Page 32 of Vintage

Chapter Thirteen

The room spins, each movement more disorienting than the last. The scent of stale air clings to everything—the walls, the bed, the very sheets beneath me. I try to sit up, but the world lurches sideways. My body feels heavy, the limbs sluggish, too slow to respond. I can barely lift my hand to my head.

Willow is in the corner, her silver eyes fixed on me with that look—half pity, half amusement. I don’t understand why she does this. What’s the point of it all?

Her soft voice fills the silence, almost like a lullaby, but I can’t tell if it’s meant to soothe or torment. "You’ll be better soon, Amir." She always says that. Her brown hair falls around her face like curtains, framing the wicked innocence she wears like a mask. She looks like someone I know, someone Iusedto know.

And then, it happens. Her hands on me, gentle but firm, pressing something into my veins. The drug courses through me almost immediately, like fire slipping into my blood. My vision blurs. My breath steadies. It’s the only time I feel alive anymore.

I close my eyes, and suddenly, I'm not in this room. I’m back there, in my own bed, with her—my wife.

Her voice echoes in my mind, sweet and full of warmth. "I love you," she whispers. I reach for her, and my fingers find the soft, familiar curve of her back. Her hair smells like my menthol shampoo, and the softness of her touch makes my heart ache with longing. I breathe her in, but when I open my eyes, it's Willow standing in front of me.

But... it doesn’t feel wrong. It doesn’t feel like a betrayal. I see her—my wife—in Willow's face. The silver eyes, the soft brown hair, it’s all a blur. To me they’re cinnamon. The silk threads wears a shade of brown I am familiar with. And when she moves closer, her lips pressing against mine, I can almost convince myself that it's her, that it’sreal.

For a moment, I can pretend. Just for a moment, I can feel what I lost, what I destroyed. I can feel my wife’s warmth again, her tenderness, her love. She never knew I betrayed her, and yet begged me to come back home. She never knew the guilt that eats at me every day since. But now, with Willow here, I can forget the shame for a brief time.

I lose myself in the false reality, pretending this is right, that it’sherI’m with, and not the girl who keeps me here, trapped in this house. In this twisted game.

When the drug wears off, the haze will fade and the weight of my actions would return. I’ll feel hollow again. Willow will be still there, watching me with those silver eyes, her lips curling into that cruel, innocent smile.

I can’t tell if this is my punishment for what I’ve done, or if it’s my only escape. But in these moments, when I’m lost in the drug, I don’t care. I’m with her again. Withmy wife, even if I can’t admit that it’s Willow standing in her place.

I look up at her, and she smiles. "Don’t worry, Amir," she says, her voice sweet and empty. "You’ll always be here with me."

She may have allowed me to sneak off, but I could never run far. She had her eyes on me since the beginning, and I doubt, I’ll ever escape them.

And I wonder, for the first time, if I ever truly left.

Chapter Fourteen

The new hires needed some training, but overall, they were solid workers. I really can't afford to let my work slide any more than it already has. With everything going on with Amir and all that, money is pretty much the only thing that brings me joy right now.

Even though I can't manage things directly for now, having a few more workers than the two I currently have wouldn't hurt. When I was actively working, my efficiency helped us finish up multiple clients quickly, but with me out of the picture, those two are great but shouldn't be overworked. I'mnot in a financial bind, and my auto shop could definitely use some extra hands.

"Thanks for swinging by to help, Ace. The new hires will be a big help, so please pass on my thanks to your Prez." I said to the guy, who gave me a polite smile before hopping on his bike and riding off.

I'm really glad Darius had someone to recommend who could use the extra cash from this job, and he also sent Ace over to check if the new guys and gals were settling in well. That made me happy because, even though the Solo Lords MC might look like a tough crew, I know they're genuinely good people. Darius leading them gives me peace of mind about that.

"Where do you keep the spare parts?" Greg, one of the new guys, asked, and I realized I had to remind him for the fifth time to head to the third room on the left.

As great as they are at paying attention and picking up skills, I guess I’ll have to get used to a bit of a teacher-student dynamic at work.

"Nina, I'll be in my office. If you need me, just come to the first floor. I'll either be there or in the reception area," I called out clearly before stepping away from the little hustle that makes me feel a bit less lonely for now.

I am working to manage my anxiety regarding the various aspects of my life, and missing Ro intensely is one of those challenges. However, I need to maintain my focus, and nothing has been helping me achieve mental peace or control my emotions. The most sensible decision was to return to work. I opened the shop and attempted to stick to my usual routine with some minor adjustments. It’s proving to be beneficial. Not perfect, but certainly better than nothing.

As I opened the door to my office, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as I entered.

I really hope I don’t end up in a mental institution. I’m too young for that thought, especially since I don’t even have kids to trigger such a notion yet. But why does it sound so appealing?

After exhaling deeply, I swallowed hard, and... froze.

I stood still as the light behind my closed eyes transformed into an unfamiliar darkness.

My hands instinctively went to my eyes, trembling as they felt the fabric wrapped around, obstructing my sight.

“Who’s there?” I called out loudly, prepared to shout, if necessary, while my hands moved to the back of my head to remove the obstruction, but calloused hands stopped me.

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