Chapter 46 - Forever And A Million Times Over

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The last chapter before the epilogue 😭😭😭

I hope you all enjoy, don't forget to vote and comment ❤️

~ Daniela's POV ~

Walking through the hallways, Carson stopped to check in the torture room to see if Grey and Fox were done with their task. Of course they were since they didn't need to be told twice to kill someone.

After we left the torture room, Carson and I made our way through the hallway in the basement, heading upstairs. "So you and Fox were-"

"We're absolutely not talking about that Carson." When I quickly cut him off he let out a sigh, throwing an arm around my shoulders. "Let it go Dani."

"No."

"It's been months. You're both miserable and he's sorry, just-"

"He hasn't said sorry." When I cut him off again I stopped in my tracks turning to face him, my actions causing his arm to drop to his side. "He's not sorry Carson, he's never said it. Even when I had a go at him at the hospital in the elevator, he didn't say a word to me."

"Give him a chance to do it properly then, maybe not in an elevator. Dani he came to the hospital to make sure you were okay and today he left to check on you. He does care, he's just not the best at apologising."

I knew he might have cared about me once and maybe a small part believes he does still care a little bit now. But the bigger, smarter part of me didn't have any hope.

"He has to do more than just apologise to me Carson and even then, I won't ever forgive him."

Although I said it as stubbornly as humanly possible and with a glare, Carson held my stare for a moment before he eventually cracked a smile. "Okay so we both know that's a lie."

"Carson-"

"You've let go of this place, right?" When he cut me off, I took a moment before I eventually let out a sigh nodding my head. "I guess."

"So move on from everything bad. Just let it go, don't hold onto it. Life is too short and too important to spend being mad at someone. He was hurting Dani, it's not an excuse but for both your sakes, maybe it's time to move on." I knew he had a point, even though it irritated me to know he was right, I couldn't exactly deny it. "I'll think about it, okay?"

When he nodded his head, I started walking down the hallway again only to be stopped when he pulled me into his arms. "I want a hug."

"I don't care, let's go." So maybe I was never the best at hiding when I was annoyed with someone.

"Don't be mad at me." The fact that he was clearly so amused by it just annoyed me even more, causing me to glare at him. "I'm not."

"No?"

"No." When I spoke with finality in my tone, he smirked at me before he pulled me up against him, wrapping his arms around me. For a moment we just stood there embracing in the deserted hallway in the basement, before he eventually let me go.

"Wasn't that nice?" I could still hear the amusement in his tone as we continued walking, the rest of our walk being in silence after I shot him a glare.

By the time we finally got upstairs and outside, both Grey and Fox were waiting for us by the car. They also looked like they'd changed their shirts and cleaned up a little since they were no longer covered in blood like my boyfriend was.

"It's about time." As soon as he saw us Grey pushed himself off the car where he was leaning against it, putting his phone in his pocket. "Sorry, I tried to be faster but Dani just kept wanting to hug me. I told her it wasn't the time but you know what she's like when she's all emotional."

"That's a lie!" When I quickly denied it like he probably expected, he let out a laugh just as Grey tossed him a clean shirt."It's okay to admit it."

"You want me to kick you in the balls? Because I will." When I gave him a threatening glare, his smile soon faltered as he awkwardly cleared his throat. "No, sorry."

Flashing him one last glare, I got in the car along with Grey and Fox in the back while Carson first changed his shirt and then got in the drivers seat. Just like the first drive here, we spent most of the time in silence driving back to the hotel in Shelton to pick up our stuff and then we made our way to the airfield with the intention of going home.

Or so I thought anyway, that was until Fox pretty much suggested we were parting ways.

"Are you good from here bro?" As we stopped outside the two private jets that were apparently waiting for us, Fox directed his words towards Carson. "Yeah, we'll see you in a few days."

"Wait, what?" When I spoke up, the three of them turned to look at me. "I don't understand what's going on."

"You don't need to, it's none of your business." When Carson flashed me a smile, I narrowed my eyes at him which he chose to ignore while he said goodbye to Grey and Fox. Once they were done with their goodbyes, Grey gave me a quick hug before I turned to face Fox for the first time since we hugged in the basement.

"Thank you...for what you did." When I forced out those words he seemed surprised that I even acknowledged it before he eventually nodded his head without a word.

I guess that's all I was going to get, I'm not sure what else I expected.

For a moment we just stood there before Fox eventually stepped away from me, heading towards the jet without another glance in the direction. Watching him walk away, I replayed that conversation with Carson in my head, thinking about his request for me to let it go.

But he hasn't apologised.

Shifting my eyes away from Fox who was getting on one of the jets, I turned to look at Carson and Grey while I started following in the same direction as Fox. "Can you give us a minute? I just need to talk to him before you kidnap me."

Without waiting to hear their response, I followed behind Fox climbing the stairs up into the private jet while passing the confused air hostess as I entered.

"Ma'am are you-"

"I'll only be a second." Flashing her a smile I pushed past her, heading into main area of the jet where Fox was busy putting his bag down when he turned to face me.

"I'm giving you one chance Fox, just one." I didn't have to tell him that I was here to force him to apologise to me, the tone behind my words was enough to do that.

I honestly don't know why I did it. Part of me was still so angry and wanted to stay angry with him. But the other part was telling me to listen to Carson and let it go - if not for our future and just living in peace then for the fact I knew deep down he was my friend before all this happened.

When he hugged me it was like someone was dangling that friendship in front of me, testing me to see if I would break and try and get through to him so that we could be friends again.

And that's exactly what I did.

"Now?" When he rose an eyebrow at me, I nodded my head giving him a firm glare in an attempt to show him my determination. Without a word, he nodded his head before he turned to open his bag causing me to frown.

"What are you doing? Just apologise Fox."

"I will, once I give you this." Taking out a leather case from his bag, he turned to face me closing the gap between us so that he could give it to me. "What's this?"

"A gift. Open it." After I held his stare for a moment, I eventually let out a sigh as I unlocked the case feeling his eyes on me the entire time that I opened it. "I was going to wait until you and Carson got back to New York to give it to you."


"Oh my..." As soon as my eyes landed on the rose and the small vase nestled in the case, my breath was taken away instantly.

"It's an Eternity Rose, a real one dipped in gold so that it lasts forever." Shifting my eyes away from the rose, I looked at him to find him already watching me. "So that you know I'll be sorry for the rest of my life for what I said to you Dani."

"You said a lot." When he heard my clipped tone, he nodded his head stepping closer to me. "I know and what I said was so screwed up Dani, but I swear to you I didn't mean it. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you. I was just so angry at the world and I took it out on you."

Taking the box out of my hands he placed it on the table next to us so that he could take my hands in his. "I'm so sorry Dani."

"Just saying sorry isn't enough." When I shook my head attempting to pull away from him, he tightened his grip on my hands instead. "I know Dani. I know I have to make it up to you, I know that."

"Then why did it take you so long to apologise? Why only now when I'm pushing you to do it?"

"Because..." When his sentence trailed off he averted his gaze off to the side where we standing. "Because I don't deserve your forgiveness. You deserve to be left alone, to not have to deal with me anymore after what I said to you - after how I treated you. But I'm freaking selfish so I'm going to ask for it anyway, just not today, not yet."

Looking into his eyes I could see the guilt swimming in them, along with the genuine care and concern as if he really did mean it.

"I can't forgive you yet. I never did anything to you and you just made me out to be the villain in this entire story."

And I lost one of my best friends on the same day I lost mama and Poppy.

"I know...damn...I know Dani. As soon as I said it I knew I messed up, but I couldn't take it back and at the time I didn't want to. There's so much you don't know about my relationship with Mama, that day I felt like I'd just lost my parents all over again. Like going through it once wasn't enough, the universe had to put me through it all again. But, it wasn't your fault and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to apologise to you."

I knew he'd been through a lot. At one of those dinners we had with Mama, she mentioned that she took Fox in when his parents died when he was a teenager so I knew they were close. But did that mean it was okay for him to say all that to me?

"So you don't blame me? You wouldn't have taken me back to Ayden?" As soon as I asked that question he shook his head, letting go of my hands instead bringing his hands to my face, cupping my cheeks in his palms as he looked me in the eye. "No of course not Dani."

"I thought you hated me Fox." Very quickly I could feel my composure slipping as the anger began to simmer down, instead being replaced with the sad empty feeling that I'd been stuck with for the last two months.

"I could never hate my Little One." Those words left his mouth barely above a whisper while a soft smile tugged at his lips. "I know I screwed up but I promise Dani, I'll make it up to you. I'll never hurt you again, I swear."

Instead of giving him an answer, mostly because I was sure I could forgive him just yet, I just wrapped my arms around his waist pulling him into a hug.

I guess that was my way of telling him that I didn't hate him. Even if I'd been so adamant over the last two months that I would hate him for the rest of my life.

"I think I should go. Carson is kidnapping me." My words caused him to chuckle as I pulled away from him, sending him a small smile. "You don't happen to know where he's taking me, do you?"

"Sorry, I can't tell you. But trust me - you'll love it. Remember, the last time you were kidnapped you fell in love."

"Don't make it sound so cliche, you know it didn't happen that way." Fox nodded his head with a smile as I closed the leather case of the Eternity Rose, holding the box in my hands. "I'll see you soon then."

Nodding his head, he took a step towards me to press a kiss to my forehead. "See you in a few days Little One."

<<<<<<< >>>>>>> <<<<<<<

"LA?"

"Yep." Flashing me a grin, he held my hand as he helped me down the stairs from the jet and down onto the tarmac where there was a car already waiting for us.

If I'm not mistaken it was one of his cars from his garage at home.

"Why are we here?" When I asked him that particular question, my eyes scanning the scenery around us and the night sky, Carson shook his head as he opened the car door for me. "I'm not telling you anything so stop asking."

Surprisingly after the number of times I'd pestered him during hour three our flight to Los Angeles, he still didn't seem annoyed in the slightest. It actually seemed like he was enjoying my cluelessness. The entire time while we ate dinner on the jet and while we watched a movie I kept asking him what was going on and he just smiled every time.

Letting out a huff I got into the car, waiting for him to get into the drivers seat next to me while our bags were loaded into the trunk.

"How many days are we staying here? I didn't pack for this Carson, I barely even brought enough underwear." When he heard the frustration in my tone a laugh escaped his lips as he turned the engine on. "Don't worry about anything my beautiful. Just sit back and relax, we'll be home soon."

Was it just me whose heart skipped a beat when he said that?

The last time we came here I remember I was still getting used to the idea of being in his life permanently and having to get used to his rich lifestyle. I felt anything but at home and now, just hearing him call his house our home caused butterflies to erupt in my tummy.

The drive from the airport didn't take too long, it was somewhere around an hour before we pulled up to the familiar gated house. Unlike the first time we came here, the guard seemed like he was expecting Carson this time when he nodded in his direction and opened the gate without a word.

I think I was the only one who wasn't expecting us to be in LA tonight, everyone from Carson, Fox and Grey to the pilot in our surprise jet and the guard here at the gate knew were coming here.

I was the only one still in the dark.

"Can you tell me what's going on now?" As we pulled up in the driveway where there were two more guards standing, Carson turned to look at me with a smile.

"Nothing is going on, I just wanted to do something nice for you baby. Now let's go upstairs and go to bed because it's late as hell."

As soon as he mentioned how late it was an involuntary yawn escaped my lips causing him to smile as he reached out to pinch my cheek. "You're so cute Dani."

"Stop." Swatting his hand away, I picked up my purse that was between my feet on the floor before I opened my door, getting out of the car. Within an instant Carson was next to me as we walked inside leaving one of his guards to bring in our bags.

Just like the first time the house took my breath away, I don't think it would ever just feel like a normal house to me. It still feels like a hotel. After waiting for the guard to take our bags upstairs, we finally made our way up to his room, or our room I guess, with the intention of getting ready for bed.

"Can I borrow one of your shirts?" The way that the question left my mouth in absentminded tone while I unpacked my essentials from my purse caused Carson to let out a laugh from where he was by his nightstand. "Why do you even ask anymore?"

"It's polite." When I shrugged my shoulders he shook his head in amusement as he walked over to the door leading to the walk in closet. "Come with me, I want to show you something."

Stretching his hand out in my direction, he waited for me cross the room and take his hand before he led me into the walk in closet.

"I had this done in Miami too, even though I still haven't shown you that house yet. We'll go there next." As he spoke he turned on the light in the walk in closet, leaving me to figure out for myself what he was talking about.

For a moment I just stood there looking around until it finally clicked.

"You gave me half your closet?" A smile stretched across my lips as I looked at the half of the closet that was now filled with women's clothes, shoes and accessories instead of all of his clothes like before.

"Is it enough? You can have more space if you want, I can move some more of my suits into the closet in the guest room if-"

"Baby no, this is perfect. Thank you." As I spoke I turned to face him, getting up on my tip toes so that I could press a kiss to his lips. "I love you."

"I love you too Trouble."

<<<<<<< >>>>>>> <<<<<<<

The next day after we slept in until almost midday, Carson spent the entire day dragging me around Los Angeles starting with brunch and then a spa visit where he bought me a full package even though I pretty much started arguing with him in the spa.

All he had to say to that was 'Dani people come here to relax not listen to you shout and cough all over the place.' Then he left me with the judgey and apparently germaphobic masseuse until he came back a few hours later to pick me up when I was done with my massage.

During my massage, every time I coughed that silly bitch flinched as if I was going to give her a germ that would kill her. One time she even let out a squeak jumping away from the bed when I sneezed while she was massaging my shoulders.

She was worse than Carson and his obsession with me not coughing in his car.

After that lovely experience, Carson took me on a shopping trip to Rodeo Drive where he ended up buying way more than either of us needed. Honestly we spent most of our time bickering in designer shops which he seemed to enjoy much more than I did. It was funny though, because in the end we always ended up laughing about something, nothing ever really turned into a proper argument.

After he spent too many thousands of dollars on clothes, shoes and everything else he took me home to shower and change into fancy clothes before we went out for a romantic candlelit dinner. I think it was our first date night in a very long time which meant I cherished every moment of it.

For the entire dinner we stayed away from any 'bad topics' including anything to do with the kidnapping and our trip to Washington State and also nothing to do with work or the mafia. We just talked about us, our plans and our future together.

"What about names? We know we're waiting until we're married but we haven't discussed names yet."

"Aren't you supposed to wait until you know if the baby is a girl or a boy?" When he rose an eyebrow at me, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his cluelessness. "Carson, planning ahead is always important."

"So you already know the names you want?" Nodding my head as I took a bite of my dessert, I savoured the flavour of the chocolate cake before I eventually spoke. "I have a few names in mind. I was thinking if we ever have a girl we could call her Poppy, if that's okay with you."

Ever since I thought of the idea, I'd been nervous to ever suggest it to him incase it upset him or if he hated the idea of being reminded of his sister day in day out for the rest of his life. That meant those few seconds that I waited for his reaction were absolute hell.

"Okay." When he nodded head, he barely met my eyes as he took another bite of his food

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