Page 8 of Aidan (The Doherty Mafia)
“What are you doing back here, Leah? I thought I would never see you again.” His voice wasn’t warm or welcoming. He wasn’t happy to see me and I couldn’t blame him.
“My mother is dying. She has cancer. I came back to see her,” I replied.
He chuckled bitterly and shook his head.
“If you’re expecting me to feel sorry for you, it’s not going to fucking happen.”
“I don’t expect anything from you,” I replied, keeping my distance from him.
I didn’t want to get too close to him in fear that I’d throw myself at him and beg him to hold me.
I still couldn’t believe I was standing in front of him. That he was actually physically here. I battled the urge to spill everything—to tell him everything that happened to me. How difficult the pregnancy was. How I couldn’t stop smiling when the baby was born because he had Aidan’s eyes. How I’d spent the most part of the last five years, lying awake at night and dreaming about a life with our baby.
However, I could feel Aidan’s disdain for me.
He was never going to forgive me for leaving. How would he ever forgive me for keeping the pregnancy from him? I wasn’t sure what he was capable of doing if he found out about the adoption.
I shuddered at the thought.
“Then why are you here? Why did you think I would want to see you again?”
“Because…I guess…I don’t know. Maybe I should apologize?”
“Maybe?”
“Okay, I will apologize.” I tried to be firm and hold my ground.
I knew he didn’t particularly want to be here speaking to me. Chances were, I wasn’t going to get any of the information Aldo wanted. I just had to get through this meeting somehow and after that, I would never have to see Aidan again.
“I don’t want your apology, Leah!” He took a sudden step towards me and I gasped.
I didn’t know what he would do next, but he held back. It was like he had to physically stop himself from coming any closer.
“I want an explanation. Why did you leave? Why didn’t you tell me about it? Did you think I would try and stop you?” His eyes were dark and narrowed at me. Dripping with anger and fury.
I gulped, trying to find my words but my hands shook.
“I couldn’t be in this town any longer,” I replied in a weak voice.
He furrowed his brows and I could see he was confused.
“What?”
“I wanted a career. I wanted to get away from my parents. I couldn’t live around their oppressive ways, with their rules. I just wanted to be by myself and have my own life.”
Aidan took another step towards me. He was close enough that I recognized his cologne. He still smelled the same, and that almost brought a tear to my eyes.
“You wanted to get away from your parents so you left town instead of coming to me? When you knew I would protect you? You knew I wouldn’t let anyone come close to you and I would’ve kept you safe.” He gritted his teeth and he spoke in a deep threatening voice.
I wasn’t prepared for this. I made it up as I went along and it was pretty obvious by now that he wasn’t buying my excuses.
My phone vibrated in my pocket and I slipped it out to see a text message from Aldo.
He had texted me the previous night too—wanting to find out exactly when and where I was meeting Aidan today.
I looked up at Aidan who had turned away from me. He stood with his back turned to me. His thick muscular arms were crossed over his chest. Even though I couldn’t see his face, I knew he was fuming with rage.
I had never seen him this pissed off with me before and I knew I deserved it.
I deserved every bit of his fury. I deceived him. I kept the truth from him. I was still lying to him.
Now that I was in his presence—I could feel the full force of my self hatred.
I checked the text quickly.
I trust the meeting is going well. Finish it up quickly. One of my guys is waiting for you at your apartment.
I slid the phone back in my pocket and waited for Aidan to turn around. He shook his head.
The idea of one of Aldo’s men waiting for me at my place sent chills down my spine. They kept close tabs on me. They weren’t going to give me any wiggle room. I had to report to them immediately after meeting Aidan. I felt even more sick now.
But there was no backing away from this.
I had to keep the secret from Aidan.
I had to protect my mother.
I had to give Aldo Baron what he needed.
“I just thought we could be civil with each other again. For old time’s sake, but apparently not,” I said.
