appearance.
- Why are you here? - He whispered with difficulty, then glanced at his girlfriend. - Were you the one who brought her here, Miley?
- I had to. She is your only hope of rescue.
Ian's uncle clapped his hands, delighted by the presence of his nephew's wife.
- Beautiful Clare in the flesh appears before me. This is astonishing.
- I beg you to let him go and let him live peacefully. Tell me what you want in return, since it was my fault that Ian used you to ruin Felix's life. He is not guilty of anything. He just wants to stop fighting and live like a normal person. Why are you trying to kill him? Because he no longer wants to be an obedient dog to you? It seems to me that you already have enough of them.
- But Felix is the best! - answers her with a strange euphoria in his voice. He walks up to her with a quick step and grabs her by the neck. - He is the best dog I got thanks to you, and since he won't obey his owner, you have to slaughter him!
- Since you want to kill him anyway, just let him go free and kill me instead. At least I'll die with a peaceful heart, and you'll relieve yourself.
- Does your husband know that you are capable of giving your life for a former lover?
- He knows that I am capable of doing it to protect the people I care about. And that's what he loves me for.
The uncle let go of her and burst into raucous laughter.
- When did this kid grow up like this?
- Say... What can I do to make you let Felix go?
She saw the boy shake his head, letting her know not to interfere.
- Nothing, honey. You can just watch him die.
Clare watched with horrified eyes the knife that shone in her eyes as the man grabbed it from the shelf.
- And you want to kill him just for wanting to get away from you? You are a psychopath! An old ripper! - she screamed and, in an act of panic, ran at him to snatch the sharp tool from his hand.
His men grabbed her arms and pulled her back.
- Why so much fighting spirit in you? Old love never rusts? Are you betraying my nephew? I don't like this even more," he stammered.
- She's just trying to protect the human life that I brought trouble upon. - Ian's voice makes Clare's body freeze. Wide-eyed, he stares at one point, wondering how he found her. Could he have tracked her phone? - Just let everyone go. Don't play American gangster.
The man looked at his nephew with amusement in his eyes.
- And when you wanted to snatch your current wife, you begged me to play American gangster.
- I was a kid, I didn't think about what I was doing. You were an adult, and you should have knocked the idea out of my head then, but you acted like a shithead.
- Ian, what are you doing here? - asked Clare in a panicked voice. The brunet looked into her eyes and sent a slight smile, letting her know that everything would be fine.
- What is he doing here? I called him when I finally managed to capture his enemy. I wanted him to watch the show. I wanted to make him enjoy watching the death of the man he hates.
She fixed a pained gaze on Ian, believing that's not why he came here.
- You're wrong, uncle. Felix is not my enemy. I came here to protect him. I want to save the man who has suffered because of me for many years.
- So you would like to negotiate? What will you give me in exchange for the life of this disobedient puppy?
- What you want the most. For this, you were able to kill him, so please, now just give him life and let everyone around me be happy. - He presses the folder into his uncle's hands, watching his triumphant smile. - Here is all the dirt my mother kept on you. Now it can't hurt you. You have the upper hand over our family.
Clare was disturbed by her husband's decision. She guessed that his parents would not forgive him, even if he was trying to protect human life.
- That's right, Ian. There is nothing more important than these documents. But what will you do now that your parents know the truth? They just won't forgive you.... - he stated with feigned concern in his voice.
- Just promise never to go near Clare again, and give Felix a holy peace of mind. Family matters stay between us.
- You're a coward, and I've been waiting for this day," he announced, glancing at the beaten boy out of the corner of his eye. - You are lucky, young man. Get married, have children and stop earning money from fighting if you want to live long," he turned to Felix.
He walked past his nephew and patted him on the shoulder.
- No one threatens you anymore. Get out of town and give us peace of mind," Waller spoke up as the man stood beside him.
- Things would be completely unique if you weren't my nephew. You're lucky I like you, kid.
He whistled at his men and left the warehouse with them. The four people who remained there were silent, looking at each other.
Miley embraced her boyfriend and eventually helped him up. Felix croaked as every movement gave him excruciating pains. Clare looked on with tears in her eyes, still blaming herself that it was because of her that these beasts had brought him to such a state.
- We have to take him to the hospital. - The silence was broken by Ian's voice. - Let's go in my car.
Clare looked at her husband, and he looked away.
- Yes, let's take Felix to the hospital," she confirmed.
*
While Felix was being bandaged, three people sat in the waiting room. Miley had her head lowered, hiding her face behind her hands.
- I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect him," Clare spoke up, looking at Felix's current girlfriend with sad eyes.
- You did what you could. You tried to help him, and for that, I am grateful, especially to you. - The gray-haired woman turned to Ian.
The boy shook his head.
- I did what I had to do. You shouldn't be grateful to me. It was my duty to pull him out of the swamp I threw him into. I am so stupid that I can't look you in the eye.
The blonde swallowed her saliva harder, with broken eyes looking ahead. She was still angry with her husband, and yet she wanted to grab his hand and ask him to stop blaming himself because it broken her heart.
- The most important thing is that you managed to help Felix. You provided him with a safe life," Miley stated. - No longer does he have to run and hide from your uncle.
- Yes, I'm glad I was able to do at least that much.
- But what about your parents? What will you tell them? - Ian finally looked at his wife. He looked nailed down.
- It's not relevant. At most, they won't want to know me.
- But you did it in defense of a man!
- But I initiated it. It all happened because of me. They won't understand it. To them, it will look like betrayal.
A doctor came out of the room and allowed them to enter Felix.
- One at a time because the boy needs rest.
- You should go in first. - Clare immediately turned to Miley; however, the gray-haired woman shook her head.
- I'll go in right after you. I'm sure he wants to see you first. You did not manage to finish the conversation.
The 20-year-old glanced at her husband, who looked jealous, yet did not say a word.
- Should I? - she made sure.
They both nodded their heads.
With their permission, she stepped inside and forced a slight smile when she saw that her ex-boyfriend was trying to get up from the bed.
- Not too fast? I know you can't sit in one place, but you're in a bad way, and it's best if you recover first.
Felix sighed and leaned his back against the pillow with resignation, having to agree with her words.
- You're right. It's terrible that my head is spinning. I feel like a woman with anemia.
Clare laughed and sat down by the bed.
- It's all over now, Felix said. - The boy nodded his head. - That bastard saved you, bringing trouble on himself.
- Will everything be all right with him?
- I feel like killing him for what he did to you and what he led to, but he is my husband — the person I love, and I have to protect him.
- You must love him very much if you can forgive him for such a diabolical plan.
- It's true. I must love him madly if I can't stop worrying about him. - She took Felix's hand and looked into his eyes. - How about you? Are you happy with this beautiful girl who rides a motorcycle and can beat up villains to protect you?
- Yes, I am happy.
- So is it possible that we have both found our soul mates?
- Let's hope so," he replied in a whisper, without taking his eyes off her face. - Let's hope we both made the right decision.
They stared into each other's eyes for a long moment, until Clare grunted.
- I think Miley is very impatient to see you.
She rose from her chair, but Felix grabbed her hand, stopping her by her side. She looked at him surprised.
- We remain friends, right? Just as you promised? - She saw a strange glint in his eyes.
- Of course. We are friends. - She took her cell phone out of her pocket and lifted it up. - When you come to your senses, please let me know. If my husband doesn't get jealous, maybe we'll go out for some beers. - She winked at him and, smiling slightly, headed toward the door.
Felix followed her with his eyes, and his gaze was unconcerned.
- The most important thing is that you will still be close to me," he whispered.
Clare stepped out into the hallway and looked around. She was surprised not to see her husband anywhere.
- Where is Ian? - she turned to Miley.
- A moment ago, he left here without saying a word.
The blonde furrowed her brow and ran down the corridor toward the elevators. Before she got into one of them, she saw that Miley had entered the room where her boyfriend lay.
- Why did you leave here without saying a word? What are you up to, Ian? - she said to herself. She got off the elevator in the underground parking lot and looked around carefully. She tried to remember where her husband had left the car.
She took her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed a number for him. He rejected the call, which agitated her even more.
- Are you going to act like a rebellious child?
She stepped out into the middle of the road when she spotted him pulling out of a parking space. She stood slightly apart and crossed her arms over her chest.
The brunet braked right in front of her, piercing her with his eyes. He nearly had a heart attack.
- Get out, Waller," she said loudly, beckoning him with her finger.
The boy got out of the car, slamming the door.
- Are you crazy? I almost ran you over!
- Where were you going to run away?
He closed his eyelids and rubbed his face with his hand.
- I just want to go to my parents and get it over with. I have to explain everything to them.
- And don't you think I should accompany you?
- Don't get involved in this, Clare. They really adore you.
- But you are my husband and I won't leave you alone with this. Together, we will explain it to them, even if they hate me.
She saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
- Are you sure?
- Don't upset me, Waller, if you want me to forgive you. - She eluded him and sat down in the passenger seat. - Until my anger passes, you will be docile as a lamb," she announced as he joined her. - If you don't comply, you'll be a divorcee in your twenties.
- I accepted, Mrs. Waller," he replied in a contrite voice.
She smiled triumphantly, believing that in the near future she would be the alpha in this marriage.