Chapter 228

Anton POV

The sky was gray. It looked like the kind of clouds that promised rain but the weather wasn’t stormy at all. It just made everything look gloomy and heavier than they should. You could say it was mirroring my mood.

I could count the number of words Queenie has said to me since that encounter with Logan. She did everything with amechanical efficiency. She was present enough not to be rude but other than that she was completely absent. I didn’t push. I didn’t have the right. Not after what happened.

The drive back home was intense. For lack of a better word. The silence was heavy and pressed me down .

I kept my eyes on the road, my knuckles would have definitely strangled the wheel of it was alive. I will take a glance every so often  at Queenie in the passenger seat. She folded her hands across her chest and her face was turned away from me.

She looked through the window, like there was something beyond the horizon waiting for her. I cleared my throat a little to gain her attention. I opened my mouth to say something but I changed my mind and closed it.

I glanced her again, she didn’t even turn to face me.

We got to the driveway and she was out of the car like a lightening bolt before I was able to kill the engine.

“Damn. Is that how bad she want to be far away from me?” I sighed, rubbing my forehead.

I killed the engine and stepped out of the car. I followed her up the path.

“This is going to be one of those nights” I watched her silhouette disappear into the house. I still didn’t call out to her.

She didn’t head to the kitchen, or the living room. She made a beeline  to her bedroom.

I stood in the hallway for a moment. I was totally at a loss at what to do. After, a little while, I sighed. I made my mind up.

“Well…it can’t get any worse than this”

With that, I knocked lightly on her door and waited. I got no response. I knocked and waited again. No response. I opened the door and went in.

She was sitting on the edge of her bed with a stiff posture and her back was turned to me

“Queenie,” I called out softly. “Can we talk?” I held my breathe as I waited for her reply.

She was motionless for a moment. Then she slowly turned to face me. Her eyes were red. I could see the tears steaming down her face. My throat was suddenly constricted.

“It’s not just about what you said, Anton,” I heard her calmly say. It’s about what you didn’t say.”

I nodded. What else could I do but agree with her at this juncture?

I took some steps forward and closed the door behind me, like it would keep the shame from leaking out.

“Why did let them say all those things? You should have stopped them or said something. It wasn’t right that you just kept quiet and let them say all that. ”

“I know.” I took a step forward.

“You’re right.” I admitted my fault to her. “I should’ve stepped in. I should’ve defended you. I was pissed off at Logan and I let it get the better of me. Well as for Maxwell, he blindsided me with that comment about the bar and I just blanked out.”

She scoffed. “You blanked out?”

“Yeah. I messed up.” he admitted. “Badly. I hate you felt you were alone and couldn’t depend on me.  You weren’t alone. You aren’t.”

I watched her look up at me. Her eyes had a hollow stare to it. “So I’m supposed to feel better because you said it now?”

“No,” I said. I exhaled loudly as I combed my hair with my hand. “I just don’t want to pretend it didn’t happen. It did happen. I want to do better. Be better. You deserve that. Much more but nothing less.”

I reached out slowly and covered her hand with mine. She didn’t pull away when I did.

Thank God for that. I have a way in.

“You are important to me. Us. I know I have issues. I know I get possessive. And it’s not for the reason you think…”

“And what reason might that be?” She asked in a sharp tone.

She is really going to make me say this out loud huh?

I sighed. Well. Here goes nothing.

I... I have been with people before. You know that. But I haven’t been with someone I didn’t want to lose this badly before.”

She looked away. I guess she wasn’t expecting that level of vulnerability from me. Her voice dropped. “I’m tired, Anton.”

“I know.” I said as my shoulders dropped. Her words hanging heavy over them.

“No, I don’t mean physically. I’m tired in my bones. The clinic, Junie’s outbursts, Logan’s smug face, your friend’s big mouth. Then you, standing there saying nothing while they throw shades at me. It’s all too much. I can’t deal with it.”

I sat down beside her. My shoulders gently brushed hers as I closed the gap between us. “I failed you when you needed me the most. And I hate that I made your life harder than it already was.”

She didn’t say anything. Her jaw was still clenched for a long time. Then slowly, she rested her head on my shoulder. I felt a little lighter as I felt the familiar weight of her head on my shoulder.

Yes. Almost there. I’m almost at the finish line.

“I’m tired of fighting. It’s draining.” she whispered.

“I’m sorry. ,” I said. I gently wrapped an arm around her and caressed her head. “I’ll handle it. All of it.”

She pulled back just enough to look at me. “What does that mean?”

“It means I’m not going to sit back, fold my hands and watchnext time Logan decides to play savior. I’ll make damn sure Maxwell knows where the line is.”

“ That sounds sweet but…That’s not what I need from you Anton.

“huh? I raised my eyebrow.

She continued. “I don’t need a war. I need peace.”

“I know,” I said. “ well, peace doesn’t come without boundaries. It’s high time I make everybody knows where the line is.”

I felt her eyes bore holes in me. I couldn’t make head or tails of what she was thinking. She sighed and rested her on my chest again. “I don’t want you go burning down buildings. Please.”

“I’m not making any promises.” I muttered under my breath. “I’ll keep the matches in my pocket…” I held her tight. “ for now.”

Later that night, after Queenie had gone to bed, her breathing almost silent as she laid on her side, I sat in my study, the laptop screen a bright contrast against the darkness.

I told myself I was just going to clear up my inbox and catch up on some reports.

I wasn’t.

The search bar blinked back at me. I typed in Logan’s full name. Then hit Enter key.

“You have done this before.” Yup. I didn’t  know what I was hoping to find this time around.

The results filled the screen in nano seconds. There were articles, interviews, medical journals. He was exactly what he appeared to be: high-ranking, influential and widely respected. He had strong links to half a dozen hospital boards. Held countless consultancy roles. There was also a smiling face on some regional healthcare campaign about systemic reform.

I stared at it all. Under the glare of the laptop screen, I clenched my jaw.

Fuck! This was going to be harder than I thought. He was too clean.

I tapped my hand on the table as my head into full throttle.

There was no scandal to exploit. He had no hidden woman. No allegations of fraud. Logan was just a man who had the power and poise to walk into any room and made everyone forget who they came with.

That wasn’t the worse thing. The kicker was he clearly still want Queenie. He’s a good actor. I’ll give him that. He was so good at pretending not to want Queenie while clearly still orbiting her. If it were up to me, I would have given him an Oscar.

I scanned through a blog that was released last year. Logan had chaired a a gala for fundraising. Queenie had probably been invited. Maybe she’d even declined.

I wasn’t worried about Queenie’s loyalty.  I never had been. Not even in the slightest.

But Logan? That cunt was only just starting and he wasn’t going to stop. Unless I made him.

I closed the laptop. My reflection stared back at me tired and tensed. I ran a hand over my hair and sighed.

I wasn’t going to destroy him. But I have to end this long game he is playing.

I will deal with him like how I dealt with my company’s competition. Use subtle pressure, redirection and strategic distancing. I had my ways.

And boy oh boy! I was going to use all of them. The whole nine yards.

The room was quiet when I climbed back into bed. Queenie stirred slightly and turned toward me in her sleep. Her eyes fluttered open. I thought she was going to say something.

“Anton?” she mumbled. “I’m here,” I said.

“I had a weird dream,” she said into the dark. “I was back atMichael’s house. And the floor kept falling away.”

I pulled her close and held her like she might vanish if I didn’t.

“Nothing’s going to happen,” I said quietly.

“Promise?”

I kissed the top of her head. “I won’t let it.”

She sighed deeply.  I felt her body, soft and warm against his chest, and I stayed awake as I stared at the ceiling.

A promise hardened in my gut: no one was going to take anything from us again.

Not Logan.

Not the past.

No one.