Chapter 5 THE SPACE BETWEEN US

OWEN'S POV:

I've always been a part of this world, the world of the mafia. My family's been involved in it for generations, and I've been groomed to take over one day. But it's not just a business, it's a lifestyle. And it's a lifestyle that comes with a price.

I've seen things, done things, that I'm not proud of. And I've had to make choices that have hurt people I care about. But that's just the way it is. You do what you have to do to survive.

But then I met Tonia. She's beautiful, smart, and kind. And she's not like the other women I've met. She's not a part of this world, and she doesn't know what I do. And that's what makes her so appealing to me.

But it's also what makes me afraid. I'm afraid of what my family will do to her if they find out about us. I'm afraid of what will happen to her if she gets too close to me. And I'm afraid of what I'll have to do to protect her.

I've been trying to stay away from her, but it's hard. I've noticed her ever since she was staying in Dewton's at her granny's and since then I knew I wanted to be with her but held myself because I knew the consequences .Last night was meant to be a fling but here I am not able to get everything that happened out of my head. I want to protect her, to keep her safe from all the things that I've seen. But I know that's impossible.If I let her go, she'd be with someone else and I might just harm them because I can't stand it.

My family will never approve of her. They'll see her as a liability, a weakness. And they'll do whatever it takes to eliminate her. I know that's what they'll do, because I've seen it before.

I've seen what happens to people who get too close to us. They get hurt, they get killed. And I don't want that to happen to Tonia. I don't want her to get hurt because of me.

But at the same time, I don't know if I can stay away from her. I don't know if I can resist the pull of being with her, of loving her. And that's what scares me the most.

I'm scared of what I'll have to do to protect her. I'm scared of what my family will do to her. And I'm scared of what will happen to us if we get caught.

But most of all, I'm scared of losing her. I'm scared of losing the one person who makes me feel alive, who makes me feel like I'm worth something more than just being a part of this world.

I know I have to make a choice. I have to choose between my family and Tonia. And I know that whichever choice I make, there will be consequences. But I also know that I have to make a choice, because I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to her.

TONIA's POV

I couldn't shake off the feeling of emptiness that lingered inside me, a reminder of the night that had left me with more questions than answers. Owen's sudden distance after our night together had thrown me off balance, and I found myself trying to distract myself with work. The events, the meetings, the endless tasks - they all became a blur as I went through the motions, trying to fill the void that had been left behind.

But then, I met him. Max. He was charming, nice, and genuinely interested in getting to know me. We talked, laughed, and shared stories over tea, and for a moment, I forgot about the ache in my chest. He asked me questions, listened attentively to my responses, and made me feel seen and heard. It was refreshing, and I found myself wanting to spend more time with him.

As we talked, I couldn't help but think about how easy it was to be around Max. He was like a breath of fresh air, a reminder that there were still good people out there. And maybe, just maybe, he could be the distraction I needed to move on from Owen. I mean, I'm not getting any younger, and the thought of being single forever wasn't exactly appealing.

But deep down, I knew I was lying to myself. The connection I felt with Owen was still there, simmering just below the surface. I couldn't explain it, but there was something about him that drew me in, something that made me feel alive. And no matter how hard I tried to push those feelings away, they kept creeping back in.

As I sat across from Max, laughing and chatting like we were old friends, I couldn't help but wonder if I was using him to fill a void. Was I just trying to distract myself from the pain of Owen's rejection, or was there something real between us? I didn't know, and the uncertainty was unsettling.

For now, though, I was willing to see where things went with Max. Maybe he could be the one to help me move on, to make me forget about the night that had left me feeling so lost. Or maybe, just maybe, he'd be the one to make me realize that I was worthy of love, regardless of what had happened with Owen. Either way, I was ready to take a chance, to see where this new path would lead me.

I sat across from Max at the coffee shop, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. I was using him, plain and simple; trying to distract myself from the memories of Owen that still lingered in my mind. One night, a mistake, a moment of weakness - that's all it was with Owen. But the ache it left behind was something I couldn't shake.

Max was nice, don't get me wrong. He was charming, funny, and handsome in his own way. But every time he smiled at me, I felt like I was lying to him, to myself. I was trying to convince myself that I was over Owen, that I was ready to move on. But the truth was, I wasn't. I was just trying to fill the void, to distract myself from the what-ifs that still haunted me.

As Max talked, I found my mind wandering back to Owen. What was he doing right now? Was he thinking of me? Did he even care? I pushed the thoughts away, focusing on Max's words, trying to seem interested. But it was all a facade. I was using Max to escape, to run from the emotions that still lingered inside me. And I knew it wasn't fair to him.