Chapter 43: Chapter 43

"What are you doing here?"

"I-uh.. ", I lost words, still couldn't take my eyes on the blood.

"You're not supposed to be here", he said coldly.

"Is that blood?", I suddenly dared to speak.

He looked down at his shirt then sighed. "Yes"

"Oh", was all I could say. "You killed someone?", I whispered.

He was silent, he seemed to contemplate whether he should tell me or not. "No", he finally said.

"Then why-"

"I'll tell you later", he cut me in. "Now, I want you to go upstairs, and don't come down here, do you understand me?", he demanded.

"But-"

"Can't you listen to me for once? Just do what you're told", he raised his voice making me jumped.

Without saying anything, I turned around and ran upstairs. Tears were flowing from my eyes. How could he? I just came back and he already yelled at me?

And the blood, oh my God. He said he didn't kill someone, but why on earth there was blood on his shirt. Did he lie to me too?

He tortured people in his basement for fun.

He couldn't be, right? I mean why on earth would he kill people without any reason? Not that I was comfortable with him killing people, even though they were bad guys.

I got into his room and paced back and forth, waiting for Sean to come. When the door opened, I quickly turned my head and was faced with Sean, then my eyes turned to his bloody shirt again.

He ignored my curious eyes as he left for the bathroom without saying a word. I heard the shower turned on and I was left with my thoughts.

Now what? Honestly, I was so confused with him. Last night he was so gentle and loving then today he was grumpy and ignoring me. Maybe because I got into his basement? Was he afraid that I'd find out about his activity?

I thought we already passed this. Whatever he did, I wouldn't judge him. I was sure he had his reasons. I trusted him but why he couldn't trust me?

I was snapped out of my thoughts when the bathroom door opened revealing Sean with only a towel covering him from the waist down. He still wouldn't take a glance at me.

"Sean?", I said after he already got dressed.

He was tense but still turned around to face me. "What's going on?"

He still stood there, his eyes were looking at the floor, once again ignoring my gazes.

"Please, don't shut me out", I stepped forward placing my hands around his neck.

Finally, his eyes met mine and all I saw was sorrow and sadness. "It's Georgie", his voice cracked.

My eyes widen. "What about her?"

"She's.. she's dead", he said and I gasped in shock.

"What? How?", I almost cried. I knew how much Sean loved her. His eyes watered and he tried to wipe his eyes before the tears came flowing.

"It's okay to cry, Sean", I hugged him, rubbing his back.

"No, it's not", he exclaimed. "I don't want to cry for her", his voice was like venom making me pulled away, looking at him like he was crazy.

"What?", I said confused.

"She's not worth my tears", he said again but his eyes were betraying him.

"Are you out of your mind?", I blurted.

"I'm out of my mind?", his voice boomed. "You don't even know what she had done", he said angrily.

"What did she do?", I asked.

He put his hands on his head as he took a deep breath.

"You want to know what she did?", he looked at me again and I let him continued.

"She's the reason why you were kidnapped. All this time, she's been feeding information to Jonathan", he explained and I was pretty sure that I heard him wrong.

"What?", I said still in shock.

"Georgie betrayed me and almost got you killed", he repeated.

"But why?", I muttered. All this time, she wanted me dead?

"I have no idea", he said scratching his neck.

"Then how did she die?", I asked.

"I kept her down the basement after I knew the truth. Then just this morning, Larry told me that she wanted to see me, so I went", he said. That was why he woke up so early.

"She told me that she was sorry for everything and hoped I could forgive her. But I said no", he continued.

"I didn't know how but she stood up and managed to punch one of my guys, taking the gun from him. She pointed the gun at me", and I gasped in horror, imagining the situation.

"She cried, asking me to forgive her. I tried to disarm her, but she wouldn't have it. She cried and cried but I said no. I told her that she had lost me and I wouldn't forgive her, ever"

"Then she pointed the gun at her head", he said and I placed a hand on my mouth, knowing what happened next.

"She shot herself", his voice cracked and I couldn't help but cry.

"I held her body in my arms and for a second, I thought of forgiving her", he rubbed his face. "But I couldn't. She betrayed me"

Then his tears finally free from his eyes. He sobbed hard and I hugged him while I cried as well. We both stood like that comforting each other.

I knew he hated her for what she had done and it was normal to cry for her death. After all, she was his sister. They loved each other. I just didn't understand why she did that to Sean.

At lunch, Sean was quiet and I didn't push him to talk. He didn't eat much either making me worried.

"Sean, you need to eat", I said softly.

"I'm not hungry", he muttered and I sighed in defeat, fear that if I pushed him more, we'd end up fighting and I didn't want that.

"I have work to do", he stood up, leaving me alone in the kitchen.

The next day, things were not getting better. He disappeared again after I woke up and this time, I didn't try to look for him anymore, knowing he'd probably be down the basement doing God knows what and I didn't intend to know, knowing Sean wouldn't tell me.

So I just kept doing my routine, going to school. I was left behind in few lessons but luckily I got some friends who would gladly lend me their notes.

I didn't see Dani anymore and from what I heard, she had broken up with James. They said she caught James having sex with a girl on her bed. Well, good for her, at last, she finally knew the real him.

And for Liam, he still greeted me when I bumped into him in the hallways and he had a girl walking pretty close to him. He seemed happy though and the girl, Kate was really friendly. I didn't know if they were together or not, but they'd look cute as a couple.

The first few days back to school were pretty great especially that I didn't have my chaperones with me anymore. I could go everywhere I want and whenever I want.

But there was a downside, I had no friends. Dani didn't talk to me anymore and Liam avoided me now that he had Kate I guess. So, mostly I ate lunch alone or hid at the library until my class started.

It was even more lonely when I was at Sean's house. He was busy and mostly left me alone since he told me about Georgie. He seemed off these days and I didn't know if he was really busy or he wanted to avoid me. He didn't seem to be affectionate anymore. He rarely kiss me and when he did, it didn't reach his eyes.

Whenever I asked him what was wrong, he just said nothing then he locked himself in his office then never left until it was dinner time.

And when it was bedtime, He just gave my lips a little peck then he turned off his side of his lamp sleeping with his back facing me. Then in the morning, he was already gone. During breakfast, I was only accompanied by Mrs. Rhodes. He never showed up at breakfast anymore.

Mrs. Rhodes seemed to notice my distress so she tried her best to keep my smile and I was thankful for that.

Two weeks passed and things were still the same. I swear I was so close to being crazy. I needed to know what was wrong with Sean and tonight I'd ask him myself.

At dinner, he still didn't show up, so after I washed all the dishes, I walked to his office where I knew he would be. One guy was standing outside his door and when he saw me, he stepped aside to let me pass.

I opened the door, revealing Sean who was sitting at his desk, rubbing his temple with eyes closed. He didn't notice me so I quietly closed the door behind me.

He let out a loud sigh as he massaged his temple, then he opened his eyes, finally see me standing there.

"Babe, what are you doing here?", he sounded exhausted.

"What? Am I not allowed to be here too?", I snarled.

"That's not what I mean", he replied quietly.

"Oh really?", I said sarcastically. "Now tell me something. Why are you avoiding me?"

"I'm not avoiding you", he replied.

"Yeah, right", I scoffed. "Look, I know you need space after what happened to Georgie. She's your sister and you love her  and I understand what it feels like to lose someone so close to you"

"But it's been weeks and instead of talking to me, you locked yourself in this room all day. Never show up during breakfast or dinner", I admitted.

"And you never kissed me anymore like you used to", I said shyly.

I walked closer to him, putting my hands around his neck. "Please don't shut me out. If it is something that I did, I'm sorry. I just. I miss you", I mumbled.

A small smile formed his face as he grabbed the back of my neck, pulling me closer. "You didn't do anything, baby"

"Then what is it?", I asked impatiently.

"I just need to finish all this paperwork",  he answered pointing at the pile of documents on his table.

I rolled my eyes. "Nice try. There's no way you would lock yourself all day just doing paperwork",

"I'm not lying, baby. You can ask Larry if you'd like. He has been helping me these days", he rubbed my arm.

"What paperwork are you guys doing exactly that you couldn't finish in weeks?", I asked again. It didn't make any sense.

Sean went quiet and his eyes averted somewhere else but me.

"Well?", I said impatiently.

"Larry's going to take over the gang", he said and I gaped.

"What? Why?", I asked in disbelief.

"Because I want to", he replied. "Larry didn't want it at first but I kept pressuring him, telling him that no one would be able to handle all this as he does"

"And what about you?", I asked.

"I'm out from all of this. For good", he pecked my lips. "So that I can spend more time with my girlfriend"

"But this is your life, your job.. "

"My life is with you", He exclaimed.

"When did you decide this?", I asked curiously. There was no way he'd just decided to quit.

"I'd been thinking about it since you were taken by Jonathan", he said. "And after what happened with Georgie, I finally made my mind"

"I know I once told you that this is my life and I wouldn't want out because this is who I am. But after all that happened,  with you almost gone, I've come to realize that this isn't about me anymore. This is about us and I want the best for us, for you", he cupped my cheek.

"I want a normal life for you where you won't be the target anymore. And I know with me still doing this, there'd never be normal for us. I just want you to be happy"

Before I knew it, my tears were already flowing from my eyes. "You'd do that just for me?"

"I'd do anything for you", he said.

I stared at him lovingly and I brought my body closer to him as I hugged him. "I love you so much"

"I love you more", he whispered to my ear.