It was the expression in the woman’s eyes and the total silence in the room that alerted Claude Delano.
The young man moved with the swiftness of the boxer he was and was across the room even as the woman turned and lunged at him, a deadly-looking knife in her hand. She swung her arm and caught him in the shoulder, for he was encumbered with the sling on his right arm but he still struck out, his left fist connecting with her chin and then, to his shock, the woman sprang across the room, brandishing her knife, her eyes flashing with rage and hate as he spun around. She raised her hand and made to fling something at the motionless frame of his brother who lay, forlorn and unaware of the commotion between them. Claude leapt forward and kicked out , his booted foot connecting with the woman’s wrist, catching her unawares and she let out a muffled oath as she spun away again.
She was quick, he thought in some amazement, for someone who looked overweight she moved swiftly, precisely.
He was vaguely aware of a flash of pain in his shoulder but he was too busy trying to get to the woman to bother about his wound.
The men with him had leapt into the fray and were cornering the woman. But in a sudden, unexpected movement, she swung around and flung the tray of medicines at them, hitting one of them with the tray, the other shouted in pain as some liquid landed on his face. Claude, furious and blinded with rage, charged forward but the woman was faster and she pulled out a Taser, stopping him in his tracks. She smiled, a feral grin, revealing perfect teeth and then, as the guards outside stormed in, she went at them with her weapon, effectively disabling them. With another quick movement, she was halfway down the corridor in a flash before Claude could stumble out, clutching his now profusely bleeding arm, having to leap over the prostrate figures of his men who had collapsed in a heap on the floor.
He bellowed in rage, pursuing her as the guards who had emerged from the first floor proceeded to chase her. But with another unexpected move, she was away and vanishing down the flight of stairs. He was vaguely perplexed; a woman of her size moving like a sprightly person. there was something here which did not ring true.
Breathing heavily, he turned as the doctor on call and a couple of nurses rushed in. He limped back, breathing with difficulty, dimly aware of the wetness on his shirt sleeve. The staff in the room was bent over Paddy, frantically trying to revive him but Claude could sense the tension in the air. And then the prostrate figure on the bed was being wheeled to the Emergency room and Claude caught stray words; Operation. Critical.
” She shut off the systems, was about to put this,’ here the nurse waved a syringe in the air,’ Straight into the tube.’
Claude was almost gasping now; the sudden exertion and the bleeding from his arm coupled with the pain radiating from his arm in the sling was getting to him. He felt light-headed.
One of the nurses looked at him in alarm just as he sank onto the couch beside Paddy’s bed feeling a wave of nausea hit him.
*
Maja
She realised that someone was knocking on the door.
“I am coming,’ she cried, her voice wobbling.
Then, she stormed across and threw open the door expecting to find her errant children on the other side as she shouted,
“leave me alone, you …’ and stopped as she looked at Handsome James and Proserpina Delano who stood on the other side.
Proserpina looked at her, genuine remorse on her face as she said in a soft, kind voice,
“Can we come in, Maja?’
Maja Nord nodded her head bleakly, feeling a mixture of shame and embarrassment as she turned to allow them to enter. She continued to stand, wringing her hands futilely as Proserpina entered and turned to her, the soft brown eyes melting in concern.
‘We should …’ she began but Maja interrupted her.
‘No, please, don’t say a thing. It was my fault. I …’ Schwartz stepped up and to her astonishment, he took her hand gently, one of her rough, calloused hands in between his large ones and said in a soft voice,
‘Hey, it’s okay. Things like that happen to everyone. And kids are kids. Just let it go.’
Maja felt as though her heart had stopped as she stared into the eyes of the most beautiful man she had ever seen. It was not just his handsome visage, she thought, he was also one of the kindest, most well-behaved gentlemen she had ever met. She found herself squeaking,’ yes…’ and stopped again, blushing. Damn, she sounded like a star-struck teen, she thought miserably.
Proserpina St Claire stepped to her and looped her arm through Maja’s in a friendly gesture.
“Come on, Maja.’ she whispered gently, ‘You can freshen up, powder your nose and all that and come to dinner.’
She turned to smile her brilliant dimpled smile at James Schwartz as she went on, her hand on his deep blue sleeve,
“James here will accompany you to the dining room. I have to run along and see that everything is served the way…’ her infectious smile made Maja relax and she smiled back in return. With another look at Schwartz, Proserpina Delano wafted out of the room, closing the door firmly behind her.
Schwartz grinned at Maja.
‘Well, the Lady has spoken so I shall wait for you..’ he nodded at the bathroom encouragingly and she turned and went obediently the way he had indicated. Shutting the door, she leaned against it for a while.
“Damn, but the man could create butterflies in the belly of a withered old crone,’ she thought as she splashed her face with cold water in determination as she touched up her makeup. She studied herself in the mirror. She looked good, she told herself firmly. Alright, the dress was a little loud but that was all.
She stepped out of the bathroom, a shy smile on her face and Handsome James looked up from his phone, an appreciative glint in his eyes as he studied her.
“You look wonderful,’ he said admiringly in his deep voice and she felt a flush arise.
*
When they entered the dining hall, everyone was already seated; except of course for Proserpina who was waddling around, making sure that all the plates were loaded with food. Her husband was watching her critically, a cool look of longing in his grey eyes as they followed her and Maja’s breath caught in her throat.
“What she would do to have a man look at her with such desire, with such open love,’ she thought bitterly.
Proserpina was beside her, a hand on her arm as she said in her melodious voice,
‘You look amazing.’
Maja beamed. Simple words but said with such honesty. She felt the cold, detached glance the Don cast her but the man continued with his dinner, his silvery leonine head bent, powerful shoulders straining under his dinner jacket as his wife glided up to him, looking amazingly graceful despite the roundness of her stomach.