His Light, Her Darkness

Chapter 53: Finally

"Do not approach her, keep your distance." I grit into my phone.

The cold air chews at my fingers and rakes at my bones. My coat does little to protect me from the bitter wind, and I'm thankful that I'll be back in the states soon.

Dante's surgery hadn't gone as well as hoped. The bullet had managed to fragment into multiple pieces, tearing tissue and more organs than were thought. The surgeons had managed to remove as much as they could, but pieces were still left behind.

This meant that the bullet couldn't be identified.

Which meant we had to go looking for the gun.

It had been more difficult to track down than anticipated. Mia had kept away from security, and towards dark alleyways. She took every precaution to stay out of sight, and after a few hours of searching through security footage, we managed to track the gun down to a public women's restroom. The gun was hidden within the tank of a toilet.

Mia had been very careful. I have to applaud her on how well she managed to avoid being detected.

The gun had been shot a few hours prior, and was empty of ammunition. Mia's fingerprints were all over it, only incriminating herself further. All evidence is pointing towards her.

The only person who can prove or deny anything is in a coma. Sebastian said that it could be weeks before he wakes up, which leaves me with plenty of time to search for Mia.

Which leads me to where I am now.

Waiting outside my private jet, on a call with one of my men in Tokyo who is currently watching Mia from afar in between her flight from Osaka to New York. "She's getting in line now." He says.

"Make sure that she gets to New York, and when you arrive, I don't want you approaching her... Just leave her be." I order.

Once I know that he understands his orders, I hang up and get onto the jet, eager to get out of the cold.

***

I'm drawn out of my thoughts, staring out of the jet's window, when my phone begins to ring, interrupting the cold silence.

"Alistair." I answer.

"Sir, she has just been dropped off at her friend, Alice's house. What would you like us to do?"

Of course that's where she went. I expected nothing more from her. "Stay where you are, unless given any reason, just do not engage. I'll keep in contact." I say.

"But sir, I thought you wanted us to collect her?" Alistair questions.

"Just do as I say." I command before hanging up the phone, not waiting for an answer.

At first I had wanted her immediately. I wanted her to be in my grasp so I could show her just what I felt. How she had made me feel. I wanted to take it all from her, just like she had taken my all from me.

But then I had a better idea.

What's more of a punishment than making her think she's free?

Mia can parade around. She can grow comfortable. She can settle down even. Sure, I'll make her know that I'm looking for her, but I'll do it from a distance. And then, just when she feels like she has a home, I'll take it all from her.

Then, from the kindness of my heart, I'll give her a new home.

And she will live knowing that instead of killing her for what she has done, I gave it all back to her.

I'm once again pulled from my thoughts when my phone buzzes. I open messages and feel the anger begin to boil within me.

Will you really let her touch another man?