…Few days later…
“I am so sorry if this was impromptu but I really wanted you to come back with us and spend time with us for a while before going back” Patricia said to Michelle once they got inside their mansion and she offered her hot chocolate which she accepted with a small smile.
“It’s no problem Mrs. Lorenzo, maybe I needed it… maybe I needed time away from there” she looked up as she bites back tears and Patricia held her hand then gave it a small squeeze.
“I understand how you are feeling Michelle” she sniffled “I have been awaiting the arrival of my son and not in this manner” her lips quivered and she wiped the tears that fell down her cheeks.
“We can just comfort each other and hope that we all heal with time” Michelle said and Patricia smiled at her then nod her head.
“His little brother isn’t taking it well, he… he is passing through a really rough phase now and this happened” she let out a sob and looked away as she tried to compose herself. “It has not been easy on us these past few days, it hasn’t” she cried.
Michelle wrapped her arms around her and drew her closer then rested the side of her chin on Patricia’s head as she sobbed.
“We all will be okay, we will” she whispered and Patricia nods in agreement.
Just they heard the door opening and Patricia leaned away from Michelle as she wiped the tears with the back of her hand, she looked at Michelle and offered her a weak smile which she returned.
“That must be my husband… he went to take care of a few things” she explained and Michelle nods.
“Hey baby” a distressed looking Donald appeared in the living room, he dropped his keys on the key holder glued to the wall then came to seat beside his wife and hugged her before leaning back to kiss her. “Hey Michelle” he waved and she waved back.
“Hi, Mr. Lorenzo, how are you feeling?” she asked weakly and he sighed then nod his head.
“We will be okay” he replied her and she looked down at her hand while slowly releasing a breath of air. “Everything has been taken care of, babe” he said to his wife and she nods then rest her head on his shoulder.
“Has Dimitri come out of his room yet?” she shook her head ‘no’. “Definitely he hasn’t eaten” he said and she nod ‘yes’.
“I tried to talk to him but he isn’t responding yet, I am thinking of calling Aiden but he has some school work he needs to attend to and I don’t want to distract the poor boy… what happened is already distracting enough for him” Patricia told him and he nods.
“I will try to talk to him” he said to her.
“Okay, please do so… I don’t want to lose another son” she told him and he kissed her again before making his way to the kitchen to get the ladies something to drink and eat before heading for his son’s room.
“Make sure you both eat something, okay?” he said and they nod and thanked him.
…
“You kept some beef in your bra, didn’t you?” Audriana asked and Sofia shrugged then took out a nylon that had the meat inside, she opened the nylon and began eating them then offering some to her friend which she accepted. “They taste good” Audriana comments and Sofia winked.
“Only when you hide ’em in a bra” she grinned and Audriana drank from her water bottle, looked around the school cafeteria and back to her friend before speaking.
“Everything good with you girl?” she asked and noticed a small furrow on Sofia’s brows when she asked.
“I don’t look okay?” Sofia asked instead of answering.
“I know you girl and I can sense that something is off, what’s up? Tell me,” she moved closer to her and Sofia let out a loud sigh.
“I don’t know if I told you this but my mum has a half-sister, long story if I haven’t, well Aiden told me that her eldest son passed recently” she tells her and her eyes went wide as she covered her hand with hers.
“Oh my GOD, I am so sorry to hear that”
“Yeah, her other son isn’t taking it too well and it’s just been really crazy for them all. They were battling with an issue some days ago now this one is really bad” she sighed again and ate some more beef.
“Have you paid them a visit yet?” she asked and Sofia shook her head ‘no’. “Why?”
“Aunty and my mum aren’t really close, they don’t really like each other… that’s how I see it but I doubt mum would be mad if I go pay them a visit” she shrugged.
“Is your mum aware of what happened to them?” Audriana asked taking some more beef to eat.
“No, you know she tries to keep away from the internet or from watching TV these days, her condition is getting worse and it makes her think a lot… she said that watching the TV will bring memories of she and dad watching their favorite show together and it might worsen her case since it will make her depressed”
“I am really sorry about all that is happening with your family, it hasn’t been easy. You trying to be strong for your mum, going to school and making ends meets and your half-aunty, I am so sorry” Audriana gave her hand a small squeeze.
“Thank you, you have been a really good friend and I hope we will be strengthened to get past these stage” Sofia smiled “Maybe I shouldn’t tell mum, it might worsen her situation and that is the last thing on my list now”
“Tell her, one day she would know and might be hurt that you let her find out from somewhere or someone”
“Okay, and I will go see them later after school”
“That is better then, how is your project coming? Found that mysterious thing you said you were looking for?”
…
“Hey man, wait up” Gills called out to Julius when he came out of Darius’s office, he turned to look at him then waited for him to meet with him, “What’s up man?” he asked and they began walking.
“What’s going on? You need something?” Julius asked as they turned a corner to leave the house and head for the garden.
“Not really, did he suspect anything yet?” Gills asked and Julius stopped walking so did he.
He placed his hands on his hips and looked at Gills with a small furrow on his brows.
“You’re still feeling scared?” he asked and he shook his head “Then stop asking” he said and continued walking.
“I am just bothered for you man, I don’t want boss to do something bad to you… we are all aware of what he can do in seconds when he finds out that we did something that he never wanted”
“Gills, stop panicking and even if he tries anything on me, I will not spill… even I rather die that tell him anything” he said to him and they got into their quarters by flashing their ID’s on the camera at the side of the gate before it buzzed and opened for them to get in.
There were a few of their men playing table tennis, basketball, somewhere seated in the patio as the talked with some bottle in front of them, some where by the pool, having a laugh about something and they passed them and went inside the building.
“Why did you help him?” Gills asked when they entered the building that leads to their respective rooms.
Julius stopped again and turned to look at him, he looked up and sighed then looked back at Gills as he waits for his answer.
“His mum had helped me when I was a little boy, she had done a lot for me and when I asked her why she did all those she said that she wasn’t able to keep her son so doing all that for me makes her happy, she told me about her son and I searched about him then knew about Darius who wanted him” he explained then continued to his room with Gills trailing behind.
“I made a promise to get into his gangs and find out what he wants with Cade but I couldn’t connect it with Lexi when I found out his sick plans so, I wanted to do all I could to stop him even if it takes my life” he shrugged then turned to Gills when he reached his room “Now you know why I did what I did now don’t spill a word to anyone else we are screwed”
“Okay, I wish I was as bold as you”
“Stay safe and keep your ears out for anything, okay?” Gills nods and he smiled before entering his room and locking the door.
…
…Three weeks later…
…Somewhere outskirt of town…
“How is he doing?” Dean came inside to meet his wife dressing the burn injury that was already healing.
“Still hasn’t woken up since the first day we brought him in” Benita answered and he sighed then looked at his sleeping form. “I hope he wakes in time so that we can get him back to his family” she said then stood up and walked out of the room.
Dean sat on the bed and let out a sigh. Julius had told him not to bring him a doctor since he was a nurse some how and could help with supplies that they needed to keep him alive. There weren’t too much damages done to him aside from burns on his leg and he might experience some constant headache when he finally wakes up.
He had wanted to call Julius to ask who this man was and what happened to him but he knew better than that. He didn’t want to get Julius into any trouble or so. Julius already said that his life was in danger by just helping the poor man out of that place, he didn’t understand how but he just has to do as he is been told.
“Father, I think there is something wrong with Pringles, he’s been acting up strangely” Myra came inside the room and stood in front of her dad.
“Maybe he needs to get out, take him out for a walk” he said to her but she looked at the sleeping man on the bed then to her dad.
“He isn’t letting me” she said and he sighed before getting up and leaving the room.
Myra made sure her dad’s footsteps faded before she moved closer to the man on the bed and sat down beside him. A small blush stained her cheeks when she looked at his face then she looked away.
“I really want you to wake up so that I can see your lovely eyes look at me” she looked at him again and chuckled “Mum and dad want you to wake up so that you get home to your family but I want you to stay and I hope you do” she took his hand and smiled before standing up and leaving the room.
…Two months and a week later…
“He hasn’t woken up yet? No sign of movement or anything?” Julius asked Dean who was standing by the door as he checked on Cade’s sleeping form.
“He woke up on the first day he was brought here, Myra did say she noticed him move his finger when she was alone with him and that was a week or so, nothing else” he said then walked closer to him. “Will he ever wake up?” he asked.
“He would”
“Are you really positive of that?” he asked another question.
“Eighty percent, yes”
“Why don’t we bring him to the hospital or bring a doctor to check him here if you don’t want him out of here?” Dean looked disturbed now.
“I told you the drip old man, I don’t want him out of you guys’ sight. You are the only ones I trust to help me with this” he said.
“Why is he in this state, you never really told us what exactly happened to him aside from him getting caught in an accident that he shouldn’t be in. Is he a bad guy? Did whoever you’re working for do this to him?”
“It was a blast and he wasn’t supposed to be involved in all those mess, neither where the people who lost their lives in it. He isn’t a bad guy, rather he is a great one, he got his mum’s heart but just softer… my boss needs him for a stupid selfish plan he laid out years ago, he was just waiting for the right moment to get him here and strike” Julius explained then stood up and packed up the box he used.
“He needs him for something evil and I don’t want him to break this sweet, kind-hearted guy because he could easily do that”
“What you are doing for this young man, it will get you in a lot of trouble, yes?” Julius nods his head. “Does he know you? What you are doing for him? Risking your life and all?”
“He doesn’t know me and doesn’t have to, he just has to be okay and away, that’s all” he walked out of the room with Dean following behind and saw the rest of the family looking at them “I need to leave now, I said too much already, please stay safe and don’t call me, I will come to you when I can, bye” he said and walked out of the house.
“Will that pretty boy wake up anytime soon?” Myra asked and Lucas her little brother scoffed beside her. “What’s funny?” she glared at him and he shrugged then moved away from her in case she had any plans on hitting his head.
“We need to be patient, he will wake up” Benita said then went to the kitchen to bring some water and towel to wipe him for the morning. “Myra, take this bucket and towel to his room, I will be there shortly” she instructed and she did as she was told.
Myra got into his room and put the towel on the dresser chair then the bowl on the floor beside the bed when it hit her and she froze. Slowly standing on her feet and looking at the wide-awake brown-haired man with little stubbles scattered on his chin who was seated on the bed with is back to the headboard as he stares at her confused.
“Who are you and where am I?” he asked in a whisper an went into a fit of coughing so she hurriedly left the room still shocked but happy then announced to her family about his awakening.
“We are so glad that you are awake buddy” Lucas patted his arm and grinned, Cade looked at him then to Benita, Dean, Myra and back to Dean.
“Who are you people? Why am I here and where am I?” he asked them.
“We are the Devanto’s, my son rescued you from blast that you were involved in and asked us to take care of you since then” Dean replied him and Cade frowned.
“A blast? Where? How did it happen?” he asked looking at them confused.
“You can’t remember that?” Lucas asked and Cade shook his head “Maybe he has temporary amnesia” he concluded.
“What’s your name? Do you know who you are?” Dean asked him and the confusion was really evident on his face as he tried to figure out the question he was asked. “You have amnesia then” Dean said to him.