Page 48 of Overdosed: Her Dark Side
The men working for the Vergoossens arrived, all in black and armed to the teeth. Their presence felt ominous. With no time to spare, they escorted us away, each of their moves swift and calculated. We hurried towards the waiting car, and I felt a sense of dread washing over me. The black coat and velvet scarf they told me to cover myself with made me feel like a fugitive on the run. Holding Hope tightly in my arms, my heart raced in my chest faster and faster. Just as we drove away, the column of police cars arrived, and the loud sound of the sirens woke Hope up.
“Mommy?” she mumbled, still half-asleep.
“It’s okay, sweetie. I’m here.” I tried to sound as reassuring and calm as possible, but my voice was cracking. My hands were still shaking.
“Where are we going? Where’s Daddy?” She rubbed her eyes.
“He had to go to work for a while, and we’re going to meet Uncle Andy now.” I smiled through my pain.
Hope looked at me, and I kept smiling, but tears were involuntarily dripping down my cheeks. She adjusted herself in my arms, wiping away my tears. “Are you sad because Daddy left?”
I nodded, trying to hold back the tears so badly.
“Don’t cry, Mommy. He’ll come back.” Hope caressed my hair. “Daddy promised he’ll be with us forever.”
Once again, she’d proven she was just like her father. A three-year-old girl was trying to cheer me up in a moment like this when it should be the other way around. “You’re right, baby.” I took a quick breath. “He promised, and Daddy keeps his promises.”
Hours passed in tense silence as we drove through the night. The only sound was the steady hum of the engine and the soft breathing of Hope in my arms as she fell asleep again. With each passing mile, the weight in my chest felt heavier and heavier. I recalled a conversation I had with Elena in the past. Her warning echoed in my mind. Now I knew what she meant when she said that marrying the heir to this family held some responsibilities. Now I knew the perilous reality. But would I back out? Never. I loved Shane more than I feared this kind of life. I was ready to lead the dangerous life as a Mafia wife because I knew it couldn’t have been the end of our story.
We arrived at a secluded house hidden deep within the woods. One of the men helped me get out of the car, still holding Hope in my arms. I looked around the isolated surroundings, heading toward a familiar face. A face that if someone had told me just yesterday I’d be happy to see, I’d laugh in their face. “Anders,” I said, my voice full of pain, assessing his outfit.
He looked different than usual. I’d never seen him before like this, in a black turtleneck, thick pants embellished with hanging chains, and a black leather jacket. He looked like he was ready to go to war.
Anders didn’t say anything. He just enveloped his arms around me and pulled me closer for a hug. Reassuring, comforting hug I had not expected from him, and I had not realized how much I needed it.
“Melanie, darling.” Elena’s concerned voice grabbed my attention. I moved away from Anders’ embrace and glanced at her. “Elena? I didn’t expect you to be here too,” I said, barely able to stand on my feet. I was drained, going on full adrenaline for hours.
“We all came,” she said as she hugged me, patting my back before she reached her hands to take Hope from me. “Here, let me take her.”
I was scared to let Hope go of my sight even for a moment, but I knew I needed help now, and I knew she would be safe here, surrounded by an army of mafia members.
“How are you holding up?” Karl asked as Elena headed with Hope in her arms inside.
I took a heavy breath, my fingers running through my hair. “I’m trying not to lose hope. It’s the only thing that keeps me sane.”
“We’ll bring him back,” Karl stated, though his gaze dropped momentarily. “And Charles Moretti will pay for this betrayal with his life.”
“Will you give us a moment?” Anders said as he turned to his father. Karl gave him a single nod, and after a fleeting glance at me, he headed back inside.
My gaze landed on Anders again. He seemed conflicted. As if he was battling his inner war between what he knew was right and what he truly wanted.
“Shane proposed to me,” the words blurted out of my mouth. “And I said yes.” I felt like I needed clarity. Like he deserved it.
Anders’ sand-brown eyes widened, and his pupils grew so big his eyes seemed black. His gaze flickered between mine, his temples pulsed, and his jaw clenched. He let out a heavy sigh, wiping his mouth with his fingers. “You chose him before you even gave me a chance, Melanie.”
“For me, there was never a choice to make. It’s been always him.”
Anders expression darkened, his eyes filled with genuine pain. He wanted to reach for my hand but hesitated. “Melanie, I know that if it wasn’t for my brother, we could’ve had something special. If only… you gave me a chance.” His eyes bore into mine, his brows furrowed. “I promise I will bring Shane back to you, and I promise that if you still choose him, I will step back. But please, consider it again. Consider us.”
I didn’t know what to say. I knew the answer already. I didn’t have to make any choices, didn’t have to think it through. For me, it was Shane. Only him. Always. Invariably. Inevitably. Invincibly. But seeing the genuine pain and affection in Anders’ eyes… I didn’t know how to tell him that, reject him once again. I didn’t know how to break his heart.
I simply nodded softly, switching the topic, “For a moment, I was scared you wouldn’t want to help me save Shane. I was scared that you’d be happy he’s gone.”
“For a moment, I was,” Anders admitted. “I would lie if I said it didn’t cross my mind. For a moment, I saw his kidnapping as a blessing. As a chance for me.” He took a step closer to me, sliding his hand at the back of my neck. “But I didn’t want to win you like this. I wanted you to choose me because you want me. Not because he’s gone and I’m a backup option. A substitution.”
I looked into Anders’ eyes and, yet again, had no idea what I should’ve said. Perhaps, in another life where Shane Vergoossen would never exist, I could see my future with Anders. Perhaps, in a different universe, I could fall in love with him. But not in this lifetime. Or any other where his brother existed. Now, all I felt was sympathy and guilt that I had to break his heart because my heart belonged to his brother. Irreversibly and irrevocably.
“I’ll bring my brother back to you, Melanie,” he added, caressing my cheek with his thumb. “I’ll bring Hope her father back.”
