by Sky Corgan
“Mom. Dad,” my voice is shaky. Tears are streaming down my face.
When they notice me, both of their faces light up. They abandon what they're doing to come embrace me. We hug for what feels like forever. My mother kisses me all over my cheeks, and I can see that she's crying too.
“How did you get here?” she asks.
“Did they let you go?” There's hope in my father's expression.
“Did they do anything to you?” Mom grabs me by the shoulders to look me over.
“I'm fine. I sneaked out for a little while.” My eyes linger on my father's face. Joey did a number on him. His eye is already swollen and turning purple. His nose is bruised, and there's a spot of blood beneath his right nostril. I noticed that when he came around the counter, he had a limp. I don't even want to think about what all Joey did to him. It makes me angry. Makes me want to think of a way to take revenge, even though I know there isn't a way without getting us all killed.
“Sneaked out. How did you manage that?” My mom quirks her head back.
“It doesn't matter.” I shake their questions away. “What's this about you having cancer?”
Mom sucks in a breath and glances over at my father. His face sulks, the happiness of having me back draining in an instant as concern takes its place.
They sit me down and explain everything, that they had suspected it for a while but hadn't told me because they didn't want to worry me until they knew for sure. I probably should have known something was up when they had left me to man the store alone more than normal recently. All those times, they had told me that they were off speaking with their real estate agent when they were really at doctor's appointments together.
“The results of the biopsy came in yesterday,” my father tells me solemnly. “We had saved up the money to pay off Bianchi, but there's no way that we can afford these treatments without insurance. As it is, we're probably going to have to sell off everything we have.” There's guilt etched all over both of their faces.
I clutch my mother's hand. “Don't worry about me. They haven't hurt me. I'm actually living a good life where I'm at right now. You guys take care of yourselves. I'll be fine.” My eyes dance between them.
Mom shakes her head, and tears erupt from her eyes as she chokes out a sob. “I don't care if I live or die. I just miss my little girl.”
We close around her for another family hug. Hearing her say those words breaks my heart, that she'd rather die than lose me.
“Shh.” I stroke her hair, holding on tightly, because I truly don't know when the next time I'll get to see her again is. I doubt that Big Jeff is going to let me take regular outings to visit my parents. This was entirely situational.
“Your mom had wanted to forgo treatments to get you back,” my dad explains. “You know I couldn't have that.”
I can't be mad at him. I wouldn't want that either.
“We'll be together again someday. I promise.” I glance at the clock on the wall before kissing them both on the forehead. “I've got to go. I don't know how, but I'll find some way to keep in contact with you. I want to know what's going on with your treatment every step of the way. Don't worry about me, okay?” I wipe a tear from my mother's cheek.
“Oh, that's impossible,” she grumbles, her gaze cutting away.
“I'm staying with a nice man. He's taking good care of me,” I assure her.
“Has he touched you?” My father asks the question that makes a spike of anxiety shoot through me. I've always sucked at lying, but if I told them the truth, he might not let me leave, and that would be bad for all of us.
“I need to go,” I stumble over my words as I turn away from them. My mother lets out a soft gasp, her hand shooting up to cover her heart in shock. She knows me well enough to read the truth in my actions. “I love you both,” I say before taking long strides out the door, my heart feeling like it's leaving my body the further away from them that I get.
The bus ride back to Ryder's loft is spent in silent anguish. Never before have I felt more like a caged bird...or a dog being called back to its master. There's no one around me to stop me from doing anything, but I know that I'm not free. On top of that, I have no idea how I'm going to keep in contact with my parents. Maybe Big Jeff will let me borrow his cell phone. That's not as dangerous as asking if I can come see them whenever Ryder goes out.
I take the elevator up to the twentieth floor. When the doors open, I notice that Big Jeff isn't at his post. Dread fills me, though I try to calm myself by thinking that he's probably using the restroom. Since there's not a public bathroom on the twentieth floor and Big Jeff isn't allowed to enter Ryder's loft without his permission, he has to take the elevator down to the lobby to relieve himself. I didn't see him when I was down there, which means...I'm not sure what it means. Maybe he got called off to do another job for the Don.
I slide my key into the lock and turn the handle. It's yanked from my hand and pulled open. An imposing frame stands on the other side of the door. Ryder immediately folds his arms over his chest and glares at me. I've been caught, and I don't even want to think about what he's going to do to me.
CHAPTER TEN
RYDER
I'm pissed, but not for the reasons that Amory thinks I am.
Once she and Big Jeff had left this morning, I sat in discontent until as close to 11 AM as I could get. My eyes kept flying to my wristwatch, willing the bars to open faster. You can't speed up time, though. I got tired of thinking about what I'd lost, so I took a shot of bourbon and then drove to my favorite bar in Brooklyn. The entire way there, it felt like my steering wheel wanted to veer towards The Bronx. More than I wanted to drink, I wanted my girl back. It was the first time that I felt like a bigger tyrant than my father. The evil inside of me welled up. I thought about stomping into their pathetic little grocery store and demanding a price that I knew they couldn't pay. Anything to have Amory back in my arms, no matter how sick and twisted and horrible it was.
But that would have made her hate me. The kind of hate that a person doesn't come back from. And for that reason, I couldn't do it. I had to submit to the fact that I had lost her and I wasn't getting her back.
So I sat in front of the bar like a pathetic loser waiting for it to open. I could have just drank at home. That would have been the smart thing to do. But everything in my loft reminded me of Amory. I would find no peace there. Not for a long while.
About thirty minutes before noon, I got the text from Joey saying that Amory's parents couldn't pay up. My heart took flight at the realization that I was getting her back. It was like the fucking heavens had opened up and angels came out singing my victory tune. The desire to drink myself into oblivion evaporated, and I put my car in drive to race back to my loft. But when I got there, Amory wasn't there.
Big Jeff looked nervous as hell when I stormed back out demanding where she was. He started babbling some bullshit about how she must have slipped past him, but I knew it was all lies. I chewed him out up one side and down the other. It wasn't until I threatened to call my father that he came clean. And when he did—when he told me that Joey had beaten the shit out of Amory's father and that her parents couldn't afford to pay up because her mother had been diagnosed with cancer, my heart broke for her.
He had allowed her to go back home for a little while, and while I understood, I still couldn't help but be angry.
“You had one fucking job.” I shook my finger at him.
He held his hands up in surrender, a pleading look on his face. If I called my father, it would not be pretty for him. The fact that he was willing to risk that for her meant that she had gotten under his skin too. My precious princess.
“Get the fuck out of here. I can't even stand to look at you right now.” I waved at Big Jeff dismissively. If I had to look at him for one moment longer, I might have punched him.
“But your father said—”
“Fuck what my father said. You're obviously not listening to him anyway.” I narr
ow my eyes at him, reminding him of his betrayal.
He sucked in a deep breath. “I'll be in my car.”
“I don't fucking care what you do.” I turned and slammed the door, going to retrieve my keys and jacket. I knew I had to go after Amory. The thought that she might not come back was more than I could bear.
To my surprise, when I had gathered my things and opened the door to leave again, she was standing on the other side. Now, here we are. My anger at Big Jeff for letting her go is still staining my face, but the relief that floods through me from seeing she came back to me quickly melts it away.
I drop everything I'm holding on the floor and reach forward to draw her into my arms. She looks shocked at first, but she quickly relaxes into the embrace.
“I'm so sorry, Ryder. Please don't be mad at me,” her voice is small, and I can hear it trembling with the rest of her as she begins to cry.
I pull her away by the shoulders, looking her over. “Shh. We'll have none of that. I'm just glad you came back to me.” I wrap my arms around her again, kissing the top of her head and inhaling her scent. She's mine, and I don't plan on letting her go. Ever.
“Where else was I going to go?” She presses her head against my chest. “If I didn't come back, your father would...”
“Listen.” I lean back enough to slide my hand beneath her chin, tipping her face up to look at me. “My father isn't going to do anything. He's not going to do anything to you, and I'm not going to let him do anything to your parents ever again, do you hear me?”
She blinks back tears, looking confused.
“Big Jeff told me everything. About why your parents couldn't pay. About your mom...” my voice trails off.
The heartbreak that takes over her expression confirms his story. There's an aching in my chest to see so much pain on her pretty face. Everything in me wants to make her smile, and at that moment I know I'd do anything for this girl. I'd sell everything I own just to make her happy.
“Come here.” I take her by the hand and lead her to the sofa, sitting her down before going to retrieve my checkbook. When I return and sit beside her, I flip it open on my knee. “What's your father's name?”
“Abram Mikhailov,” she tells me as she wipes her face with the back of her arm. “Why?”
I write out a check for $30,000 to her father. It's probably not enough to take care of all of her mom's medical expenses and their debt, but it will get them by until next month's rental checks roll in. Then I can help them out more, make sure that they have whatever they need while they're going through this tough time.
I rip the check from the checkbook and stand, offering my hand to Amory again. “Let's go.”
“Where are we going?” She takes my hand gingerly. “I don't understand what's going on.”
“We're going to see your parents. We're going to give them this money and let them know that they don't have to worry about anything from now on.”
Her mouth falls open, and her eyes slowly move from the check that I'm holding to my face. Then she practically leaps into my arms, her lips turned up into an appreciative smile while she sobs against me and repeats 'thank you' at least half a dozen times.
I rub her back, my heart warmed by the sincerity in her actions. “Hey now, why are you still crying?” I pull her away from me gently.
“Because I'm happy. I'm so happy I can barely stand it.” She draws her hands up to cradle her head for a moment as if she can't believe what's happening. “You're the most amazing man ever. Just...I can't even...”
“Amory.” I caress her cheek, drawing her eyes to mine. “I want you to know that I'd do anything to make you happy...because I love you.” The words sound foreign coming out of my mouth because I've never said them to a woman before other than my mom. I know they're true, though. No one has ever driven me so crazy that I'd throw everything to the wind like this. Caution. Sense. This money was supposed to go towards making my life better. Of course, there will be more of it, but I had wanted to at least buy myself a new car to celebrate the start of being financially stable. Instead, close to everything that isn't going on taxes, I've spent on Amory. And I don't mind one bit. Every penny has been well worth it.
She gawks at me like a deer in the headlights. “You...love me?”
I look away, worried that I might be blushing. My face is warm, but I can't remember a time when I've ever actually physically blushed. There's a first time for everything, though. “Come on. Don't make me repeat myself. You know I hate having to repeat myself.”
“I love you too.” She beams, throwing her arms around my neck again.
My entire body seems to fill with overwhelming happiness and vigor. I never knew it was possible to feel like this. Hearing her say that she loves me too is better than anything I've ever experienced in my life. Better than all of the riches in the world.
“Now come on. Let's go give this to your parents.” I give her a tender kiss on the mouth before disengaging from her to lead the way to my car.
This probably wasn't the best way to meet Amory's parents, but they received me a lot more calmly once Amory explained the situation to them. And when I handed them the check and told them that they wouldn't have to worry about my father or their medical expenses, they practically welcomed me into their lives with open arms. I was a Godsend, her mother said. I'm not so sure about that, but I was happy that I could help.
Her parents are lovely people. Thinking that Joey roughed her father up pisses me off, but I know that he was just doing his job and that there's nothing I can really do about it. All that I can do is make sure it doesn't happen again.
“And how do you propose to keep your father away?” Mister Mikhailov asks with his arms crossed over his chest. He looks far older than his years, the product of such a stressful life. His black hair is streaked with gray. His brown eyes look tired.
I can't believe what I'm about to suggest, but my concern is more for what they'll think than what I'm feeling. In truth, I want this more than I've ever wanted anything. But I only want it if Amory does, and I don't want her to make the decision because she feels forced into it.
I fall to one knee in the middle of her parents' grocery store. Her mother gasps, drawing her hand up to her mouth. Amory has a similar reaction, and it makes me smile. I know she's surprised. This is all happening so fast. I'm putting my heart on the line, and I wouldn't blame her if she said no after everything that's happened.
“Amory Mikhailov, I know that we were brought together by the most fucked up circumstances ever.” I cringe at my own words, my eyes volleying to her parents for a moment. “Please excuse my language, sir. Ma'am.” I look back to Amory. “I know you've only known me for a short while. But in that time, you've captivated my heart completely. Every morning, I wake up thanking God that you were brought to me. I know that's horrible and selfish, but I can't help what I think and feel. In the short time that we've known each other, I've fallen head over heels in love with you. I'm not just saying that. It's true. I can't even imagine having another woman in my life. I don't want one. And so, I'm asking you to marry me. Not because it would make your life easier. Not because it will join our families and make my father leave your parents alone. Even if you say no, I'll find a way to make that happen. I want you to say yes because you want to marry me. Because you feel the same way about me that I do about you. So, what will it be? Will you marry me?”
No one has ever had a better poker face. Amory lets out a shaky breath, and for the briefest of moments, I'm certain she's going to say no. But then she flings herself into my arms, and we both fall over onto the floor.
“Yes. Yes! Oh, yes, I'll marry you.” She presses her lips against mine, and I wrap her in my arms, trying not to get too amorous in front of her parents. My hand itches to grab her ass, but I refrain from it, not wanting to ruin the moment. Her parents have stepped closer together, looking fondly down on us.
It's not until we disengage and climb to our feet that Amory's parents
take her off to the side and ask her if this is what she really wants. I eavesdrop the best I can. From what I can tell, she genuinely wants to marry me, and that makes me the happiest man on the face of the planet.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
AMORY
This is one of the happiest yet strangest days of my life. The room is filled with tension, but Ryder and I are doing our best to ignore it. Today isn't about them. It's about us.
“Are you ready?” my father whispers to me, hooking his arm around mine.
“I think I am.” I nod, though there are still butterflies in my stomach.
The processional music begins to play. I take a deep breath, and then we walk through the doors of the church, and I see Ryder standing at the alter in a tuxedo. Just the sight of him makes the butterflies in my stomach take flight.
Our wedding is lopsided, for lack of a better word. On my side of the room, my mother sits alone. On his side, there are nearly fifty people. There would have been more if I hadn't insisted on having a small wedding.
I'm glad that the stress of planning it is over. The entire thing was a battle with his parents. Everything is a battle with his parents. His mother tried to run the wedding, only wanting the best for her baby boy. I think that the short time span between the proposal and the actual wedding was the only thing that saved us from having a lavish bash.
Looking at everything now, I suppose this is a decent compromise. The church we're in is small and quaint. If I had things my way, we would have had the wedding in my parents' grocery store. Ryder was perfectly fine with the idea when I had suggested it, but there was no way he could have fit his entire family in there, so I agreed to have it here.
His mother wanted to invite all of their extended family, but Ryder finally convinced her that we wanted to keep things small. This was as small as it was getting.
I try not to wear a smug grin as I pass Giovanni Bianchi on my way to the alter. He was none too pleased when he found out that Ryder was going to marry his hostage. That was a whole other fight. When Ryder took me to his family home to announce the news, I genuinely feared that Giovanni was going to bash Ryder's face in the same way that Joey had ruffed up my father. The only thing that kept it from happening was the fact that Ryder's mother was there. Giovanni spared us the whole brunt of the conversation by dragging Ryder outside, but not before he called me every bad word under the sun in both English and Italian. My personal favorite was 'son stealing harlot.'
