Fates' Destiny (21 page)

Two days had passed since Destiny’s world collapsed around her and she cried straight through them. The moment she thought her tears had
ran dry more streamed down her face.

This was awful. She felt like her life was completely over.

The physiatrist in her kept telling her that this would pass and she would recover. But the woman in her didn’t think she would.

Her world was dark and cold and empty.

She sat on her couch with her knees pulled against her chest and her favorite robe wrapped around her. Kenna rounded the couch carrying two steamy cups of coffee.

“Her
e Hun.” She handed Destiny one of the mugs.

“Any liquor in it?”
Destiny asked hopeful and Kenna shook her head as she lowered next to her.

“You don’t need any of that.”

Silence fell between them for a moment and Destiny didn’t like it. Silence and her tears had been her only companions these past two days and she was sick of them both.

“Thank you for bringing me my stuff.”

She was truly grateful that Kenna and Luke gathered her things for her.

“It was no problem.” Kenna smiled over the rim of her cup.

Destiny hated the next question that popped in her head but she needed to know the answer.

“How’s Adam?”

Kenna’s smile faded as she let out a soft sigh. “Not good. He hasn’t came out of his office since… Well, you know. He won’t talk to anyone. Not to Richard or Luke or Dela. Not even the kids. Richard said he’s not eating. All he does is stare out the windows.”

“And the kids?”

“Sad.”
Kenna answered as her eyes lowered to her cup. “Just sad.”  

Destiny’s heart broke all over again and a fresh stream of tears followed. This was destroying them all and it was all her fault.

“Maybe you should try to talk to him.” Kenna suggested with a comforting hand resting on Destiny’s knee.

Destiny shook her head. “He won’t talk to me. He was right. My silence could’ve gotten Ali hurt. I’m the one who did this. I’m the one who was wrong.”

She sat her cup down on the coffee table, wrapped her arms around her legs, laid her head on her knees, and allowed her tears to flow freely.

Kenna
sat her cup down, moved as close to Destiny as she could get, and laid her head against Destiny’s knees. A gesture proving to her that she wouldn’t have to go through this alone.

A
gain the room went silent but it was soon broken when the sound of the doorbell rang out.

“Who could that be?” Kenna asked as she lifted her head.

“I don’t know.” Destiny answered. And nor did she care. “Tell them to go away.” She ordered when she felt Kenna lift off the couch.

She heard the door open and the next sound she heard made her heart leap…

~
              ~              ~

How much pain and devastation could a man take? Adam didn’t know how much any man could take but he knew how much he could take and losing Destiny had pushed him to his breaking point.

He couldn’t find the strength t
o move much less eat or talk. He just wanted to sit there in his office and fade away.

The door to his office opened but he didn’t move. Whoever it was would go away eventually.

“Adam?” Luke asked from behind him.

Adam stayed still.
He knew he’d take the hint that he didn’t want to be bothered and go away just like the umpteen million times he’s came into his office in the past two days.

Adam was slightly surprised when he heard his brother’s footsteps cross the hardwood toward him.

“Adam, you need to go talk to her.”

Talk to her?
Adam sighed. “She’s not going to talk to me.” He found the strength to say. Not after what he said to her. Not after the way he treated her.

“Yes she will, Adam.” Luke pleaded with him. “She loves you.”

Loves him? No. She might have before but there’s no way she does now. But God knows he loves her.

“She’ll never forgive me.” The desolate truth shattered his heart.

“Yes she…”

“Adam.”
Dela’s panicked voice interrupted Luke. “Adam, the kids are gone.”

That one terrifying sentence gave him the strength he needed to turn to her. Sheer panic covered the woman’s face.

“What do you mean they’re gone?”              

“I went to check on Anna and couldn’t find her anywhere. We checked Ali and Jason’s room and they’re empty too.
”

“I checked the security video of the driveway,” Richard appeared in the doorway. “
and saw them climb into a cab about 10 minutes ago.”

Dela
gasped, her hand hovering over her mouth. “Where could they have gone?”

A
dam sighed. It didn’t take a genius to figure this one out.

“They went to see their nanny.”
Then his eyes went to his brother who was sitting in one of the chairs. “Will you…”

A shake of Luke’s head cut him off.
“Nope. You want them, you go get them.”

The thought sickened him. He couldn’t face her. That would probably be the one thing that finally
kill him. He lifted his attention to Richard and Dela.

Both of them shook their heads before he even asked.

With a soft smile Dela said, “This is exactly what you need.”

Adam wasn’t getting out of this. If he wanted his children home he was going to have to go get them himself. Damn it.

With his stomach in knots and his heart broken he lifted out of his chair and was soon on his way to get his children.

~              ~              ~

“Destiny!”

Her head snapped up to see the three children darting for her. Anna was the first to reach her and she had barely enough time to drop her legs before the little angel threw herself at her.

“Oh god.” She hugged her so tight, totally stunned. Ali and Jason wrapped their arms around both her and Anna.

More tears flowed from Destiny as she held these children that she loved more than anything tight, not wanting to ever let them go.

“What are you guys doing here? How did you get here?”

“We took a cab.” Anna informed her.

“We had to see you.” Jason confessed over her head.

“Destiny, I’m so sorry.” Ali’s tearful apology was followed by a squeeze.

Destiny sighed. “I know Ali.” She laid her head against hers that was resting on her shoulder. She couldn’t be mad at her. She was just a child. A stupid, selfish child who felt guilty.

“You have to come back Destiny.” Jason pleaded. “We miss you. Dad misses you.”

Knowing that he missed her warmed her heart but it didn’t change anything.

“I can’t guys. I messed up. Your dad trusted me and I broke that trust. He’s in the right.” It choked her to say that but it was the truth.

“Destiny,” Anna looked up at her. “We know you and Daddy are in love with each other.”

Anna’s words made Destiny snap back. “How did you…”

“Oh please,” Ali snorted a laugh through her tears. “We’ve known for weeks. They way you two look at each other tells everything.” Then she lifted her head to Destiny’s ear and whispered. “And I’ve heard you two leaving each other’s rooms early in the morning.”

Destiny felt the heat creep up in her cheeks as Ali laid her head back on her shoulder.

“Guys,” She sighed as she tightened her arms around Anna. “I do love your dad. I love him and you three with all my heart. But I don’t think it’s going to work out the way we want it to. Now with that said, I’ll talk to your dad about coming to see you guys whenever I can but not right now.” She laid her head a top of Anna’s. Her next words burned to say. “Not while he hates me.” The thought made her stomach cramp and fresh tears to flow.

She hated it but at that moment she needed them to leave. This was killing her and she was breaking down with every second they were there. She was just about to tell them to let Kenna take them home when she heard a voice that made her stop breathing.

“I don’t hate you.”

All four of them snapped up to see him standing in the open doorway. Kenna still held the door open from when the children had came in. She must have just been too caught up in them to think to close the door.

Instantly the kids tensed and buried deeper into her as if trying to hide.

He looked awful.
A hundred times worse than he did that night in his office.

Dark shadows circled his eyes giving the appearance that his eyes were sunk into his head. His stubble dusted cheeks were caved, defining his sharp cheek bones.
His dark hair was in severe disarray.

He was
a man tormented once again.

“Adam,” She felt compelled to plea for the children instead of pleading for herself. “Don’t be mad at them. They just wanted to see me.”

His eyes stayed on her and gave no indication that he had even heard her.

“Can I speak to you outside?” He
asked, his tone devoid of all emotion.

Destiny didn’t want to. She didn’t want him to hurt her anymore than she already was. But she pushed herself to get up.

She sat Anna on the couch and smiled at her. “I’ll be right back.”

Then she pushed up on wobbly legs and followed him out the door, closing it behind her.

~
              ~              ~

Adam had no intentions of going to her apartment. He couldn’t see her. He couldn’t face her after the way he behaved… After the way he treated her.
He couldn’t hear her tell him that she wouldn’t forgive him. That would certainly drive the last nail in his coffin. 

As he pulled into the parking lot he pulled out his phone and dialed Ali. He went straight to her voicemail.
Damn.
He hung up with her and called Luke.

“Are you there?” Luke answered.

“Yes. Will you call Kenna and ask her to send the children down?” He knew Kenna was with her if she wasn’t with Luke.

“No.” Luke snorted. “If I’m going to call
Kenna it’s going to be to tell her to come drag you out of your car.”

Damn him.
“Thanks a lot Luke.” And with that he hung up.

He sighed as he dropped is phone into the passenger seat. He had to go in there and get his kids.

His chest tightened with every step he took closer to her door. How was he going to do this?

Just knock on the door and get the kids.
He told himself but it seemed that may be easier said than done.

As he closed in he saw her door open. Then he heard her tearful voice.

“Not while he hates me.”

Her words and her tears caused his heart to cease. She thinks he hates her. He couldn’t have her thinking that. He doesn’t. He loves her. He loves her so much it’s killing him.

He stepped in front of the door and the sight of her took his breath away. She was in a ball on the couch, wrapped in her favorite robe, all three of his children surrounded her. Her head was resting atop Anna’s but he could see her beautiful green eyes were red, red blotches covered the side of her tear stained face. She was just as devastated as he was and he couldn’t let her suffer. He loved her way to much. He would do whatever it took to end their misery. If she wanted him to beg, he would. If she wanted blood, she could have it. Whatever it took to make her happy because her happiness was his happiness.

“I don’t hate you.” He had to force the words
pass the tears that had formed in his throat.

When she snapped up and looked at him he got a better view of the
devastation he’d inflicted on her and it damn near tore him apart.

She asked him not to be mad at the children but all he could think about was easing her pain.

“Can I speak to you outside?”

She hesitated at first but she shifted Anna to the cushion, rose, and followed him in to the hallway.

~
              ~              ~

Once the door was closed Adam surprised her when he grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her into his chest. Then pressed his lips against hers. Of all kisses this one held the most emotion. She could feel his passion, his desire, his need. But she could also feel his sadness, his desperation. And she broke.

“Adam,” She pushed him back, tears flowing. “What are you doing?”

“I can’t have you thinking I hate you.” His dark eyes glistened under the lighting of the hallway. “I don’t. I love you. I love you so fucking much that it’s destroying me. I already lost one woman I loved. I’ll be damned if I lose you too.” He released her neck, wrapped his arms around her, held her as tight as he could, and dropped his forehead to rest on her shoulder. “I can’t Destiny.” His voice cracked. “I can’t lose you. I want you to marry me. I want you to help me raise my children and our own children. I’ll do anything you want. I’ll beg. I’ll buy you a diamond the size of your fist. Anything. Whatever it takes for you to come back to me.”