Chapter 195
(JERICHO)
I feel numb and frozen in place as I watch the ginger alpha drive away. Watching Wesley kiss that guy is probably the worst moment of my life. It’s a zillion times more painful because it is Wesley that initiated that kiss. I grip the steering wheel, hands trembling as the chill of the night sinks into me.
I’ve been the biggest fool. I chased after Wesley like some lovesick idiot. Now, I’m gutted and I have to accept the fact that he wasn’t into me like I was into him. The smiles, the warm kisses, all of that meant nothing. Every single minute that I spent with Wesley meant nothing.
Part of me wants to confront him and ask him why. But really, what’s the point? Am I truly that pathetic to let him see how much he hurt me? Or is it that I have no pride? From the look of things, Wesley has clearly moved on with his life, and I need to do the same.
Despite how angry and pained I am, I can’t find it in me to drive away. I can’t do it. I sit in my car staring at the balcony where I saw Wesley kiss that other alpha, almost tearing up. The image of them kissing is burned at the back of my brain. Never once has my heart been this broken. I feel strangely hollow. Like something has been ripped inside of me. This sensation is agonizing.
But if I had the littlest shred of self-worth, I’d be on my way home. My pride seems to have left me. I spend the night seated in my car, staring at Wesley’s balcony like some stalker. By the time the sky morphs into a soft pink, I’m chilled to the bone and exhausted. I need to go to the bathroom. I need coffee too, but I can’t seem to force myself to get up.
I can no longer ignore my bladder by the time the sun is fully up. I drive away to find a coffee shop. There’s one not far away called Mugg and Bean. It is a small space and when I enter, I hear a buzzer sound somewhere in the shop, then a young female omega comes out from the back.
“Hello. Good morning, what can I get you?” she smiles as she wipes her hands on her red apron.
“You have a restroom here p>
“Yes.” She winces. “But it’s only for customers p>
“I’m getting a coffee too. It’s just that the bathroom is the more pressing issue right now.” I force a smile that makes my face feel like it is cracking. I wonder when I last smiled. I haven’t found a reason to be happy since Wesley left. Could it possibly be that long since I last smiled at anyone?
“Well, in that case, the bathroom is down the hall to the right.” She says, biting her bottom lip. “You can tell me the order so that I can start making it p>
I get the feeling that she doesn’t believe that I want a coffee. “I’ll have a large dark roast with oat milk. If you have it p>
“Yes, we have it.” She seems to relax. “I’ll get it ready for you then p>
“Thank you.” I head down the narrow bell and finally come to a restroom. Once I’ve used the bathroom, I head back to her and pay for the drink. The shop is small and cozy with slate floors and mahogany shelves lined with books. If I was wise, I’d sit in the little shop and use the Wi-Fi to check my mail or answer my brother’s ten missed calls, but something drives me to go back to Wesley’s Street.
I am truly pathetic.
I don’t understand why I have such a strong drive to go back to Wesley’s apartment. Plus, I’m too cowardly to approach him. So, what’s the point, really? Hanging around the place where I can see that alpha kiss him again is downright stupid. Self-destructive even. But I can’t help myself. I want to go back. I feel weird compelling to be near his place. I must be a glutton for punishment.
I park at the same spot where I had parked earlier and sip my coffee. It warms my stomach and I feel slightly better with the caffeine in my system. But that little victory fades away the minute I notice that the ginger alpha has returned. I cuss underneath my breath as I watch the guy slip from his car. I was glad that he didn’t stay the night at Wesley’s place, but why is he back so damn early?
My hands ball into fists as I watch him make his way up the stairs towards Wesley’s apartment. He looks cheerful, something that gates on me for reasons that I can barely understand. What is he happy about? Does he think that Wesley is his? He shouldn’t be so sure. I know from experience that Wesley can make you feel special when in reality, you’re not.
Wesley immediately opens the door when the guy knocks. Has he been expecting him? It’s like he can’t wait for the guy to get to his apartment. Why? Are they going to fuck? The idea of that ginger alpha on top of my Wesley makes my chest tight. I grip the steering wheel knuckles white, trying to control the urge to stomp up to Wesley’s apartment because Ai would make a bigger fool of myself than I already have.
Minutes later, another dark SUV pulls and parks behind the ginger alpha’s car. I frown. That big luxury vehicle looks out of place in this quiet residential area. I’d bet my left nut that that car belongs to someone in the syndicate. Why would anyone in the syndicate be down here? This is a very small town and I doubt that there is any real mafia activity here that I’m not aware of. This isn’t the sort of place that syndicates tend to run their businesses in. They prefer big cities where they can disappear into the swirl of life.
The SUV remains parked for about rent minutes, engine running but no movement. I watch it for a while. Eventually, my suspicions are confirmed when two guys in black suits step out of the SUV. I’m certain that they are mafia. They wear sunglasses and the bulges beneath their suits indicates that they are armed. On one of the guys’ lapels, I notice there is a little Irish flag pinned on it.
Irish mafia! That’s who they are.
For one nerve wracking moment, I think that they are here because of me. We are at war with the Shark and the Sawyers and at the moment, I am vulnerable because I don’t have any protection detail. It was reckless of me to not bring anyone with me. But they would have immediately told Sasha what I was up to.
But the two guys don’t approach me. They barely even notice me. Instead, they head into the apartment complex. I watch them with a frown as they make their way up the stairs to the upper levels and finally stop at Wesley’s door. I’m utterly bewildered and undeniably worried. Why the hell are the Irish Mafia at Wesley’s door?
I don’t stop to think whether it is a good idea or not when I get out of my car and sprint to the apartment complex. I notice that no one is inside the SUV as I run past it. Even so, two Irish mafia guys are still enough of a challenge. From what I’ve been taught growing up, I know that they are ruthless bastards. I pat my suit pocket, relieved that the gun is still there.
I hear raised voices as I near the top of the stairs. My heart beats out of my chest as I tug out my gun and push on the safety. I have no idea what’s happening in Wesley’s apartment, but I can tell from the yelling that it is nothing good. Anxiety fills me when I think of Wesley. What are those Irish assholes doing in his house? Are they there for the redhead? Maybe Wesley isn’t their target. Maybe, he just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I’m about fifteen feet to the doorway when I see one of the alphas drag the redhead out of the apartment. I slip behind a pillar and watch as he slams the redhead with a pistol. The alpha looks like he is in his mid-thirties, with jet black hair and a menacing smile. The ginger alpha isn’t fighting back, so I don’t see the need for the other alpha to be violent. I get the feeling that he likes to hurt people for fun.
I’m distracted from the scene before me when I hear Wesley’s voice. At that moment, every cell in my body comes alive. Wesley then appears in the doorway with the older thug. Wesley has a burst lip that is swollen and bleeding. He looks scared but furious at the same time. The fact that he is bleeding makes me see fucking black and a low growl escapes me. Thankfully, none of them notices me. Wesley’s attention is fixed on the redhead lying unconscious on the ground in front of his apartment.
“You assholes. Goddamn it you didn’t have to hurt him. I swear to God if you’ve killed him―” he tried to launch himself to go to the redhead but the older thug grabs him and shoves him away. Wesley slams on the balcony rail and for a moment, my heart leaps. I’m scared that he might fly right over it. But instead, he leans against the rail, glaring at the younger thug.
“He had nothing to do with this. He barely even knew me, Danny. Why did you hurt him? What was the reason p>
Wesley knows these guys?