His Promise: The Mafia’s Babies by C. Tamika

Chapter 289

Elena

“Please, sit.”

Nervously, I fumbled the keys in my hands and followed Marvin’s instructions as I sat down on a chair near the hospital bed. I took a deep breath and raised my head to look at him. Marvin had a gentle smile on his face, and by the looks of it, he seemed to be doing just fine.

He wasn’t afraid of eye contact and stared at me as if I was obligated to lead the conversation.

What would you say to someone who had taken a bullet for you?

What was there to say?

I was able to talk to Panther, so why wasn’t I able to talk to Marvin?

There were so many names to call him, but there was only one strange thing about this situation. I wasn’t scared

The fear came from not knowing what he would say, but I wasn’t afraid of him. If anything, I felt at ease. “So.” I began. “I’m sorry about Anya-

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Marvin cut me off Noted, he did not like talking about his feelings. “Oh, okay,” I replied awkwardly.

“Aren’t you dying?” Marvin smiled softly. Confused, I frowned my brow. “Dying?”

Marvin pointed to my sweater, and at that moment, I knew what he meant. “Yes, in those black clothes?” A laugh escaped from his lips. “Aren’t you dying?

“Ah, no!” I shook my head, looking down at my black outfit. “I’ve had years of training, so no, I’m not dying-and I don’t smell either.” I smelled my armpit, regretting it the very second. Why did I have to be so embarrassing?

“I know, I have a nose.

Marvin sat up straight and leaned closer as I held in my breath. “So?” He spoke in a teasing tone. “Aren’t you going to thank me? You’re the reason I’m in here.”

“Thank you,” I spoke dryly. All I had to do was to give him the keys, but something was holding me back. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought I was glued to the chair. Being in Marvin’s presence felt right, which made me just as twisted as him. He saved my life, but that didn’t make him any less of a criminal.

“Thank you, and sorry.” I took a deep breath, acknowledging my mistakes. “Thank you for protecting me. and I’m sorry for….walking out on you.”

I gathered my courage and raised my head, so I could stare into Marvin’s eyes to wait for his reaction, but all he showed me was a warm smile. Was this a game? How could he be like this?

“Elena,” Marvin chuckled. “I’m just kidding. You don’t need to thank me for doing what’s right-and you

don’t have to apologize for walking out on me.” He said. “It’s okay.”

“I should be the one apologizing to you for the stuff I said at the wedding.”

That’s right, I had forgotten all about it. This was the same man who had made a fool out of me. “You called me below your status, immature, naive, a social experiment—”

didn’t mean any of it. I’m sorry.” Marvin apologized. “But you have to understand that I stepped out of my comfort

there were no words left to say. He had a point. My way of handling things

“I came to give you this, right before Anya….she told me

almost snatched the key from my hand. He observed the object with a suspicious look in his eyes. “Why would she give this to you?”

offensive words. “Well, that Victor guy was out getting help, your brother was…unstable, and you were

it to you.” Marvin finished my sentence. “Do you

felt terrible that I could not give him an answer. “I don’t know,” I confessed, embarrassed. “She said,Marvin, Victor, Tiago.I thought it was supposed to go to you, and if not Victor,

head. “Anya wouldn’t do that.

I shrugged. “Then I guess I have

her, so perhaps she could sense her final moments and wanted to leave something behind for Tiago.”

Marvin, who immersed himself

that this would be the end of our adventure. There was no reason for me to see him anymore, and I did what I had to

Right?

are your plans for today?” Marvin acknowledged me once again. It pained me to see his effort to communicate with me, but this was, unfortunately, where I had to end it.

end up hurting him even more.

chair. Marvin narrowed his eyes, waiting for me to speak.

I began. “I came to give you the key….I gave you the key-so now it’s time

look back, Elena,

about to turn around, Marvin grabbed my arm to stop me. “Elena,

on me again. We’re not finished.” Marvin ordered. I looked back at the sour expression

with you bailing out on me-but I’m not letting you take another step until you tell me why you left, and I want a real reason.” He continued.

left because I was nervous..I’m

a breath. “Whatever it is, I’m glad you approached me so we can do this the easy

it was,

as I accepted my fate. The easy way? So there was a hard way?Of course, there was a hard way. He wasn’t some random man who lived

I get myself

I even misjudge him?

on this, and the two had made

Did I really expect him to let me go this easily after I’d embarrassed him? I should’ve listened to

others in fear, and that was what they lived

you, Elena.” Marvin squeezed my arm. I avoided all eye contact and was finally

knew it

as Marvin used my arm to pull himself up from the bed and moved his finger to my chin. I didn’t have a choice and followed his movement until I was forced to look into his eyes. “I’m not

What?

he wasn’t going

you’re not angry?”

chuckled. “No, are

questioned my own intentions. I was supposed to run out, but I just couldn’t do that. Marvin truly was

looked into each other’s eyes as we were both lost for words at the misunderstanding. After

distance from Marvin and gave him a