***LONDON’S POV***
One Week Later
It has been a whole week without having to hear from Zane. I feel restless. I am hysterical and sick to the core.
After calling Micah for help, he helped me with fake documents to leave Italy as soon as possible and that had caused a dent in his pockets.
Although I feel bad about him and have promised to pay him back, he keeps refusing it, saying we were on the same page.
Micah’s house reeks of smoke, and his dirty room is barely liveable. The number of times I had threatened to go home… where Zane leaves is more than I have taken a breath of my own.
No antenatal, no doctor checkups, I could probably be having a dead baby in me and I wouldn’t even know.
The mere thought of it has tears streaking down my face, I fight it off but it stays, determining to burn its way through my flesh.
I have tried my best to clean this place, the amount of bleach I have used is alarming, yet, there is this musky smell that wouldn’t leave.
Laying on the bed, I shiver from the cold. Another problem here, the heat in the apartment is broken. Evidently, it has been so for a while and Micah wouldn’t fix it because… I don’t even know why.
The door creaks open and a smiling face Micah walks in, a pizza box in his hand.
‘Great, pizza for the fifth time this week,’ I say inwardly, not wanting to mutter it out loud and hurt his feelings.
“I am not hungry,” I murmur, more tears flashing down my face.
“You need to eat, London. Remember?” he says walking to the kitchen to wash his hands and it the pizza box on a tray.
I lay there on the couch, a thick blanket covering me as I shudder, fighting the space between the uncomfortable couch and the thick blanket.
When I had first arrived, Micah had offered me his bedroom, but I didn’t take it. It doesn’t stop him from carrying me every night to his bed when I am asleep.
I appreciate the warmth that is there, although it is the faintest beat, I still welcome it.
“Tell me, Micah, what have you been up to today?” I bring a small conversation.
Micah and I are barely conversational, but he does say a few good words to me. He tells me I have gotten a hang of the situation and I can do it well.
“Just about the block, looking if anyone needs my services?” he says plating a pizza for me.
“I hope you aren’t looking to get into trouble again. Zane wouldn’t continue saving your ass,” I tell him firmly.
“And guess who is here and I am forced to save her ass, huh? London, you need to chill and let me work this out,” he buffs as I bite into a pizza.
I don’t touch my food, I just stare at him as if he has lost his mind.
“You can’t continue living like this, Micah!” I cry out, fear evident in my voice.
I care about my elder brother.
“I know, London. Do you think I want that too? But I have you to take care of right now. You are my priority. And that baby inside of you,” he says using his chin to nod at my belly.
I rub my hand protectively over the bump, closing my eyes and letting images of what could have happened to me at the warehouse a few days ago.
Michael Logan is an asshole. I trusted him, and what did I get in return? My ass flipped over a table and him printing his dick painfully into my ass.
I grit my teeth so hard that I fear it will break.
“You should eat,” Micah prompts me.
“I am not hungry,” I whisper, shaking my head gently, taking the pain away from the thoughts.
“Are you alright?” Micah says.
Before I could respond, his hand was on my forehead and he looked stunned as he pulled his hand backward as if burned.
“What?” I ask fiercely.
“You are having a fever. How long haven’t you been feeling fine?” he asks as he takes the plate from me.
I know I have not been feeling fine, but I didn’t think I was burning up.
“I am fine, Micah. Now, leave me alone and eat your food,” u say slapping his hand from my body.
“No, you aren’t well, and I am taking this into consideration. Lay still, I will grab a towel and dampen it at the sink. It should reduce the fever. I think I have some painkillers in the cupboards, it should break the fever at once,” he says leaving my side.
“No, Micah, wait!” I say but the young man had already done.
Fuck. I didn’t want to be sick now. I still need to pull out my strength a little bit. Damn it.
Immediately, a panicking Micah returns and I pass out trying to tell him to pause.
A few minutes later, I open my eyes to Micah’s pleading voice.
“What happened?” I ask looking around in shock.
“You passed out and this is really bad. Shit! I should have known that something was wrong,” he says as he starts pacing the floor.
“I am feeling cold and my stomach is twisting with hunger. I think I will die in pain,” I blurt out choking with tears.
Micah’s eyes widen in shock as he pulls out his phone.
“No, please, what are you doing?” I ask fear gripping me.
“I am doing the one thing I should have done when you stepped on my doorstep a week ago,” he says dialing a number and waiting as it rings.
“What?” I ask my voice in my throat.
“Calling your husband. That is the only rational thing to do right now, London. I am sorry,” he says.
As the phone call ends, I hear a familiar voice on the other side.
“Shit, Micah!” I call out leaving the couch.
The blanket fastens around my legs and before I know it, I am falling on Micah’s dirty carpet. I land with a loud thud, the sound very ugly.
“Fuck London, stay put!” Micah calls out to be and the line goes dead on the other side.
I stare at Micah, I taste the salt from my tears before I realize I have a meltdown. This fever might also play a rough round on me.
*** ZANE’S POV***
Receiving a call from Micah was strange but hearing London’s familiar voice at the back? Sue me.
I stay calm when I hear the conversation going on the other side of the line.
“We need to tell your husband the truth, London. I care about you, but you are burning up with a fever, I hear an exasperated Micah call out.
An audible thud is heard and Micah hurries around.
“You don’t have to move from the couch, London, I have this under control,” he says fumbling around.
“You don’t, Micah. If not, I wouldn’t be starving for a week,” London’s weak voice penetrates the speaker.
My wife. All this while I have been grieving and thinking about her death, whereas she is very much alive and in the States.
A mixture of pain and relief flashes through my eyes as I wipe it.
“Micah?” I call out once.
“Yes, Boss Zane,” Micah replies softly.
“Take care of London, I will be there as soon as possible. Please, don’t let her leave,” I beg softly.
A moment passes before I hear a curt reply from the other end.
“I will try forcing her to eat something, she hasn’t really been eating,” he says honestly.
“See to it please,” he mutters.
As I hang up, I make my way upstairs, calling Reaper and Sinner. I walk into their rooms and they look alert. Reaper had nearly drawn out his gun from his pocket before relaxing after knowing it was just me and no danger was occurring.
“Boss?” he says arranging his tie.
“We live in five minutes. Pack whatever shit you think Sinner will need,” I say walking back towards the door.
“Where are we going to, Zane?” Sinner questions his brows dancing around his forehead.
“Home. London is not dead. Apparently, she has been hiding with Micah at his house,” I say flexing my hand in and out, as if that will help now.
“And she didn’t think of calling you?” Sinner voices out his concern.
A frown wrinkles my brows as well.
“I thought the same too,” I say walking out of the door.
Only Rio and Alex are at home, thus, I tell them goodbye. They ask what is going on and I don’t hesitate to fill them in.
“You should go easy on her, Zane. These feelings are still new to her,” Russell says clasping me at the back in a back slap.
When he pulls away, Rio takes over.
“I will. But not without getting London to understand that she can run to me if she has an issue,” the words leave my lips before I walk out of the room.
I pack a duffel bag and head downstairs. The ladies are there and they all hug me, placing a soft kiss on my cheek.
“Safe trip home, Zane. And please, tell London to visit us soon. We’ve missed her craziness,” Cecily says softly.
“I will,” I tell her warmly walking away.
With my men, we hit the airport. My private jet is ready and my pilot takes off immediately as board.
*
The next eight hours are the most hectic of my life as I keep turning around, making it difficult to rest.
I think of Riley, how that idiot had told me London was dead. I hadn’t closed my eyes the whole night and also every night of the week.
London’s pretty face came to haunt me, anytime I reached to grasp her, she disappeared into thin air. This time, she wouldn’t have the chance to do so, she would be with me, and I would be happy to serve her.
“Where are we going?” Caleb asks as he opens the car door for me.
“Nice to see you too, asshole,” I greet entering the back of the car.
Reaper has a ride and he follows me, Sinner goes home to rest. He didn’t have an opinion about that. His wound hasn’t healed completely, and I don’t want to stress the scars open.
He didn’t argue, which meant the tiredness of the trip had done a number on him.
“To Micah’s house,” I order, and Caleb nods, leading the way into the traffic.
I have missed Lake Side City. Nostalgic memories hit me in this town, the good and the evil ones. But most especially, about the night I had met London at the Fraternity hospital, looking like she had been run over by a truck.
About half an hour later, Micah stops in the suburbs of the town, in front of an old burning.
“Do you want me to call him out?” Caleb inquiries.
“Do not bother, I will pay him a visit myself,” I mutter.
Reaper leaves the car and follows me, while Caleb watches the vehicle from possible theft.
I bet any little junkie that picks up a fight with Caleb will soon learn who he is dealing with. No one in Lake Side City dares cross me. I am the Lord of drugs in this town.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I pass a few junkies on the corridor and a man possibly passed out with a knife peeking out of his coat pocket. An almost empty bottle of amber liquid in it.
As I slam my fist on Micah’s door, my patient is about to snap just waiting for him to respond.
He peeps through the peephole, sees me, and opens the door.
“Boss. You are here,” he says awe in his voice.
He steps aside and I walk into the room.
As expected when I first came here a few months back. The room smells of cheap bleach. London could not have been living in this situation. She could have called me.
“Where is my wife?” I question anger filling my voice.
Micah takes a step backward before replying.
“I just moved her to the room. She kept complaining about how cold she was feeling. She wouldn’t eat the soup I heated for her. It is not my fault if it is sour and watery. She wouldn’t even taste it,” Micah complains.
He is bad at taking care of his sister.
When I step farther into the room, I notice how cold the room is.
“Why is the no heat in here?” I ask looking around the filth-infested house.
“It has been broken for a while. But I was saving to fix it. I just happen to use up the money before I can get around to that purpose,” he says following me behind.
I look back at Micah in disgust.
Opening his bedroom, I have to blink severally to maintain my view of the dark room.
“The switch is bad, Zane, but let me… arrange the bedside lamp,” he says going to flip the lamp on.
Light surrounds the smell of the room and that is when I notice London in bed, she looks frail.
“Holy fuck!” I cry out as I run to the bed.
Reaper is behind me.
The room’s temperature isn’t better than the parlor, but London has a few dirty blankets covering her now.
“Has she taken any drugs?” I ask as I cup her face.
She is white and as I trail my eyes down her body, I notice her oversized t-shirt and sweatpants.
I hate the fact that she has Micah’s clothes own, but at least, they are comfy. She has fat ugly socks on her feet, her hands are chilly.
“London, baby? Open your eyes, please, Daddy is here,” I call out placing a kiss on her forehead.
She whimpers, and opens her eyes slightly. She seems unfazed as the fever takes over her body.
“Let me sleep please, I am feeling so cold,” she says.
Panic grasps my heart.
“No, please, London, you don’t have to sleep now. Fuck, get the car ready. You, Micah, you are moving into my house, leave everything here, take only what you consider as essentials,” I order as I bundle London into my arms and carry her out.
“Yes, Boss. I will do so immediately,” he says.
“Reaper, you should wait for Micah. Bring him home and don’t let him lose your sight,” I say walking out of the building and then to the car.
Caleb helps me gently place London in the car, I make sure she is alright, then, sitting close to her, I make sure she is protected.
“To the house please,” I say.
I shoot a quick text to my private doctor and ask him to meet me home. He knows it is urgent, and he is dealing with a fever. Anything else should be his wits handling it.
We make our way back home and I hurry my bedroom, London in my arms.
This room smells like home. I wanted London to wake up to the feeling of being home. She would know this will be our private wing until death do us part.
*
“She has a Level B fever,” Dr. Tom says as he finishes setting London’s IV pole.
“Dehydration and hunger can make someone very sick,” he says as I turn around and shoot Micah a glad.
“Anything to remedy the situation?” I inquire staring at him.
“I have added nutrients and vitamins in here,” he says tapping at the IV bag. “She will be very hungry when she wakes up. Maybe have a broth waiting for her, it should be warm. Also, she was almost catching hyperthermia. It is a good thing she was removed from that house when she had,”
My heart is now beating in my ears, I look stunned from what I just discovered. I was so close to losing my little girl.
“Fuck! Thank you doctor. Anything else?” I demand walking him towards the door.
“No, but someone needs to check out on London every few hours for the next twenty four hours. We want her taking her medications, and since a soup is the only thing she can have now, that will do,” he says shaking my stretched arm.
“Thank you, Tom,” I say softly.
“No qualms, Mr. Vincenzo,” he says politely, walking away.
I don’t let anyone into the room, not even Micah. I assume this is his fault, but I can’t help but appreciate what he has done for London.
I also need to know how she arrived in the States when I had all her documents to travel with me.
**
For the next five hours, London wakes up in a state of daze and drink her soup. As soon as the medication enters her mouth, she goes back to sleep.
I take that time to have a word with Micah.
He is in the kitchen with Reaper eating. I grab myself an apple and bite into it.
A maid serves me some food and I nod at the spaghetti Bolognese. I start munching on it like a starved man.
When I am almost done, I use my napkin to clean my mouth, I take a long sip of my red wine and relax.
“Do you want to give me a recap of events, Micah?” I ask biting into the shining green apple.
He drinks his water before answering.
“Yes, Boss Zane. I will tell you everything, but you should know that London has not informed me about anything, I am much in the dark if you ask me anything other than what I know,” he says.
And I do believe him. The little punk may be a lot of things, a liar as well, but where his sister is involved, I notice that Micah has been sincere with every aspect of that.
“Go on, fill me in,” I prompt.
“London called me a while ago…” he stops when a heavy landing sound comes from upstairs.
I knew before checking that it was London.
“Damn it! Excuse me,” I say hurrying upstairs to check London out.