Salvation (An Arranged Marriage ll) - Episode 13

 

I take a step forward, my body moving jerkily as I try to come to terms with what I'm seeing. 

"Kane?" I whisper. 

"I'm fine Ani, just some bruises" He says, seating, I look him over and even though he said it was just some bruises my brain refuses to accept it. 

"Kane, you are bleeding" I say, walking around the table as fast as I can, Aroos disappears and returns before I can get to Kane. 

A first aid kit is with her which she hands to me. 

I kneel in front of Kane, watching the blood slowly seeping from his wound.

"What happened?" Anaya asks, her voice strained. 

The door opens and Maurice enters, I only glance at him minutely before turning back to tending Kane's wound, but just that glance tells me all I needed to know, there had been an accident. 

"What happened?" I ask, cleaning the cut on his head, my hands trembling, even before he opens his mouth I knew what he was going to say. 

"A car came out of nowhere and rammed into us, it was a good thing we were driving the SUV" He says quietly, I place a little bandage on the wound before moving to the buttons on his shirt. 

There is blood on it and I just want to examine if there was anything that needed tending. 

"Did you get a look at the driver?" Cash asks, his question directed at Maurice who shakes his head, a little cut on his lip. 

"Why are you more hurt? You look like you were hit with the car" Aroofa says, fear in her voice. 

I'm trying not to over think here, I'm trying to settle down and tend Kane's wound but deep down I know the cause of the accident, it was my fault 

It was because of me. 

"The car rammed into his side of the car, it was as if the person knew he would be there" Maurice says, I clench my fist, my hand shaking. 

"That's enough" Kane says, his eyes on me as I clean up his chest wound. 

I don't give him my eyes, I know he would see things in them. 

"I'm fine babe, I'm right here and I'm fine" He says and I don't respond, just guide him to raising his hand so I can bandage it. 

When Cash finishgiving directives to Maurice and the guys who pour into the dining room and when I'm done with Kane's chest and asking him to go please see a doctor he turns to me. 

"Say something Ani" He says. 

"I have nothing to say" I reply. 

"You are being too quiet, You are in your head, I know what you are thinking and you are wrong, this is not your fault" He says but I don't say a word. 

"Why would she think this is her fault?" Linda asks, 

"Not now Linda" Cash says, well versed with the matter at hand. 

"Fine, if you don't want to say anything about this then tell me what you wanted to talk to me about on the phone" He says and I freeze. 

It won't do any good now, telling him how I feel, nor when I'm going to leave. 

I can't do this, I can't watch him get hurt on my account. 

I will think of something, find some way of protecting myself but I won't be taking this evil close to Kane or my family, I refuse to look at Kane, I refuse for him to see the truth of my decision in my eyes. 

"It's nothing, we can talk about it later, you really have to see a doctor" I say, busying myself with arranging the first aid kit. 

"Ani, tell me what you are thinking" He says. 

"Nothing" 

"Eyes to me Ani" He says, using that commanding voice that never fails to send a thrill down my spine. 

But this time, against my wishes I refuse to give him my eye. 

"Ani, Eyes to me" He repeats, his hand wrapping around the back of my neck, I gulp. 

I lift my eyes to him, concealing my thoughts because I know he would try to stop me, he searches my eyes before sighing, resting his head on mine, I continue to look at him. 

"What are you thinking babe?" He asks but I shake my head. 

"Ani, Baby, don't think, I will fix this, I promise to fix this and keep you safe, protected, so baby, don't think" He says and I nod, biting my lip. 

He searches my eyes when he doesn't see what he is searching for he lifts his head and sighs. 

"Please Ani, just give me a little time" He says and I hate that he's begging, I hate that Kane King is begging, if it wasn't for this asshole fucker then my Kane won't have to beg, but I've already made up my mind. 

I stand up from my kneeling position and he does too. 

"Promise me you will see a doctor" I say. 

"I've already called one, he's on his way" Linda says and I smile gratefully at her, I turn my face to see Kane watching me. 

I muster a smile but he doesn't seem to fall for it. 

***

Later, much later, very much later when the house is asleep I make the trek down the stairs, towards the great doors, knowing what to do but not liking it. 

The room is dark as I wheel my small carryon out, no one has to know that I'm leaving, I promise myself that I will be back but after I deal with this threat. 

My steps still when a lamp light comes on and I see Kane is seating on the couch, a glass of something in his hands, perusing me. 

"Going somewhere?" He asks. 

"I'm going home" I say, 

"Last I checked I thought this was your home?" He says before taking a swig of his drink. 

"I can't put the people I love in danger Kane, this person is not backing off and in the three days I've been here we've have multiple attempts at hurting you, what if he decides to move on to our family?" I ask, willing him to see the sense in my words. 

He just looks at me,a little bored, is he drunk? 

" Let me get this straight, you want to go into danger all to keep our family safe? What happenes when you end up dead? Who's going to protect them or sooth their hurt?" He asks, reasonably, suddenly not looking bored, the boredom had been an act. 

"Kane, don't do that.." I begin. 

"What did you want to tell me today?" He asks, switching subjects so fast. 

"Uhh?" 

"Today, this morning, I saw you in the old studio, you wanted to tell me something, what is it?" He asks. 

"Nothing" 

"Anadia" 

"It's nothing Kane" I say and he watches me. 

"Why do you keep hurting me? I'm not that strong Ani, I'm human too" He says his voice cracking and I wonder if I heard those words correctly. 

"Kane..." I start but his face closes up. 

"How do you think your sisters will feel to find out you've abandoned them again" he asks. 

"I'm trying to protect them" I say. 

"You are being selfish is what you are doing" He says and hurt lances through me. 

"No, I'm not" I say, but I'm not sure. 

"It's not up to you to decide if you want to keep them safe or not, they are safe and I'm working against all odds to keep them that way, it's up to you to spend time with them, tell them what's happening and for them to help you feel safe, it's bad form to run away every single time something bad happens" He says and I know he doesn't mean now. 

"You can leave if you want Ani, the door's open, I'm just asking you to share the burden, even if it's a little" He says, getting to his feet. 

He exits the room and a long time after he's left his words stay with me. 

Sharing the burden. 

It didn't work the last time I did

AN

Thank you for reading, and also thank you for the positive message and responses. 

Can't love y'all less

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/salvation-an-arranged-marriage-ll