Three Thousand Miles - Forever, (book #3 of Three Thousand Miles, Series) (18 page)

“Alanna, my start in life wasn’t the best and I will be doomed if I am to let that
happen to William.” I stare into his eyes as he begins to stroke my chin. I want
him to tell me how he is feeling about possibly having – a son.

“Adrian, I know that you try to be strong but this is me and you can tell me
anything.” Adrian exhales as he briefly shakes his head.

 

“I don’t know if the boy is my child, but if he is you know that I will try my best
to be his father.”

“, If William is your son then of course you will be in his life. That’s not even an
option to discuss. I need you to believe me when I say that I will never stand in
your way. If you want to spend every waking moment of your life with him,
then that would be okay with me. I see William as just another part of you to
love.” My words are ringing in the air and Adrian can’t contain his smile as he
leans in towards me. He grabs my face in his large, strong hands and he pulls
me in. Our bodies are literally an inch apart as he stares deep into my brown
eyes.

“You are amazing, you know that?” I gently roll my eyes and Adrian lightly taps
me on my forehead. “Don’t roll your eyes at me when I am trying to be
romantic.” I gently laugh and then I can’t resist him any longer. I lunge forward
and kiss him, gently at first and then firmer as our passion heats up. I become
dizzy from his touch and I gently push him away as I need to tell him about my
meeting with Michael.

“Stop,” I say smoothly. Adrian instantly stops kissing my neck as he stares at
me, blankly.

 

“What’s wrong?” He snaps.

 

“It’s Michael,” I confess. Adrian shakes his head at me and I can tell that he
isn’t happy by my choice of words.

“I am trying to kiss you and you’re thinking about Michael!”
“No, no, it’s not like that.” I try to reassure Adrian as I move further back from
him. I lean against the arm of the sofa as I try to explain to Adrian why I was
thinking of Michael. “He called me tonight when I was driving home. He wants
me to meet with him tomorrow – at his house.” Adrian leans his back against
the sofa as he runs his long thing fingers through his hair. He turns to look at
me and he smirks.

“Alanna, I am afraid that you will have to cancel your plans with Michael.”
“Why?” I question. Adrian takes a deep breath as he begins to inform me that
we have plans tomorrow.

“Because tomorrow is when we have to meet with Zara and the… boy,” My
heart races as I consider Adrian’s words. I did promise that I would go with him
to meet with Zara and William and I can’t go back on my word. Although it will
break my heart to cancel my plans with Michael, but I know that I need to
support Adrian more than I need to see Michael.

“Okay, I will just call and cancel my plans with Michael. Ah, he is going to be
crushed he sounded bewildered on the phone.” I slowly get up from sofa and I
feel dizzy as I walk over to my bag that is lying on the side table beside the
doorway. I rummage through the junk of my bag, until I find my white
BlackBerry. I quickly scan my contacts until I reach Michael’s name. I hover my
finger over the send button, but I pause as Adrian glides over to me.

“Baby, don’t tell Michael about our plans to meet with Zara.” I frown at him. I
don’t know what’s with all the secrecy? Michael was the same tonight, he
didn’t want me to tell Adrian that I was meeting with him and now Adrian
doesn’t want Michael to know that we are spending time with Zara and
William. I am beginning to think that something isgoing on that I am not aware
of.

“Why don’t you want me to tell him?” Adrian exhales very deeply at my words
and I know that he is annoyed with my questions.

“Alanna, why don’t you ever just do as I say?” I scowl at him.
“That’s all I do. Now tell me why I can’t tell Michael about our plans?” Adrian
reaches out to my hand and he takes my phone into his grasp. I frown at him
again. “Adrian!” I snap.

“Alanna!” He snaps back at me. I reach out and I try to grab my phone from his
hand, but he moves to swiftly and I miss. I am beginning to lose my patience
with him.

“There is something going on that you aren’t telling me, isn’t there?” Adrian’s
eyes quickly dart from side to side and I have come to realise that he does that
when he is nervous. I move closer to him. “Tell me,” I insist. Adrian rolls his
eyes at my persistence, but then he leads me back over to the sofa. He sits me
down whilst he kneels on the floor. His eyes have become deep and serious as
he holds onto my hand. I can feel my body temperature rising and my dizziness
is returning – I must remember to make a doctor’s appointment. I breathe
rapidly as I await his reply.

“Over the last couple of weeks things between Michael and I have become
rather… strained.”

“Why?” I cut Adrian off in mid-sentence as I can’t take in what he is saying. I
was under the impression that Michael and Adrian were cool. Therefore, I am
really surprised by his words and I need to know more. I quickly apologise for
butting in as I alert him to continue. “Sorry, go on.”

“I guess it all started when Michael stopped answering my calls.”
“I am confused I thought that everything was good between you two, what
happened for things to change?” Adrian sighs.

“Chad happened.” A cool shiver runs up my spine at the sound if his name.
Vivid flashbacks of when he had me locked in that room are starting to flood
into my head. I quickly close my eyes and I try tobreathe through my anxiety.
Once my heart rate decreases a little, I open my eyes to look at Adrian.

“Michael isn’t talking to me right now because he is back in contact with
Chad.” I frown as I can’t take this in. I can’t believe that Michael would talk to
Chad after what he has done. Adrian has to be mistaken because Michael
wouldn’t hurt me in this way.
“Surly Michael wouldn’t betray us like this?” Adrian grabs my hands firmly and
he pulls them close to his chest.

“Alanna, they are brothers – family. How can we compete with that?” I scowl
again at Adrian.

 

“But you are his brother and I am his friend surly that means something to
him?” Adrian shakes his head at me.

“Baby, we cannot rely on Michael to be on our side. Chad is his biological
brother and he wants to spend time with him. We cannot deny him that even if
it hurts us dearly.”

“But Chad is a … jerk. How can Michael stand to be around him? How can
Emma, after what he has done to you?” Adrian is now sitting next to me on the
sofa and he is gently stroking the fabric with his fingers as he considers his next
words.

“I have spoken with Emma and she is in bits over Michael’s actions. She has
even begged him to stay away from Chad, but Michael isn’t listening to her. I
have a feeling that she won’t stick around if Chad is in the picture any longer.
Michael has changed in so many ways, I saw him the other day and his attitude
was rancid.” I can’t process this new information about Michael and my head is
starting to thump from the stress. I roll over on my side and I huddle into
Adrian. He holds me firmly as he concludes our conversation.

“Chad doesn’t know that Zara is in contact with me and it would be for the
best if it stays that way. Zara is frightened that Chad will harm her and the boy
if he found out that she has agreed to a DNA test. She has told me that she is
no longer going to stay with him- Zara is leaving Chad and taking the boy with
her. We can’t trust Michael right now, so please baby promise me that you will
not tell him about Zara and us?” I consider his words and then I agree.

“I won’t tell Michael a thing.”

I rise up from the sofa and I march over to the dresser. I lift my phone and I
begin to dial Michael’s number. I hit send and I wait as the phone rings. My
temper is boiling right now and I wish that I couldgive Michael a piece of my
mind. I want to scream at him for being so stupid. He should know better than
to let Chad into his life. If Michael doesn’t wake up and see that Chad is bad
news then he will lose everyone around him - including me. My heart is racing
when Michael answers. I hope that I don’t lose control and tell him how I am
actually feeling.

“Hello,”
he says quietly.

 

“Michael its Alanna, I need to talk to you is now a good time?”
The phone is
silent and then I hear Michael clearing his throat.

“Go on,”
he says. His voice is quiet and refined; I wrinkle my nose at his voice
as he sounds really different. I want to scream at him and I feel that he needs a
good wake-up call. However, I resist as I cancel my plans with him.

“Listen Michael, I am sorry but I have to cancel our plans for tomorrow.
Something has come up at work and I can’t get out of it.”

“I see, well okay then.”
His voice is sarcastic and I feel as if he doesn’t believe
me. I gaze over at Adrian and I smile at him. I turn my attention back to
Michael.

“I am sorry but I just won’t be able to make it tomorrow.”

“Okay then Alanna, goodbye.”
Michael rudely hangs up on me and I am left
speechless by his actions. Maybe Adrian is right, perhaps Michael has changed.
I slam my phone down onto the surface of the table as Adrian glides over to
my side. My head is pounding and my heart is numb from what has just
happened. Chad is turning Michael against me and I am powerless to stop it. I
can feel a gentle tear begin to fall from my eye and I quickly wipe it away as
Adrian reaches out and lifts me into his arms. I wrap my hands around his neck
as he carries me upstairs. We reach our room and Adrian places me down onto
the bed. I try to rise up as I need to change intomy night-dress, but Adrian
pushes me back down. He lightly smirks at me as hemarches over to my
closet. A few moments later he returns to my side with a silk night dress. He
places it down next to me as he takes my hand in his. He is stunning and I can’t
catch my breath as I look at him. His chocolate hair is flopped down onto his
forehead and the collar of his white shirt is open to reveal his golden skin. His
eyes are glowing and I am lost in their sea. Adriangently lifts my hand up to his
mouth and he lightly places a kiss on my skin. He lets go of my hand and then
he stands up. He loosely places his hands into his pockets as he begins to talk.

“You look exhausted, baby. Please try to forget about everything and go to
sleep.” I smile at him and then my gesture fades as Michael pops into my head
once again.

“Adrian what are we going to do about Michael?” Adrian sighs at my words as
he makes his way back over to my side.

“Baby, there is nothing that we can do. Now please get some sleep, you have
deep, black circles under your eyes and I can’t bear to look at them.” I frown
at him –is he slating my looks?

“Straighten your face I didn’t mean it like that.” He snaps. I reluctantly smile at
him as he begins to explain.

“The last time that I saw you with dark circles around your eyes was when I
saw you lying in the street – shot. Forgive me, but I just don’t want any
reminders of that day.” I slowly sit up in the bed and I wrap my arms around
Adrian’s neck. I pull him towards me and kiss him tenderly as he strokes my
hair. We break free from each other after a few moments of passion and then
Adrian bids me goodnight.

Nine

I wake up the next morning to stomach wrenching sickness. I climb out of bed
and I rush into the bathroom – not controlling my need to be sick as I enter. I
rush to the toilet and the vomit begins to spout from my mouth. The noises are
deafening and Adrian comes rushing into the bathroom.

“Are you being sick, again?” He asks as I stand up and I switch on the shower.
“Yes, I must have a 24 – hour bug- thing,” I reassure him. Adrian frowns as he
marches over to me. He lightly places his hand onto my forehead as he checks
my temperature.

“You’re ice cold, baby perhaps you should go to the doctors and get checked
out.” I smile at him as I check to see if the wateris hot in the shower.

“I’m fine; I will however need some privacy.” Adrian scowls at me, but he
accepts my wishes. I quickly shower, dry my hair and get changed into today’s
outfit – black skinny jeans and a white roll neck jumper. I apply some light
make-up and then I make my way down the stairs and into the kitchen. When I
enter I see that Adrian has already made himself some breakfast and to my
horror he has made me some as well. As I walk further into the room Adrian
quickly alerts me to take a seat at the breakfast bar. He ushers me with a plate
of food consisting of bacon, eggs and toast. I smile as Adrian is being super cute by making me breakfast, but I feel guilty as the smell and the sight of it is
making me gag.

“Wow, this looks amazing, but I really couldn’t eat a thing right now. I am sorry
that you went to all this trouble.” Adrian exhales at my words, but he quickly
accepts them as he reaches over and kisses me softly on my cheek. I watch him
as he begins to clear away the food. He is dressed casually today in dark blue
jeans and red checked shirt. His hair is extra messy and his smile is captivating.
He loses patience with the cleaning and he soon gives up. I laugh at him.

“What are you laughing at?” He says firmly. I laugh harder as I look at him
more. His face is like thunder and his eyes are like dark green marbles. He
looks so frustrated and I can’t help feeling impressed with his manly reaction
to cleaning.

“Nothing,” I inform him as I stand up from the seat. I nudge him out of the way
as I take over the cleaning duties. I slide the dishes into the dishwasher and
then I quickly wipe the kitchen counters. I throw the dish-cloth into the sink
and then I turn to face Adrian.

“Now was that so hard?” Adrian rolls his eyes as he gently kisses my head. I
follow him into the hallway and I wait behind him as he rummages in the
closet. Adrian pulls out his black leather jacket and he drapes it onto his strong
body. I smile at the sight of my gorgeous husband – god I’m still getting used to
that word. Adrian leans into the closet again and he pulls out my coat. Adrian
spins me around and then places my dark blue cashmere coat around my
shoulders. I lightly kiss him on the cheek as he reaches out and grabs his car
keys from the side table. I grab my handbag and then I follow Adrian out of the
house and into the car.