Chapter Fifty Nine
Dave stood at the hospital room door, his arms crossed over his chest and his mind replaying Edna’s words like a record player stuck on a loop, as he stared at the sleeping Maria. With all the bruises on her face, she looked peaceful, like she hadn’t been through a traumatic experience just a few hours ago, of course thanks to the strong sedatives they gave her, which he wouldn’t mind taking himself.
He rubbed his hand over his face, and then blinked a few times just to make sure he wasn’t in a drunken dream. She was in that bed, bruised and broken, but alive and safe and at that moment that’s all that mattered. He felt his throat tighten as his eyes stung with tears. He had promised she would be safe, that nothing like this would ever happen to her again, but it did, and worst of all, under his watch.
“Johnson, how the hell did you let this happen to her?” Dave turned to glare at him, keeping his position at the door way.
“I don’t know. She went in alone, no one followed her. I guess he was already inside just waiting for her.” Johnson rapped out.
“He almost killed her!” He turned to look back at her, she had turned her head and was trying to set free her strapped arm, but soon stopped.
“But he’s the dead one.” Johnson spoke confidently. That was the only good thing that had come out from that night.
Dave turned and looked at him. He couldn’t deny he was relieved that Ricky was dead, and their lives would now be like every other normal family’s. No more shadow body guards for Maria and the kids, no more secrets or investigations and no more suspense thriller movie their lives had turned out to be. He did like the thrill Maria’s life had been, but he wanted it over, it was time for him to stop playing the God Father, it wasn’t fun anymore, especially after seeing Maria like this.
“You are lucky she’s alive and he’s dead.” Dave said candidly, then turned to greet Miguel and the doctor. Johnson knew the true weight of those words and he considered himself more than lucky.
“She’s lucky she got here when she did.” the doctor spoke, digging his hands in his white coat.
“We all know just how much.” Miguel spoke, eyeing Johnson with a lethal glimmer in his eye. Johnson stepped back, appreciating the threat in Miguel’s voice. Dave wasn’t the only one he was to be scared of. Dave saw the look, but he didn’t care to stand up for Johnson, he needed a little scare to keep him on his toes.
“Three of her ribs were broken and unfortunately one of them punctured her lung.” Dave shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably as he listened to the doctor, “She has a dislocated shoulder and her back and belly will be sore and swollen for a few weeks, but she’ll be fine.” the doctor looked at the three men with caution, his next question wouldn’t be taken lightly by any of the men, “May I ask who’s the lady’s husband?”
“She’s not–” Miguel started before Dave cut him off.
“I am and no I did not beat up my wife to the point she needed surgery.” Dave answered bluntly, his gaze as cool as his voice.
“She was mugged.” Johnson offered, “I found her a few streets from her house.”
The doctor looked at them, as if he wasn’t sure whether or not to believe them.
“Now that we’ve cleared up that little issue, where do I go to pay the bill?” Miguel asked.
“The bill is taken care of. She’s under my health insurance.” Dave answered, “Is there anything else you’d like to ask before you call the police?” Dave asked with his lawyer voice on.
The doctor’s eyes widened, “Ah, no.” he turned and shuffled away fast. Miguel and Dave gave him an unconcerned look as he rushed away, Johnson just chuckled. He knew how the doctor felt, Dave had an imposing nature that scared most of the people he came across, especially those he was trying to put behind bars.
“Is he going to call the police?” Miguel asked turning to face Dave.
“No.” he spoke tiredly. The lawyer face and voice had sagged back to the worn out worried man he was a few minutes ago, “He’s too scared to get involved.”
“I thought you two had to be married to get that kind of insurance deal?”
“It’s a temporary arrangement.” Dave turned to look at Maria, her face was now facing his direction, she didn’t look peaceful anymore, she looked troubled.
“How did you pull that off?” he chuckled, shaking his head, “Why am I even asking, you are Dave Greer, nothing’s impossible for you.” Johnson said.
“With my career, yes, my personal life not so much.” he moved into the room when Maria started to weep quietly as she tossed and turned, “Miguel, I think she’s having a nightmare.”
***
Maria could hear Ricky’s voice ring in her ears as he laughed at her poor attempts to get away from him. Then she heard herself crying and begging, for death, for life which ever would make the torment end. Then there was the pain, the blinding pain in her side and the blood, she could taste it, and she could see more streaming out of her hand.
Then she saw two figures, Ricky was kneeling beside them, a sadistic smile on his lips as he held a knife with a bloody hand, her blood, she was sure of it. She pulled her weight closer to get a good look at the figures, they were scared and crying. She looked closely at them and felt her heart stop when she saw the little faces, Michael and Izzy.
“No, please!” Maria begged, pulling herself closer to her crying children. This wasn’t supposed to be happening, how did they even get there? They were supposed to be safe with Dave.
Ricky pulled Michael down to Izzy’s level, immediately Michael wrapped his arms around her and hid her face in his shoulder. Maria begged and cried even more, but that only seemed to excite Ricky more. He held the knife to Michael’s neck, “Say bye bye to mama.”
“No!” Maria jumped up, the pain from her side paralyzed her like an electric volt had passed through her body, which only allowed her a tiny weep in place of the scream, she wanted to let out.