Rain had a cruel way of visiting when Ethan least expected it. It drummed softly against the cafe window, leaving its trails across the glass, whispering memories he had fought to bury.
Across the table Mia was radiant as always, her laughter sweet and painfully pure. She was talking about a stray kitten she found outside. As her hands moved in what seemed to be exaggerated expressions it felt like she was painting life into every word.
Ethan smiled, though his mind wasn't even there. Suddenly it felt like the world's weight was on his shoulders.
Three years…99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH0eQAaSls
He had lied to her for three years…and now the weight of the lie was eating at him…
His fingers played with the boxed engagement ring under the table… He was going to propose to her….But could he really start over without his past interfering?
“Mia…”
Then–buzz.
A message appeared, bold and mocking.
Once a gambler, always a gambler.
Clinton: Come play, Ethan. How about a bet on Mia.
His stomach turned to ice. He silenced the phone quickly forcing a shaky smile. Mia tilted her head, noticing the shift.
“Ethan? You alright?”
He smiled at her. “Just work stuff.” He lied smoothly.
“Work, huh?” She raised a brow. “Since when did work leave you looking horrified.”
He chuckled nervously, reaching for her hand. “Since they threatened to get between me and the love of my life.” He smiled at her again.
“Mia…” he pulled out the small box from under the table and placed it on the table. “I wanted this to be romantic…one worth telling a story of, but…I'm too impatient to wai–”
Mia clasped a hand over her mouth her eyes growing wide with incomprehensible joy. “Yes!! YES Ethan.”
He chuckled. “I didn't even ask …I might be asking you to be my accomplice in crime.”
Mia laughed. “If it meant spending a life time with you, then I would in a heartbeat.”
“Very well then…” he took out the ring and held her hand. “Till law enforcement do us part I guess.”
Mia laughed as he put the ring in. “I love you, Ethan.”
Ethan looked at her, searching for answers he didn't even know the questions to. “I love you Mia and I always say will.”
That's why he'll make sure the truth of his past will never see the light. Because the truth was darker than any lie.
Somehow, an Imagine of Clinton flashed on his face. Poker table lights glaring overhead and the sounds of cards slapping down.
Ethan forced his attention back to Mia, memorizing her laughter, her soft hands and the warmth of the life he didn't deserve.
*****
Two days later the couple were driving out of town. Mia blinked against the headlights flashing through the car window. “So…a surprise weekend getaway?” She asked, half amused half suspicious.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCNTJOI45p
Ethan smiled and nodded. “You've been stressed busy with work…I thought maybe you could use a break.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZwFtZ4QUR
Mia smiles. “I love surprises.” He didn't respond.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFRhyOVZwg
The forest grew denser as they drove. Mia's gently humming filled the silence but guilt screamed louder in his head.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYT1WNshAUn
He recalled the call he had received from Clinton;99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyyoUBRf5r
“I just got out of jail…and you see buddy, you have been awfully quiet. Word has it that you've gone soft. I couldn't believe it until I saw you cozying up with Vince's daughter…” Clinton laughed.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4u8XXlHCq
“What do you want, Clinton.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDaRc5KQRi
“Well…can't a guy say hi to his old pal?” He laughed again, this time a menace coating his voice. His voice went low, almost threatening, “ I know you are doing it for the money, for revenge…I just want to benefit from it. That's all.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIJ4xiqXiZ
“I left that line of work, Clinton. Find someone else.” Just as Ethan was about to hang up, Clinton intercepted.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5aX5bzeBR
“Oh, no you don't. Because you have no choice but to comply. That is if you want to save your sister… My guys have her. Plus… we aren't really gonna hurt your prima Donna. We just want ransom from Vince, that's all. Don't you want to make him pay?”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJ0l11R6dv
Ethan gritted his teeth.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnKW4joUmK
“I guess you've made your decision…I'll send you an address. Oh and Ethan, don't worry, Mia will never know.”
****
Ethan snapped out of it and glanced at Mia. He had promised himself never to return to that world. But the world it seems, didn’t care for promises.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ssx2JDrbT
They reached the cottage at dusk. It stood small and lonely among the trees, lit faintly by the flickering porch light.
Inside, Ethan set their bags down and went still. Every nerve in his body was wired tight.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40HMJyeLQR
Mia touched his arm gently noting his unusual edge. “You’re scaring me, Ethan. What’s wrong?”
He didn’t answer. Not yet.
Because how did he tell her that he’d once worked for her father, Vince. A man who ruled the underworld with blood-stained charm? That he’d been the gambler who ran the cons, laundered the money, and betrayed the wrong man, her father himself.
That her father had let him rot in prison for ten years. That her father took away his sister and sold her off to God knows where, all to spite him? That he specifically approached her to spite Vince…
And that now, her father's enemies wanted revenge…and planned to finish the revenge he never could bring himself to because eventually he came to love the daughter of the man that ruined his life.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQUPh5ougO
Ethan poured a drink but didn't take a sip. He looked at his reflection in the glass. A ghost.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyy1qGL3lM
“Talk to me.” Mia said quietly standing by the firelight. “Whatever it is.. you don't have to carry it alone.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF8FCH6adY
Ethan looked at her… the truth he had swore to carry to his grave… now threatened to come out. “I used to gamble.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK3sVQ6grl
“I know that.” She said softly. You told me that much. And I know you've changed. And–”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfE0WBDd6Hk
“No, Mia.” His voice broke. “I wasn't just a gambler… I worked with your father.”
The color drained from her face. “My… father?”
He nodded. “I ran his games. Rigged his bets so that he'd win. Collected his debts. At first I had things going for me…I had the money, the women…and I bet it all… all until I realized it wasn't enough. I wanted a huge win. So…I messed with the bets… rigged it then lied to him…that he lost. As a result, someone ended up dead…and he pinned it on me, saying I went rogue.” Ethan paused to try to gauge the emotion behind Mia's expression.
“I took the fall. Ten years in prison.”
Mia stumbled back, shaking her head. “That can’t be true. My father isn’t—”
“He is,” Ethan said quietly. “You’ve just never seen that side of him.”
She pressed her hand to her mouth. “And me? What am I to you?”
His eyes burned. “You were supposed to be revenge. I wanted to make him hurt like he made me. He took away my sister… So I thought I'd break his daughter and leave with everything he has…Dump you in the most vile way possible…” Ethan sighed. Mia's eyes glistened with tears.
“But somewhere along the way… I fell for you. I stopped gambling. My revenge lost its meaning and I realized that I wanted to spend my life with you. I changed.”
The words hung heavy in the air.
She stared at him, eyes glistening. “Three years, Ethan. Three years you never thought to tell me?" She paused and looked at the ring in her finger. "Was everything we had a lie?"
“I was scared,” he whispered. “You were the only good thing in my life. I didn’t want my past to ruin it. But Mia–”
“No, you don't get to…Wait….” She looked around then with a stern voice asked, “Ethan, what are we doing here?”
Ethan went silent. “I…I am sorry Mia.” He said lowly
Before she could speak, headlights sliced through the window.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGx4plJefL5
Engines. Voices. Boots matching through the entrance.
Ethan’s blood went cold.
He ran to the window, peering through the blinds. “They found us.”
Mia’s heart pounded. “Who?”
He didn’t have to answer.
The door burst open. Three men stepped in, guns drawn and faces hidden. And behind them, calm and composed as ever, walked her father.
Mia froze. “Dad?”
Her father’s eyes were stone. “Hello, sweetheart.” He looked past her to Ethan. “You’ve kept him busy, I see.”
Mia turned, confused. “Dad, what is going on?”
Her father’s voice was steady, cold. “Ask your boyfriend. Ask him why I'm here in the first place.”
Ethan moved in front of her, protective. “Don’t listen to him, Mia.”
“Don’t listen to me?” her father scoffed. “You think she won’t find out? That you lured her into this cottage as bait for me… for some ransom?”
Mia’s lip trembled. “Ethan… please tell me he’s lying.”
Ethan’s silence said it all.
Her father smiled bitterly. “That’s what I thought.”
Then Clinton stepped in from the shadows, slow clapping. “Ah, family reunion. Touching.”
Ethan glared. “You said this was between us.”
Clinton shrugged. “And you believed me? The truth was bound to come out one day. Come on Ethan, you don't really love her do you?”
Mia looked to Ethan part of her, though mad and furious and feeling betrayed, hoping that he'd admit to that at least.
Ethan's face went dark. “You promised she will not be hurt in all this.” 99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡya65fx30yK
Clinton smiled. “Of course.”
Her father drew his gun. “No one plays bets with my daughter.”
Clinton’s grin widened. “Then you know what we want old man. Your empire for your daughter. Sounds fair don't you think?”
Ethan stepped towards Mia. “Mia listen to me, I need you to run…from here…get as far away as possible.”
“Ethan…” Mia looked into his eye. “What are you planning to do?”
Ethan smiled. “Something I probably should have done from the start… be honest with myself.” He looked at her sadly. “Mia, do you trust me?”
Mia looked at him, and against all she felt she said, “I do.”
“Then go and don't look back….”
“But Ethan–”
“Don't worry…I'll come find you after this…and maybe we'll plan our crime themed wedding.” Tears falling from her eyes she nodded then turned towards the door.
Just as she got as far as she could, shots fired. Chaos exploded as glass shattered, fire flared, and the smell of gunpowder filled the air
When the echo faded, Ethan was on his knees, blood pooling beneath him. Vince held the gun in his hand eyes void of emotion.
Mia somehow burst into the room. She looked between her father and Ethan who held his stomach blood gushing out. She ran to him, catching him before he fell. “No, no, no, Ethan, please…”
He looked up at her, eyes glassy with pain and love. “You silly girl, I told you to run away not towards me.” He smiled. “I told you I was a gambler right?99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lBl2GVQmj
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Tears streamed down her face. “Don’t you dare—”
His hand brushed her cheek, weak but gentle. “For the first time, Mia… I bet on love. And I won.”
Her sobs broke the silence as his eyes fluttered closed. "Ethan...?" she found her self calling out, but nothing. The kind of anger, anguish, pain and fear that surge within her was beyond anything she ever felt. And even as the sirens sounded and the men scattered she remained still. As if part of her knew that somehow Ethan's eyes would flicker open and he'd smile at her and say "Gotcha!"99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8s7EMWnRw
But the silince remained screaming in her heart.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjlvCQFfc1
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