ROTTEN LOVE - Chapter 31: Chapter 31

He didn't have to state it but saying it made it much more real. Marisa and I's bond is broken.
When did it happen? How could I not notice?
Wait... or didn't I? The sensation I felt after my time with Zain. The snap in place. Our bond solidifying.
What if it wasn't that? Rather, a bond breaking. My heart drops at the pit of my stomach. This might be my fault.
Marisa leans closer, "Hey, where's your head?"
She is questioning how I feel, doubting our relationship. Before, she would just know. Now, she has to ask. I might be overthinking but I feel the loss.
"I can't help but think that this is my doing," I look at her, guilt killing me.
"I don't understand." She looks at me puzzled.
"I felt something when Zain and I finished. I assumed our bond was forming not that one was breaking."
Zain eyes me. He can sense my turmoil.
Marisa silences me with a peck on the cheek. I flush pink and laugh. She takes me off guard. Some things never change and I'm glad.
"Our bond had to be broken before then. I would have felt everything leading to that grand ending of yours," she tries to tease me.
She hates that I am with Zain but she will not allow me to pin this on myself.
She continues, "Unless, did you finish in a second dog? Was my girl too much for you?"
I clear my throat. That is furthest from the truth. Zain chuckles. My toes curled at the sound.
"I agree with Marisa. The bond had to be broken beforehand." He gives me a smirk before looking at Marisa, "We fucked so hard that little Miss Lady Malfatto would have killed Adam in an instant."
I blush more, crimson red taking over my face. I clear my throat.
"It has to be Jason then. He is the only one capable of breaking this bond. They have him and Maddox. Maybe, they are free too." I try to take in what that means for my brother and Maddox.
For whatever reason, they want us separate from the Malfattos.
I know why Zain would want me apart from them. He does not want my life tied to a vampire. He's a werewolf. I can understand more if he were the one calling the shots.
But he is not. The Ambroses are.
One thing is certain, they aren't interested in simply killing us off. They would have done it by now. They have bigger plans and it eats me up.
I don't know for how long much longer Jason or Maddox will be useful for them. They can be getting closer to their endgame. Getting them free is more crucial than ever.
"Jason would never do that," Marisa argues.
"He would for Maddie's sake," it's all too clear to me that she is simply their trump card for him. Their means to control him.
It's not as simple as choosing the Malfattos over our mates. Maddox and Marisa have always been number one. Yet, with Zain and Maddie in the picture, it complicates things.
It's not so easy. I love the Malfattos. I will give my life to them. But, Zain feels like he is my life. It sounds so dramatic but it's true.
It seems like my brother had to choose between the one he would sacrifice himself for versus the one he would never sacrifice. You would rather die than harm one, but, if forced, you will do anything to buy the other more time.
Would I jeopardize Marisa to keep Zain safe? No. Yes. It's not simple and I don't blame Jason even if Marisa can't quite understand the complexity of this mate bond.
"We need them out of their hands. We are missing something big and Marisa I think you are the key," I look at her.
"I'm more lost than you."
"Think. You are part of their world. Why would they need us separate from you and Maddox?"
"Besides the simple fact that they want to kill us but can't until you guys die first. Now, it should be a clear shot," she rolls her eyes.
"They would have killed Jason or Maddox the moment they freed them from the bond if that was the case."
Zain says lowly, "Who's to say they didn't?"
We all pierce him down with a stare.
I say to him, "I would know. I'm confident. My brother is alive."
He looks regretful that he caused me an unpleasant thought. He pats my shoulder and brings me in for a hug.
Marisa can practically barf at any time. I move slightly away from Zain for her sake. Upon our separation, I noticed a rigidity in him.
Marisa notices it too. I look up at his stern expression, the way his eyebrows tense with pressure.
"What's wrong," I ask.
"We have guests," is all he says before making his way out the door. Me and Marisa stare at each other but follow behind. Adam comes along too. His presence behind Marisa and me.
As we descended the stairs, a tall figure awaited us. Unable to see their face yet, their hair is the first thing that stands out. It's a vibrant auburn color and short.
Their posture is impeccable which quickly gives it away. This individual is a vampire. Only they possess such an uncanny ability to stay so rigid all the time.
But this one is different. Getting closer to him, even the air seems to have gone cold.
Zain takes the last step off the stairs. However, he does not take any further steps towards the stranger. It's like he purposely is blocking us from meeting the man.
No, he is putting himself in the line of fire first before us. He is protecting us.
Marisa does not move rather I see her back straighter, her shoulders tense and her chin slightly down. She is poised yet does not want to be seen by this individual.
I grab her hand in case I need to cipher. She looks at me and I raise my eyebrows at her. She only sighs and rolls her eyes.
She knows this person.
Zain speaks, "I have been sending word for over two weeks. You have some nerve to show up alone."
The man turns slowly. His pale, slightly freckled face relaxed. His green eyes assessed Zain for a second before trialing them behind to where Marisa and I stood.
He looks at me quickly then keeps his gaze on Marisa. A slow smile creeps on his face. Marisa tenses more. I squeeze her hand.
"It's been a while hasn't it, lady Malfatto," he addresses her.
She doesn't answer him. Perhaps, it's his tone or the way his eyes are lingering too long on her but Adam places his hands on her shoulder.
The stranger had not paid him any attention until now. He squints his eyes at the gesture.
"Still, messing around with the low ranks." The man says with an indifferent tone but his tight lip gives his displeasure away.
Whomever he is, he feels something toward Marisa.
Zain takes one step forward. "You come to my home. You ignore me and make my guests uncomfortable. You seriously have a death wish."
He stares into Marisa one hard last time before finally responding to Zain. "If I recall, the last time we talked, you were working with us to get rid of said guest."
Marisa slightly snarls and I squeeze her hand some more, trying to calm my simmering heart too.
"Let's not start misunderstandings. The deal was you gave me a name and I got them here in my territory. I didn't agree to hand them in. I would never have allowed the kidnapping of my sister and my mate's brother. Nor the killing of her coven. I had no part in that and you know it." Zain gets a little closer to him.
"Perhaps, you weren't involved in any of that but without your initial contribution then none of those things would have taken place." The man has on a smug smirk.
A point even Zain couldn't dispute. I am tired of this man talking around me like I'm not here. Plus, he is making Marisa uneasy and picking a fight with Zain.
"And you are," I raise an eyebrow.
"How rude of me..."
"Yes," I cut him off because I don't like him, and my being rude to him is the least of my worries.
He smirks, "I'm Emmett from the revered Ambrose line."
"You'll find that in this house that couldn't be furthest from the truth." I study him more carefully. It's confirmed. This man was part of my brothers capture and coven's murder.
I feel the wrath increase in me. I squeeze Marisa's hand and I extract more.
"Alpha Zain has a point. I don't know what gives you the confidence to walk in here without my brother and Maddox in tow." I get angrier.
"Marisa you look as lovely as ever. How long has it been."
Emmett addresses Marisa. She keeps her gaze down. She is shriveling under him and it makes me furious. She has never backed down with anyone.
What gives this man that right?
Tired of being ignored, I focus on him, giving him a world-class headache. He would be feeling pins and needles in his cranium.
Emmett hunches slightly. His teeth sunk into his lips. Marisa quickly snaps her head at me wide-eyed and I smile at her. She nods her head and lifts her chin.
She needed a small reminder of who she was too. A badass not afraid of anyone especially when we are together. She lifts her chin and I stop the pain.
Emmett straightens and breathes heavily.
"That was not nice," he grits.
"You will no longer address Marisa. Talk to me," I give the order.
"A bold request considering I know we're your precious loved ones are," he says arrogantly.
So I get careless. I double the pain and he curses. Then I release him.
I say, "A bold admission when I have the power to decide whether you leave out here alive or dead."
"Giving yourself too much credit are we," he straightens.
But I let go of Marisa and step down the last step toward Zain. I place my hand in his. His warmth brings me comfort.
I resume, doubling the pain, "Am I?"
He hunches and it brings me a small form of satisfaction. I release him because it's the answer I want. Not his suffering. That's for later.
"Your brother wasn't as near as hard to crack. One little threat and he did all we asked, especially after the incident with the little she-wolf," he says.
Zain growls. I didn't allow him to get any closer. This man could be toying with his feelings.
Instead, I get angrier. I take more from Zain and allow him to power me. I radiate the pain to Emmett's heart. He clenches his teeth through it.
"Where's my brother, Maddie, and Maddox," I ask, releasing him.
He tries to compose himself. "Marisa, will you continue to allow these barbarians to talk to your fiancé like this?"