“What was your image of happiness the healer told you to find.”
I stare back at him not sure how I can explain this without looking like a fucking loser who’s feeling sorry for himself.I’m not a loser but as usual Candace Ricci bends my rules.
“My girl.” As I say that I remember all the things I had to endure to get better.
Mental strength was what helped me finalize everything in the end.I was instructed to think of what made me happy and the first thing I thought of was her.
Images of her flowed into my mind of different periods of our lives.Her as the angel at six years old in the Christmas play.Her walking on the beach in Sicily when our families went there on vacation when we were kids.Her at ten years old when her father bought her a puppy.Her at twelve, bringing us the first batch of cookies she ever made.Her when her heart was broken after her parents' died.Her when she started to smile again.It was years later. I made her an origami angel.They're all supposed to be her.I don’t know if she ever knew that.
Then my last memory was her in my arms waking to the bright morning sunlight and that smile she gave me when she felt like mine.
That’s why I can’t stop trying to get her back.
"I've... been in love with her my entire life, but she never knew,and I never knew how deeply I felt." I've never confessed that to anybody and I've had people fooled for so long I fooled myself with wicked lies.
“You need your image always,” Dr. Wainwright says, and I couldn’t agree more.“I’m guessing something must have brought you here.Something more than worrying you’ll lose touch with the strength you have now.”
“Maybe. Maybe I just want to make sure I’m doing all the right things.”
“Okay. I like where your head is at.I think to stay on top of things try to identify anything, anything at all that might throw you out of balance.Don’t underestimate the little things.Identify any threats and neutralize them.”
I nod and I don't know why but when I think of threats and things throwing me out of balance, that asshole Jacques Belmont comes to the forefront of my mind.
Him. That motherfucker.
He wants my girl.
Damn it. Once again, I have my priorities mixed up.I have to get my act together.There's a lot going on and I need a clear mind to focus, but I'm not fucking losing my girl to that prick.
I meant every word I said to her.I'll find a way to get her back.
* * *
“It turns out I was right,” Aiden states, releasing a haggard sigh.
He opens the large brown manilla envelope he brought and pulls out some printouts of images.When he sits forward and lays them on the coffee table, I press my lips together.
The images are full-bodied pictures of Karl and Bradford.Just like the guy from the other night, both have the tattoo on the underside of their forearms.I stare at the inky black dagger with the cobra going around the handle and the word Eternal in the center of the dagger's blade.
Shit.
I knew from the second I opened my door to Aiden he'd be coming inside with dangerous news.
"God," I breathe. "This shit is definitely getting real."
When I got back from Dr. Wainwright, I dived into research, just continuing my pursuit in looking through Alfonse's files.I felt we'd find more answers there, but here Aiden is with another piece of the puzzle.At least this piece fits what we already have, and we're starting to create a picture.
"I know. It's not good news, but at least we know what we're up against."
"Yeah, a team of the worse motherfuckers known to man plotting together."
Aiden nods. "It makes sense now how it was so easy to bomb the old Syndicate and convince members to doublecross them.They were almost sure the plan would work.This is where the money, the brains, and the muscle came from."
I completely agree, and it does make sense.You couldn't just take out the type of people and connections that formed the old Syndicate.
"And I can absolutely see now where the thirst for power is coming from."
"Exactly." He straightens up and eyes me with caution."Dominic, I think the king is someone in the government simply for the fact that your father was going to do business with the Russian and Italian governments years ago.I believe we're looking for someone like that."