Chapter 41: CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

I draw circles on Thomas's chest as we lay in bed. We just finished our fourth or fifth round in bed. I stopped counting once I came the second time. Thomas made me scream his name multiple times today. I didn't even know I could cum that many times.

'Do you like it?" Thomas asks, looking down at me

'What," I ask, resting my chin on his chest as I look at him.

'You don't see it?" Thomas asks, surprised I didn't see something I am guessing is important.

'See what?"

'Let me show you" Thomas switches on the bedside lamp and points to the area where his heart should lie underneath. My eyes widen once I see what lies there. I whip my head and lock eyes with Thomas, who is smiling at me before moving it back to the tattoo on his chest.

'I can't believe it" Tears of joy fill my eyes as I continue to stare at the tattoo of my name on Thomas's chest. I move my hand to touch it to make sure it's real, and it is.

'I will take it that you like it?"

'I do" I admire the beautiful artwork done on his chest with my name. I can't believe he got a tattoo of my name and not just that he got it where his heart lies. That speaks volumes as to what I mean to Thomas. His mother and sister's names are the only names tattooed on his body. I can't believe he tattooed my name. This is amazing.

'I love you."

'I love you too" he kisses me as his hands begin to roam my body. I smile against his lips, knowing what is about to happen again. He has recharged his energy and is ready for me as I am ready for him.

***

I walk downstairs from our bedroom to find something to eat. I am so hungry I could eat a whale. All that sex has drained my energy. Thomas and I spent the whole day in bed. I open the fridge and find a plate of pasta and chicken. Linda must have made dinner for us even though we were sleeping. I sit on the kitchen stool after putting my food in the microwave to heat it up. I use my phone to pass the time while I wait. I am scrolling through Instagram when I get interrupted by someone forcefully pulling my head backward. I turn around to find out who grabbed my hair.

'Kimberley," I say, shocked to see her and wondering why she grabbed my hair.

'You bitch" she snarls at me and smacks me hard across the face. I am not given time to react to it before she kicks behind my legs and tackles me to the ground. 'I am going to kill you today," she screams as she gets on top of me. She attacks my face with her long nails, but I use my hands to cover it.

What the hell is going on? Why is Kimberley attacking me? I haven't seen her since that day we left for California. I shield my face from her attacks, but I am unable to protect my body. She is a trained fighter, so she knows how to hit well and hard. My ribs burn as she throws a heavy punch at it. Thomas only started training me today, and we learned blade skills, not defense skills. I stop shielding my face and try to get her off me. I begin to look around me to see if there is anything I could use to hit her. I find my phone on the ground close to me. I know it's not big enough to impact a lot of damage, but with the right amount of energy used when hitting with it, I am sure I can hit her hard enough to get her off me. I grab my iPhone 13plus off the ground and swing it hard to the side of Kimberley's head. Her assaults on my body stop immediately. I don't waste time pushing her off me. I run to where we keep the knives in the kitchen and pull one out. I point it at Kimberley and wait for her to get herself back. I am not leaving anything to chance anymore; I will protect myself.

I stare at Kimberly's head, which has blood coming from the side, while she stares at her hand stained with blood. I didn't mean to injure her, but I don't feel bad that I did. She was hurting me, so it seems only fair that she bleeds.

'Stay away from me; I am not scared to harm you" I hold the knife tighter in my two hands as I blow air out of my mouth to push my hair away from my face. Kimberley's assault caused my hair to become in disarray. Sweat is also pouring down my face making my hair stick to it.

'I can't believe he chose you over me; I am so fucking better than you," she screams at me. She looks mad right now. She doesn't seem to care that she is bleeding.

'You attacked me because of Thomas?" I ask to clarify even though that's what it seems.

'Don't fucking say his name out of your mouth. You don't deserve to say his name."

'And you do," A voice says behind me. I whip my head around and find Thomas standing at the kitchen entrance. He walks toward me and takes the knife out of my hand. He wraps his arms around me, and I melt into his chest.

'I am here, my love. She won't fucking dare lay a finger on you with me here," Thomas says into my hair. I wrap my arms around him and take in his scent that calms me down. I was scared Kimberley might do something to harm me but not anymore. With Thomas here, I feel safe and protected.

'She doesn't deserve your love; why can't you see that I am the one you should be holding in your arms" Kimberley's voice cracks a little.

'Get out!"

'Thomas," Kim sounds shocked that he just asked her to leave

'Fucking get out of here before I do something I will regret to you for touching Melina."

'How can you care about her so much when she hasn't sacrificed anything for you as I have?"

'Kim, if you still wish for our families to do business, leave before I have you thrown out."

'I have loved you, cared for you, killed for you, and what has she done? She has betrayed you and caused you much pain, but you pick her over me. Why tell me why?"

'Because I love her and not you."

'But I love you, isn't my love enough."

'No, it's not. Now leave"

'It should be Thomas, it fucking sho…." Kimberley is cut off as she is knocked out cold by someone. I look behind her to see Leo with a gun in his hand.

'Take her home," Thomas tells Leo.

'Okay, boss" he picks Kimberley off the ground and begins to walk out of the kitchen with her in his arms.

'Are you okay? I hope she didn't harm you?" Thomas asks, unwrapping his arms around me and begins to inspect my body for any injuries.

'I am fine. She didn't harm me."

'I am sorry this happened to you. I promise to make sure it never does" he pulls me into his arms and hugs me tight.

'It's not your fault. It's fine," I say, hugging him back.

Thomas carries me back upstairs and uses the first aid kit to treat the bruises Kimberley inflicted on my ribs. He also carries me back downstairs to eat. I spend the rest of the night in his arms and also fall asleep in them. I hope Thomas deals with Kimberley in a way that doesn't end her life. I don't think she deserves to die as much as I don't like her. I just hope to never see her again.

***

The following morning I wake up a little late and find the left side where Thomas sleeps empty. I climb out of bed and look for Thomas around the room. I can't find him in the room, so I am guessing he has gone to work. I walk to the bathroom to take a shower. I walk downstairs to Thomas's office to check if he is there once I am done dressing up. I find it empty, so I check the following possible place he could be: the basement. I asked Linda if he went to the office, and she said he was still at home. I want to ask him if he has gotten any leads on where to find Franky. It's been a few days since she was taken, and we haven't heard anything from the people who took her.

The lights in the basement aren't bright, so I saunter inside. I hear Thomas's voice as I walk down the stairs. I have found him, thank God. I follow the sound of his voice and see him talking to someone.

'Thom…" My words get caught off once I see who Thomas is talking to. I slowly move closer to the man to ensure my eyes aren't deceiving me. My hands even itch to touch his face to ensure he is real and standing across from Thomas. After what feels like an eternity, I finally say the words I didn't think would be possible.

'You are alive," I say to the man I remember Thomas beating almost to death last time because of me. The guilt of being the one responsible for his death never faded from my heart. I can't believe he is standing before me right now, healed. I wonder how he survived.

'How"

'I will tell you in my office, wait for me there. I have some important things to discuss with him. I will explain everything to you once I am done here," Thomas says,

'Okay" I turn back to the stairs and begin to walk out. I turn around one last time before disappearing back into the house and stare at the man I believed I had killed. I feel a big weight has been lifted off my chest finding out he is alive. Thomas didn't kill him. Thank God. I can sleep better at night now. I am so happy he is alive.