Chapter 29: Te Amo, I Love You
**Sorry it took so long to get this one up. There were a lot of moving parts in my head that I had to sort out before this came to fruition. I hope you enjoy it. There's only a few chapters left before this one comes to an end. Thanks for sticking with me through this rough story. I appreciate you all and the comments as well. Also credit to Rihanna's "Te Amo," for the title of this chapter. xx**
Feeling her body being dragged down her front steps, Harleigha tried fighting against the tough grip that was tied in her hair. It was a futile effort though because next thing she knew she was face down in the grass with a boot to the back of her neck.
"Make one move or scream and I'll kill you."
That voice sent chills down her spine. She heard those last words one too many times and she knew that they were no bluff. However, she mustered enough strength to not show the fear that was bubbling in her body.
"Brandon are you really going to kill me in my front yard. You're a cop that would be dumb to kill me where there's a street filled with witnesses."
Plus if she did die today she didn't want Roman to witness it. Just thinking about the pain he'd go through was enough alone to kill her. However, it was clear that Brandon had other ideas.
"Well tough for you I have nothing to lose. If I can't have you then neither can your walking god of a boy toy. Get up."
He yanked her up by her hair so hard that her feet left the ground. She was no small woman so he had a lot of force behind that. He put his arm around her neck and held her in a choke hold. Next thing she knew she felt cold steel against her right temple. And just when she thought things couldn't get worse Brandon was calling Roman's name at the top of his lungs. She was hoping Roman wouldn't come outside but she knew that wasn't going to happen when she saw the curtains move from behind her huge side window. Next thing she knew Roman was throwing open her front door with a loud bang and a huge scowl was on his face. He started storming down the front steps that was until Seth jumped in front of him and Dean dragged him back.
"Let me go." He growled
"If we do that you'll get yourself shot and then what help will you be to her then? Huh?" asked Seth
"Well what do you want me to do Seth? I can't just leave her out there. I can't lose her."
"Big dog you won't. She's a fighter and she's lasted this long. So trust her." Said Seth
"Seth he has a gun to her head. What the hell fighting is she going to do if she doesn't end up getting shot first?"
"Look I don't have all the answers but rushing into this will have more people injured than we need right now."
Harleigha was looking at her front porch as she saw Roman huddled up with Dean and Seth talking about only God knows what. Whatever the conversation was she hoped it was to stop Roman from getting shot because she knew first chance he got he was going to go down swinging. Fists against a gun was a battle he was going to lose though.
"So what's it gonna be Roman?"
She felt the disgust in Brandon's voice. He hated Roman with a passion. Probably because Roman had her in ways only Brandon dreamt of.
"You gonna come get her or leave her to get taken out to pasture?"
Harleigha saw Roman twitch just slightly but he didn't move and she could tell him being helpless was killing him. He was a protector by nature so this was hell for him. His hands were tied. It was either lose his life or save hers and she didn't want him losing his so she could keep hers. That was not how this was about to go.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"You know exactly why."
"No I don't. Tell me Brandon."
"Don't act like you don't know Harleigha."
She felt the gun get pushed harder into her temple and she saw Roman getting antsy. Dean and Seth were struggling to keep him steady.
"Okay okay Brandon wait. Please tell me what I did wrong so I can fix it."
"I loved you."
"I know."
"Then why didn't you want to marry me? Did you not love me back?"
"You know I did. It's just we were too young and I wasn't ready."
And to some extent that was true. She did love him and at the time she thought he was the one but also something deep inside told her that marrying him would've been a mistake. Hell she'd been right in the long run and she had scars everywhere to prove it.
"Well are you ready now?"
"What?" She asked in a confused voice.
"Will you marry me now? We can go to the courthouse and get married right now."
"OVER MY DEAD BODY!" Roman yelled
"You open your mouth again and it will be over your dead body. And hers if you want to keep testing me." Brandon said in a sinister tone.
"Roman. I love you."
"Oh isn't that sweet. I saw you show him how much you loved him last night. Damn you're just as good as I remember you to be. But that all ends today. This is goodbye. Either we get married right now or you'll have a bullet in your skull. Your choice sweetheart."
She heard the gun cock loud in her ear and she only had a split second decision to attempt to save her own life once again.
"WAIT. FINE. FINE! Leave them alone and I'll marry you."
"Just what I wanted to hear."
Taking the gun from her head he lowered it but only to her back and turned to walk away. They didn't get very far before she heard tires skidding up her driveway and sirens from down the street. There were police and unmarked cars everywhere with policemen spilling out of them. Across the street there was also an all-black SUV and as she saw the door open it was the last person she expected.
"FBI! Put the gun down now."
"Get back or I drop her."
The gun was now back at her temple. Taking a deep breath she stared straight into the fierce burning brown eyes of her brother. She didn't know whether or not to be mad or relieved. One thing she could definitely count on was the fact that she was confused amongst being in fear for her life.
"Brandon if you don't drop that weapon right now one of these fine officers won't hesitate to drop you before you even get a shot off."
"Are you willing to play Russian Roulette with your sister's life right now?"
"No but I'm willing to play with yours. You've got three seconds. 3…2…."
Before Brian said one she saw him look to his far left and right. She couldn't see what he was looking at but she guessed there were snipers somewhere in the vicinity.
"Last chance Brandon."
She felt the gun twitch against her temple and she closed her eyes. This was it, she just knew it.
"Could've been us."
That was the last thing she heard before a shot rang out and she was on the ground. However, when she opened her eyes she saw a pool of blood next to her and Brandon's body limp and the sinister light in his eyes was gone. She started screaming hysterically and backing away as fast as her body could take her. Curling up in a ball in her front yard she couldn't control herself. Tears were streaming down her face, her body was shaking uncontrollably, and her voice was going hoarse from all the screaming she was doing.
"Hey baby, hey it's me."
When she saw the grey eyes of Roman she cried even more. This man had come into her life and despite everything she'd been through he stuck by her. How he hadn't given up on her by now she'd never understand but there weren't enough words in the dictionary to thank him. She just continued to cry even as he picked her up from the ground and carried her to the front porch. Dean had grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around her as she sat in Roman's arms. She saw her sisters talking to Brian. That man had a lot of explaining to do and it looked like he was about to do just that as he headed towards her.
"You okay Harley?"
She smiled weakly at his nickname for her. It was a name she hadn't heard in years. It seemed like a lifetime ago.
"Not right now but I will be in due time. But you Mr. G man, you've got a lot of explaining to do. When did you join the Feds?"
"It's a long story, mind if we go inside so I can explain?"
"Sure."
With the help of Roman she headed back into her house with Brian being the last one inside. On her way in she noticed more police had showed up along with the medical examiner. The street was swarming with people but she couldn't dwell on that right now. Turning and looking at Brian she waited for him to explain as she wrapped the blanket tighter around herself and snuggled into Roman some more on the couch.
"First of all I want to apologize for everything. I wasn't here for any of you when I should've been and I can't go back and fix that. I have no legitimate explanation for leaving so I'm just going to save whatever punk ass excuse I could possibly come up with. I am just sincerely sorry."
"Brian I can't dwell on that right now."
"Harley I…"
"Don't worry about it right now. Just please explain." She pleaded with him.
"Okay. Well I joined the Feds about four and a half years ago. The reason why I didn't tell you the real reason I was in town was because we were working on something."
"Something as in Brandon?" asked Harleigha
"Yeah. I was stationed at the field office in Atlanta where I caught a case and his name popped up."
"What do you mean popped up?" asked Amaria
Brian just turned and looked at her with concern on his face. Kind of like he didn't want to tell her all the details.
"I want to know everything."
"Are you sure about that?" Brian asked
"Yes I'm sure."
"Alright then. Well during an investigation of a woman and her child his name came up. As I dug deeper it was found out that he was married to the victim and the child was his daughter."
"Wait what?" Harleigha asked
"He murdered them and fled up to New York where he set his sights back on you. I knew something was up when I saw the bodies and how much his wife resembled you. I wagered a guess that he was trying to replace you and when that wasn't working he severed all ties and went back for the real deal."
"How'd he even become a cop then?" asked Athena
"I really don't know. Apparently all the necessary precautions needed to become one he passed. Oh and when I got to town I found out he was the one who attacked mom."
"WHAT!" Athena and Amaria yelled at the same time.
"Yeah apparently he was trying to find out where you were and she wouldn't give you up. I don't know how he found her."
"This is all my fault."
"No it's not." Roman said from behind her.
"He's right Harley. This isn't your fault."
"Yes it is I should've just stayed with him or all these people wouldn't be dead or injured because of me. Could've saved a lot of trouble. Mom wouldn't be in hospital, Amaria wouldn't have gotten harassed by him, his wife and kid might still be alive if it wasn't for me. So yes this is my fault."
"It was there life or yours sis." Brian said
"And I'd rather it of been mine."
She felt Roman stiffen behind her but she that wasn't going to make her change her statement. Four lives for the price of one was something she didn't want on her hands.
"Twin you can't change the past. Despite the lives that have been affected because of Brandon's actions shouldn't lie on you. You are victim of his wrath and that is not your fault. If you'd have stayed with him we may not have a sister right now. A sister that watched over us even when she was struggling. A sister who taught us what was right and wrong and what we should and shouldn't stand for. You were there when other people weren't when they should've been. You made the right choice to leave him because so many people including yourself are better for it."
"But…"
"No buts. You can't change what happened. He's dead and he can't hurt anybody else. I know that you think this is your fault but he made the decision to destroy so many lives and that will never be on you."
"I hate it when you're right Amaria."
"I know." She chuckled
"I'm sorry we couldn't eat brunch."
"After all that just happened she's worried about brunch." Laughed Athena
"I'm sure Roman could eat the whole table." Mumbled Seth
"Oh shut up two toned." Roman laughed
"Hey we'll leave you two alone. How about we come back and get you in a few hours." Said Dean
"Y'all got a show tonight don't you? Go ahead Roman I'll be fine."
"No I'm not leaving you until I have too."
"Roman…"
"Hush I'm not arguing with you on this."
"We'll come back over this evening and we can have a movie night. How's that?" asked Athena
"I don't need babysitters but if it makes you feel better sure." She smirked at her sister.
"Good glad that's settled."
Roman picked her up and placed her softly back on the couch and headed to the front door. The last person to leave was her brother. She noticed him and Roman had a short conversation that ended in a handshake. Much different from their last encounter. Harleigha smiled from under the blanket because she never thought she'd reach this day. If anybody had to ask her if hell was real she'd say yes because she'd lived in it every day. But she would also tell them that it was possible to come out on the other side. You just needed determination and a few people to enter your life who legitimately cared about you. Those kinds of people didn't come along often so she was extremely blessed to have Roman in her life.
