Page 21 of Overdosed: Her Dark Side
Finally, I managed to negotiate the arrangement that allowed me to break free from that gilded cage of sin and corruption and, at last, return to New York.
What a relief.
I entered my penthouse, loosening my tie and tossing it aside. I downed a glass of whiskey in one gulp. Collapsing onto one of the greige-bronze leather couches, I relished the solace and serenity that I’d lacked for the past few days. I remembered the first time Melanie walked in here, running toward one of the enormous windows to admire the view of Manhattan. The view that I’d never paid much attention to before, though, from the ninety-sixth floor was quite captivating. Melanie loved to sit on the windowsill adorned with grayish pillows and enjoy the view, especially at night. My gaze stopped on a vase with white orchids that Melanie placed on one of three round silverish tables all these years ago. I told the housekeeper to take care of the plant. It reminded me of the time, the happy time, we spent here together. Everything here reminded me of her.
I drowned in the memories of her until an insistent knock echoed at my door. Fucking great.
I swung open the door to find my father. He looked remarkably well, draped in a dark coat. I was relieved at his recovery, but I hadn’t expected to see him here. Not tonight. On the very same night of my return. We had a scheduled meeting tomorrow to talk over business and all that I had brokered with the Morettis.
“Whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow. I’m drained and in need of rest.”
My father blocked my way, halting the door I wanted to shut close in his face. “It’s about Melanie.” His gaze darted between mine for a split second.
“Let me get my jacket.”
I felt my temples pulsating as my gaze landed on him. I entered one of our warehouses. There he was. His hands were bound with handcuffs and chained behind the chair. His legs were secured.
“You fucking son of a bitch,” I hissed through gritted teeth.
Callan remained silent. His numb gaze fixed on mine. His eyelids didn’t move. It seemed like life had escaped him. His hair was now dark brown, almost black. And he had a black eye. Probably my father’s gorillas had given him a rough time. Good.
“Start talking now.” My father’s stern voice reverberated through the steel walls of the warehouse. He circled Callan with calculated steps. “Repeat everything to Shane that you’ve told me, or…” he leaned to whisper into Callan’s ear from behind. “I’ll kill you.”
But as soon as he started speaking, my world crumbled down. My rage intensified, but so did my pain. It felt like my whole life seemed to implode before my eyes, and I couldn’t do anything to prevent it. That’s how I felt. After I finally learned their plan and what came after. The after was the most painful part.
“And what happened to the baby?” I growled. My fist clenched around my gun.
“She lost it,” his emotionless voice echoed in my ears.
My heart shattered into a million pieces.
We could’ve had a baby, Melanie and me. And now she lost it. We lost it.
“I should’ve killed you three years ago.”
I cocked my gun and fired a single shot.
I pushed the accelerator as if my life depended on it. Each passing mile seemed like an endless distance. My entire body trembled. Tensed. Each fiber in me. Thousands of thoughts ran through my mind. I hardly focused on the road. Now, everything fell into place. Now, everything made sense. I finally understood why Melanie had chosen to vanish three years ago. But the most heart-wrenching was that she was pregnant, and she lost the baby, our baby. I could’ve had a child, a family with the woman of my life. If it wasn’t for him—Callan. I had never thought he could turn out to be such a twisted bastard and ruin my life like a devastating hurricane. Tsunami. If only he hadn’t woven those wicked lies that he thought would help him win her back. If only she had stayed... Our child might have been alive. Perhaps, just perhaps, we could have been a happy family now.
If only… How many times did people use this phrase to imagine a life that could’ve been but never will be?
I didn’t suppose learning the truth would be so painful. For all I knew, my soul fractured, and there was no way to mend back the pieces.
I pulled up at Anders’ place. I slammed the door shut, the sound of my car engine fading. I hurriedly headed towards the entrance. My fists pounded on the door repeatedly. Each time louder. Each time harder. I shouted for them to let me in. My mind was still in a haze. In a frenzy. Callan’s voice still haunting me. The door swung open. There he was. My so-called brother.
“You came back from Italy, and your first stop is your brother’s. I feel honored.” He sneered.
I said nothing. I couldn’t utter a word. Devilish rage entwined with a lethal ache. I stood before a man I had once considered family. Now I knew the blood ties meant nothing.
“Why do I owe the pleasure, brother?” His twisted tone snapped me back.
“We caught Callan,” I hissed in the darkest of tones, watching the twitch of his lips fading. He knew what it meant for him. He knew he was fucked.
“I need to talk to Melanie,” I rasped, my muscles tensing. The rage flew through my veins like a deadly poison.
“I don’t know what this dick told you, but whatever was between Melanie and you is over, Shane. Deal with it,” Anders hissed. “She’s with me now, and we’re getting married in two months. No matter what you think, it’s happening for real. You lost her.”
I couldn’t stand his game any longer. The façade, his twisted vendetta, meant nothing compared to what I had just learned.
