GRACIE
Two weeks went by in a blink of an eye , he really trying hard to be a better person to me and Hazel, but
some days he would just snap, then apologize afterwards. It wasn’t easy , but I understood, I was
willing to be patient until the day his demons were finally going to be let free..
Although he fought it, I still feel it though, the darkness was still in there … Still buried inside of him,
waiting for the slightest opportunity to claw out of their temporary cage. He became more possessive
than ever, like he would never let me out of his sight even for a minute , it elated me but at the same
time I was scared.
Some nights I would wake up to find him awake, his gaze studying me. But he’s never hurt me. I knew he
wouldn’t…. but I couldn’t say for sure what would happen if I tried to leave, not that I would try to, but
the anxiety that he was getting way too obsessed with me was disturbing.
Aside from these I had no other worries, that was until he broke the news to me yesterday.
That his father wants to see us.
I couldn’t control the tenseness I felt inside, even until now.
Judging by our past relationship I couldn’t be sure what to expect, I’ve never met his father before, I
knew nothing about him except from the fact that he hated my father, and had sought revenge against
him for the death of his wife and only daughter.
Although Hayden and I were still trying to fight and forget the painful past, I couldn’t be rest assured
that the rest of his family would feel the same about me and Hazel. I didn’t know how deep the hatred
might still run. It wasn’t about me, I just don’t want Hazel to be hurt in any way, all I wanted was for her
to remain happy and clueless about the cruelties of the world for as long as I could .
The moment he walked inside the room, the air changed, it was as if my body was trained and alerted
to always recognize his presence.
His gaze held mine as he approached me in sure strides.
“Tell me what is wrong ”
I was slightly surprised by his direct question, I hadn’t been expecting it, when I had left the breakfast
room I didn’t think he’d noticed anything was wrong, I thought I hid the fact that I’m very worried to
meet his family , but then I could never hide anything from him.
I clasped my fingers together.
“I’m fine ”
“No you’re not” he pointed out flatly , pinning me with a stare he continued.
“You’ve been this quiet since yesterday , I know you are worried about meeting father”
I tilted my gaze to meet his once again, since he knew it all there was no point denying it anymore.
“I’m really worried , what does all this mean? can’t we just stay here with you? I know your family do
dangerous things and I just don’t want my daughter to get involved in any of it” I tried to say as
convincingly as I could.
Okay. That didn’t come out fine, something hard flashed across his gaze as he approached another step
until there was no gap between us.
“I’ll. never . put. her . in. any . danger” He breaths out enunciating each word slowly.
“You know how much you both mean to me” his gaze burned with bright intensity, searching mine.
I could feel the tension radiating from his body, I almost reached my hand to touch him but decided
against, I don’t think that it would help at this moment.
His gaze spoke the plain truth, urging me to believe him and I believed every word he said , Still that
wasn’t enough to dispel my worries.
“I know you won’t , you would never allow her to get hurt intentionally , but you have enemies , I don’t
want anything to happen to her just like… ” My words to came to a halt when I realized what I had
almost let out.
It didn’t matter because he perfectly understood already
I saw sadness and raw hurt flickered in his gaze before it completely went blank.
“This is a part of who I am… I can’t change the fact Gracie , not even if I wanted to. ” he spoke quietly.
He stormed out of the room before I could utter another word, slamming the door close behind him.
I stared at the now empty room with the most sour taste lingering in my mouth and in the pit of my
stomach.
I’ve hurt his feelings.
But what could I have done ? the feel motherly instinct in me wouldn’t be able to bear it if anything
happens to our little girl.
These past few weeks with him I had almost forgotten that he has a life outside, one he would have to
get back to sooner or later.
Just like he’d said, he couldn’t change that fact, even if he wanted to…
A sigh escaped my mouth as I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration . Why do I feel that we’ve
taken a step backwards from all the progress this past week.
*
*
HAYDEN
My fist punched hard against the tiled wall but I didn’t feel the tingling sensation. My muscles were all
tensed up.
She had been right
But that didn’t make the truth hurt any less.
Often at times it was common in our business, it wasn’t rare for someone to get hurt, just like mother
and Jenny like she’d stopped herself from saying. I’ll fuck with anyone before I let anything happen to
either of them , still it had felt like she was condemning me . Like our daughter would get hurt and it
would be because of me. And it had felt like a punch to my gut . I exhaled roughly feeling the need to
break things, the mirror in front of me looked so tempting…. everything had been going well , the last
thing I needed was a rift.
I already anticipated this during the past week, sometimes I had woken up during the night to stare at
her wondering how she would take it…. being introduced to the world I lived in.
“Fuck. ” I breath out in frustration as I walked out of the bathroom, there had to be a way to make her
understand….. That there was no god damned way out of this.
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