Tom took this whole thing seriously, but at the same time, he was like this invisible ghost in the game. No one knew who he really was in the underground world. He moved in silence, pulling strings behind the scenes. His name got around, but the man behind it? No one had a clue.
But this time? He'd done something huge. JK wasn't just some random guy—he was tied deep in the underworld and had serious pull in the legit world too. So when word spread, it spread fast.
For the first time, Tom felt that knot of worry in his gut. He had no idea what was coming next, and his mind kept drifting to Anna. His anger was simmering—he could feel it clawing at him. But he didn't let it take over. Instead, he handed it off to Mark and trusted him to handle the mess.
The next day, Anna was still recovering. Tom decided to stop by and check on her. He wanted to make sure she was okay, but when he showed up, Anna was distant. She didn't want to meet him, but she let him inside.
Tom walked in, carrying her favorite food and a couple of small gifts, his eyes scanning the room as he tried to gauge her mood. He didn't say anything at first, just quietly set the bags down on the table. He noticed how still she was, like she was trying to keep everything in. He took a deep breath, sitting down next to her, trying to ease the tension.
"How you feelin' today?" he asked softly. He knew she didn't remember him, but there was still something in his voice that might make her feel something. "You doing okay?"
Anna looked up at him, her eyes a little lost. It hit Tom harder than he expected. She was trying so hard to find herself, and he couldn't help her remember. "Yeah, better than yesterday," she replied, her voice small, unsure. "I think I'm almost healed. But these bandages..." she sighed, pushing at them a little. "I don't know, they're just... annoying. I feel like I need more rest."
Tom's heart ached, but he kept it together. "Yeah, take it easy. No rushing it. Let your body heal, okay?" He shifted closer, his hand almost reaching for hers before he pulled back. He didn't want to push her too far. "If you need anything, you just call me. Or you can call the nurse. Hell, if you wanna get outta here for a bit, I can take you wherever. I'll be here."
Anna's eyes flickered with confusion for a moment. "Why would I need to call him?" she thought, the question hanging in the air between them. She didn't remember the life they'd shared, didn't remember the love. Was it all just a lie? Or did he really care? But she forced a smile, trying to make him feel better. "Thanks," she said quietly. "I appreciate it."
The silence between them stretched for a second. Tom could feel the coldness in her voice, the way she was trying to distance herself. It stung, but he wasn't going to let it break him. Not now, not when everything else was falling apart. He just nodded, his voice calm but with a hidden edge. "Take it slow, Anna. Don't push yourself." He stood up, eyes lingering on her a moment longer, before he turned to leave.
As he reached the door, he paused. For just a second, he thought he saw something flicker in her eyes. Maybe it was recognition, maybe it was nothing. But in that moment, he felt a little piece of hope rise up in his chest.
"Get some rest. I'll be back soon," he said quietly, and before she could respond, he was out the door.