Escaping The Mafia King

Chapter 37: 37- Chances

Hope stayed quiet and glanced away from him. She wanted to say she was enjoying this, but admitting anything would be a betrayal. She couldn't just forget what he was or who he was so easily. The blood might be washed off, but it still stained her mind.

"Hope?" Varys pointed out across the park where a family of ducks paddled through the water. "I brought some bread, let's go feed the ducks. You still like that, right?" the corners of his lip twitched, and he bit his lip as he searched her face.

"You can't feed them that," Hope scolded as she glanced away from him. Damn him for being hopeful. She didn't need to deal with that.

"Huh?" Vary's eyebrows furrowed. "Why not?"

"You'll hurt the ducks," she replied. She glanced around the park again and noticed a tiny shack across the lake. The feed name was proudly displayed across the side in bold red font. "There, you can get food for them there." This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Varys nodded and held out his hand to her. "Let's go then."

Go with him? No, she needed to sit down and let her racing mind come to grips with everything. "I'll just sit here." she gestured to a bench. "I need to rest. It's been awhile since I've been this active. You'll be able to see me from there, and you've got the park guarded. It's not like I'm going anywhere."

"You're not a prisoner, Hope. I'm keeping you safe, damn it."

Hope's eyes skittered away from him again. "I want to believe that," she whispered. "Just, get the food. I'll just wait here."

Varys sighed and rifled through his pockets before pulling out his phone. "Here, I have my men on speed-dial. They're watching you, they're keeping you safe, but if anything happens, use this, let them

know. I can't guard against everything, but I swear if anything happens to you I'll burn the world to make it right."

His words lit up a fire inside Hope and she stared at the ground so he couldn't see it climb her cheeks. Who talked like that? Still, despite everything, the fact he wanted to be with her so much was touching. "I'll stay right here, I won't move."

Varys looked into her eyes. "Do you promise me?" he whispered.

Hope nodded. "I promise."

And just like that, a ray of sunshine was revealed as he grinned at her. "Okay, I'll be back soon." His boyish smile took Hope off guard and she found herself melting as she lost all resistance to it.

Hope watched him jog off, the muscles in his back moving beneath his shirt's fabric and hypnotizing her. She shook herself out of it and dropped her gaze to the phone. Hopefully, Varys would forgive her for this, and even more hopefully it wasn't locked to just emergency numbers. She flicked the screen until she got to the home button and pulled up the phone app. While Varys was still jogging to the other side, she made her call.

"What do you want?" Snapped the voice on the other end. Max's voice. Max's very pissed voice.

Hope winced. She could just imagine the man with his hand around a coffee cup and squeezing it to the point of breaking. "Max?" she whispered.

"Hope?" His surprise was evident in his voice. "I've been so worried about you, where are you? I'll come get you."

"Max, I didn't call for you to come get me. I just need you to do one thing for me."

"Hope, you're involved with very dangerous people. I'm not sure if you understand how bad they are, but you need to tell me where you are so I can keep you safe. I'm not going to have you fucking die because you're being stubborn."

"Just tell Vincent I'm okay, that's all."

"Damn it, Hope, I swear if you don't tell me you're going to regret it. I'm going to bend you over my knee and paddle your ass for this."

"Thank you for worrying, Max, but I'm safe where I am. Besides, I have someone far worse than you think chasing me. I can't have you get involved. His name is Ethan." She stopped herself from giving the last name. She didn't want Max involved anymore than he already was.

"I know where you are, Hope," Max interrupted with a chuckle.

Ice-water flowed through her veins. "What?" she whispered as she watched Varys reach the feed shack. She only had a matter of time before he turned and jogged back to her.

"I might not know what number you called from, but I always run tracing on any numbers that come through here to protect Vincent. So I know you're calling from a park right now. I'm going to come pick you up and lock you away so no one can hurt you again. You might think you know the people you're with, but you don't."

"I know him better than I know you," Hope replied. "Just tell Vincent where I am, please, Max. I don't want him to worry."

"Too late for that, Princess," Max replied on the other end of the line with a scoff. "He's ready to tear the city apart to find you too. We both are."

Hope sighed and looked up to find Varys' figure again. She frowned as she scanned the lake. He was gone, completely gone. "Max, I've got to go," she whispered.

"Wait, Hope!"

The phone was tugged from Hope's hands and she whirled to confront the thief and froze as she noted Varys' glare. A bag of feed in a crumpled paper bag was held against his chest. "Who is this?" he demanded. "If you're after Hope, I hate to break it to you, but she's mine. I'll never let another have her, ever."

"Damn it, Varys, let me talk to Hope! Hope!"

Hope winced at Max's scream before Varys turned the phone completely off. He shoved the bag into her chest. "Feed them fast, we are leaving." Gone was the softness from earlier, that boyish charm. No, this man was all business.

Hope hugged the little bag to her chest. "Varys-"

"No, Hope. Don't talk to me right now," he snapped. "I won't be responsible for what happens if you push me."

"It's not what you think-"

"Hope," Varys turned on her, his fingers curling around her shoulders as he stared into her eyes. A fire surged in him. "I swear to you, I'm never giving you up. I don't care if you hate me until the day you die. I'm done being patient. You're mine, just like you were always meant to be. And when we get back home, you are going to be locked in your room for this stunt."

Hope turned her attention to the ground. There was no arguing with him. The bag she was clutching was yanked away and Varys reached in and grabbed a handful before pelting it towards the ducks.

Hope winced again and put her hand over his. "Be mad, but don't take it out on them," she pleaded. She guided him in the proper motion and for a moment he gentled beneath her touch. "Like this."

Together the two of them emptied the bag, and it was crumpled and tossed in the trash. The moment it was empty, Varys grabbed her hand and dragged her off again. The time with her had not gentled him at all. The man was still furious. He paused as they were about to leave the park and glared down at her. "Look at me," he ordered. Hope didn't hesitate and glanced up at him.

Varys leaned down and covered her lips in a bruising, powerful kiss as he pressed his forehead against hers. "I'll never let you go, Hope. Never."