Date = 26 June
Place = San Francisco (UCSF Medical center)
POV – Aria
“So, how was work today?” My sister asks as soon as she sees me through the glass separating our room from hers. She’s accommodated in a positive pressure environment in which only highly purified air is allowed to enter. In addition, it’s further isolated from the hallway by an outer space, called an anteroom. Both rooms are cleaned daily, and everyone who enters her room must follow specific procedures. This isolation policy is intended to minimize complications and the risk of developing an infection during the transplant process.
She doesn’t even bother to look up from her sketchpad where she’s sitting on the bed next to the window pane. Her two huge bodyguards sit in a semi-circle in front of the glass, the office-type chairs way to small for them to be very comfortable. The one with thick fishy lips, cleft a wide smile and struggles to get up.
“Ah, miss Aria, let me help you with this.” I pat the thick arm stretched out to take the bags from my hands. The polished demeanor of these men are juxtapose with their scruffy tattoo-covered, gang member-like appearance.
“Thanks, Bruce.” Initially, I was reluctant to leave Leyla alone with them … unfairly judgmental of me, I know, but to my defense … they do look like the type that can kill a little girl before breakfast. But they are Garcia’s most trusted guys and came very highly recommended by Damion. I don’t know the whole story, but apparently they met in a van during the whole Harry debacle and were a vital part in the operation.
He puts the bags of food on the table in the corner. Tony, the last member of the threesome guarding us, enters with more bags and place them with the others. He’s a mammoth that doesn’t talk much and smell like cheap soap. Also, he’s the one that follows me around all the time.
“Hey, Tony,” this time my sister does look up, “are we gonna watch Vampire Diaries again?” The big man cracks a grin from ear to ear, warming up his whole demeanor. I swear Leyla is the only one that can make him smile. He nods slowly.
“So, what are we having today?” The other semi-huge man wrestles himself out of the chair and peeks into the bags like a little kid. The thin Hitler-style mustache looks almost ridiculous on his rugged hard face.
“Robert, you eat like a horse,” Leyla chuckles from the bed, now eyeing the three dudes who hungrily scavenge through the containers of grilled chicken. I’m thankful that my sister are so comfortable with these rugs around her 24/7. I’m beginning to feel at ease too. The day of the transplant was rather eerie; the hospital looking like a mob reunion. Everywhere you turned there was some thug on guard, and I even had a few following my every move. Thank goodness they all dissipated, leaving only these three.
“Aria, how was work?” Ava appears next to Leyla’s bed and Tony drops the bag of pencils he brought for Leyla and sprouts an awkward blush. I think he’s a little in love with the nurse. He hurriedly squats down to pick them up.
“I asked but didn’t get an answer,” Leyla chirps in, straining her neck to see what Tony is doing. Ava hands her some mouthwash which she gargles and then spits out into a container. Mouth sores are a side effect of chemotherapy and radiation.
“Work was terrific. I love it there. Today I had to make-up a dude into a sea monster.” I take out my phone and plaster it up against the glass so they can see the pictures.
“Look.” I frickin love my new job. It’s everything I ever dreamed of, and the salary is not bad either. So, at least, when Leyla gets discharged I will be able to afford to pay rent. I certainly don’t want to stay in Enrique’s home for free anymore. I actually don’t want to stay there at all, but it’s the best place for Leyla to recover. So I’ll just have to endure.
“Wow, you’ve done a great job, he looks crazy scary,” Ava boosts. She checks on Leyla’s central venous catheter, making sure it’s still set in place before changing the dressing. Ava is appointed as Leyla’s sole caregiver. Uncle John organized everything. He explained that allowing only one trusted nurse to enter her room makes it easier for her guards to keep her safe. This way the bad guys can’t harm her by disguising themselves as hospital staff. Although it’s a little far fetched, I guess it makes sense.
Anyhow, it’s great of the hospital to grant special permission for this. They even fixed the room next to Leyla’s with extra beds for us to sleep in. No doubt mainly due to a rather generous donation from the Grimms and Blackburns, of course. Sure helps to be loaded.
“Do I smell Popeyes?” Lee struts casually into the room, grabs a piece of chicken from the barrel on Robert’s lap and settles cozily into a chair. He receives a message on his phone, quickly reads it and stuffs the phone back in the front pocket of his jeans.
“Were there any strange visitors today?” he asks out of the blue. He’s acting strange. Does that count?
“Nope,” Bruce answers. The five of us silently chew while watching Ava checking Leyla’s vitals through the glass. Yesterday she developed a slight fever, but her doctor reassured us it’s quite normal following a transplant.
“Eh, Lee, how are all the guys doing?” I ask offhandedly. Lee drops his chicken bones in the dustbin, eyeing me closely from under his long lashes. I look down.
“Enrique is fine. A little sore and tired, but he’s back at work again.” How did he know that I’m worried about Enrique? I know he was Leyla’s donor since she saw him in theater. I’m not sure why he didn’t tell me. I guess I’m just not that important to him after all. But I still care about him. I think I always will.
A woman walks in, nods her head slightly and starts washing her hands. Her blonde hair is tied into a tight bun, her white coat is spotless and her mouth is covered with a mask. Nothing out of the ordinary – she looks like every other nurse in this unit. She reaches for the handle of the anteroom door. Tony quickly blocks her way. For such a big man he sure moves fast.
“Who are you?” I ask.
“Oh, I’m here to take Leyla to radiology. Dr. Charles arranged it.” She hands me a piece of paper. It seems legit. Ava comes out of the room.
“I don’t know about anything scheduled for today. And Dr. Charles was here in the morning.” The girl seems confused.
“Really?” She scans the area. “Well, my orders are to fetch her. Shall we call the doctor’s office?” Lee takes the paper from my hands and examines it.
“I will call and if need be, I’ll take her there myself. You can go,” Ava orders from behind Tony who’s still blocking the doorway with his large frame.
“Fine, but I’m just trying to do my job.” The nurse’s smug appearance and half-smile don’t match her peed voice. She winks at Lee before strutting away on her high red heels.
“I have to go,” Lee grabs another piece of chicken on his way out, but it’s the glimmer of fear in his voice that hits me. I’m no PI, but I know something is brewing. Lee is not easily scared. And his behavior is odd, even for him. He quickly follows the nurse. And of course I follow him.
He seems to be on a mission; only stopping once to look at his phone. He stuffs it back in his pocket, takes it out again, fiddles with it, puts it back, out again and then back in his pocket. I grab his arm; he flinches.
“Fuck, Aria, what are you doing?” There’s a broad frown between his pretty eyes.
“I can ask you the same question.”
“Go back, NOW!” He pushes me so hard I almost fall over.
“No way! Not until I know what the hell is going on.” I push back. He scratches his head, clearly annoyed. Then he starts walking again. I trot awkwardly to keep up.
“Did you see her shoes?” he asks when we reach the elevator. I’m confused. Why does her shoe choice matter? “Red Pradas.” It takes me a minute to understand. The woman who kicked me in the stomach. Can it be the same bitch?
Sometimes Lee’s quick thinking equals Jackson’s. I suspect that when your loony meter pushes all the way to the right, your brain works differently from normal people’s.
“I’m just going to see where she’s going.”
The elevator door opens and he holds his hand against it, keeping it from closing.
“Now go back to your sister,” he orders. He’s making a valiant effort to conceal his anguish. But there’s a vein palpitating in his neck, indicating of his accelerated heart rate. A thin film of sweat accumulated on his upper lip. And it’s not hot.
“I’ll take the stairs. Stay safe.” I lie. He nods and then walks away. There’s no way I’m gonna let him out of my sight, but I also know he won’t allow me to go with him. I watch him and count to ten. These people, whoever they are, are really starting to piss me off. I need to know why they were after Leyla.
Anyhow, my determination rises and I follow him like an MI6 agent. Bond would be proud.
He goes straight to the parking garage. Not again. The evil sure fancy parking garages. I’ve always been claustrophobic, but I’m seriously starting to fear parking spaces now. It’s a thing, you know. I’ve looked it up. Tingchechekuphobia is what it’s called. And I don’t just detest enclosed ones … the parking lot of the 7-Eleven were wide open. I’m just thinking about it and a fearful chill already snakes down my spine. Have they no humanity? Killing fetuses, going after sick children, drugging, raping, shooting … I doubt there’s anything they would not do.
Lee walks up to the woman, now leaning casually against the bonnet of a black van, her arms crossed over her chest, gun in one hand. The van is the same one from the night Mel and I were attacked. So it was her!
“Ah, you came all by yourself. Impressive. If it was me, I would safe myself and just let the little girl die. She’s dying anyway, poor thing. Think of it as mercy killing.” Is she talking about Leyla. The fucking witch! Anger fevers up my body and I have to will myself to stay put behind the concrete pillar and not attack her. The fact that she’s armed helping to keep me hidden.
The girl pushes herself from the van and walks in small circles around Lee, leaning the barrel of the gun against her cheek.
“That’s the problem with you guys … you care to much. It makes you weak and vulnerable. Look, here you are, sacrificing yourself … for what? Your brother … the little girl?” She sticks her finger in her mouth and makes a gagging sound.
“Where’s my brother?” Lee sounds calm but his hands are clenched in tight fists next to his body. Did they kidnap his brother? What’s his name again … Roy I think. I thought he was in London or something? Hell, if they took him from there, these people must be way more powerful than I thought. The woman gives a laughing grunt. She stops in front of the little guy and stoops down to his level; her face inches from his.
“Do you know the story, Sophie’s Choice?” she asks smugly. Lee stays silent.
“Well, here’s your choice, my pretty … your insane roommate or your twin brother … who will it be?” Lee’s head jolts up, the shocking devastation clearly visible in those golden orbs.
“See, told you you care too much. The right choice would be to choose yourself.” She stands up straight and points the gun at Lee’s chest. “Too late for that.”
Is she gonna shoot him? I stuff my hand into my mouth to keep myself from screaming. My eyes are stuck on the scene. My mind runs loops to try and come up with a plan. Anything. Oh, how I wish I could think like Jackson right now … or any of them … they would for sure think up something crazy to do.
Tony suddenly appears from the side, distracting the fake nurse.
Lee moves with lightning speed and before I can even blink he has the woman in a chokehold, her back against his chest, her gun against her head. How did he do that? The little guy sure has skills. Tony moves closer as if to help Lee. I let out a deep breath and move around the pillar, grinning broadly, very proud of my friend and bodyguard. However, the look on their faces tells me that they’re not as happy to see me.
“Fuck, Aria, what are you doing here?”
“I came to help … ” I begin to explain, but the sudden applause behind me stuns me to silence. I’m too scared to turn around.
“Not bad, sweetness,” it’s the voice of the man that shot Brian. I’m pretty sure. “Now drop the gun or I’ll shoot the redhead.”
“You drop it or I’ll shoot your slut,” Lee counteracts. But T-Bone just chuckles.
“See, the problem is, I don’t give a damn about that bitch … but you … you do care about this one.” I judder when his body unexpectedly rubs against my back. An arm circles around my waist, his breath warm in my neck.
Lee gives me an accusatory look, but drops his arms to his side, setting the woman free.
“I’m gonna kill you!” red-shoes growls, grabbing her gun from his hand, aiming it between his eyes.
“Uh uh uh,” the man behind me says, “the boss said not to damage the merchandise, remember.” The shrew yells and kicks the tire with her Prada. Then she aims the gun at Tony and shoots. Two shots tore his body before it drops on the ground. I open my mouth to yell but no sound escapes.
“He’s just garbage. The boss didn’t say anything about him,” the woman explains calmly without batting as much as an eyelid, no regretful compassion whatsoever for the man she just killed. It’s when it dawns on me … these people are heartless psychopathic killers who don’t give a fuck about anything. We’re doomed.
“You’re gonna clean that yourself.” T-Bone pushes me forward. I stagger towards Lee and grab his hand.
“Fine, I’ll call Freddy.” The woman walks away talking on her phone.
“What do you want from us?” Lee eyeballs the man. Gone is any hint of fear … he looks more bored now. Well, I’m scared shitless. I hold onto his hand as tight as I can. He pushes his other hand into the front pocket of his baggy jeans.
“Ug, sweetness, don’t be like that,” T-Bone scuffs. “Ain’t you glad to see me?”
“No.” His answer is plain, abrupt, loath and even a little disrespectful. Is his mind so messed up that he can’t predict that we’re in danger right now? I swear, if I ever have a son he’s never playing hockey – it drives players insane.
“Too bad. You two are coming with us.” He points to the black van. “The boss has plans for you.” I’m definitely not eager to get in, neither do I want to learn more about those plans, but the sudden appearance of a dozen or so armed men in suits, makes me believe I don’t really have a choice.
“Look here, my sister needs me right now. Can’t you wait like a month or two for her to recover, then we can try this whole kidnapping thing again? What do you say?” I know I’m blubbering, but I can’t help it. T-Bone laughs from his stomach.
“You’re funny, carrot head.” At least he has a sense of humor.
I look at Lee who seems agitated. What’s new? And what is he angry about anyway? I’m the one who should be mad. I lean over to him.
“It’s your fault, you know. Let’s follow the girl with the red fucking shoes! Great idea.” I’m still babbling in fear. “Next I suppose you’re gonna take us down a yellow brick road.” Lee looks at me with stormy eyes as he helps me into the van.
“Aria,” he whispers.
“Yes?”
“Shut up.” I strip my nuts and close my mouth. I fall into a seat and grumpily crosses my arms. Lee sits down next to me. T-bone and the woman across from us.
“Relax, ginger, you’re just a byproduct. Boss decided it’s to messy to take revenge on all of them. Too many bodies to get rid off, you know,” T-Bone says. I can’t help but wonder if byproducts get out alive or are they just tortured less than main products?
“Yes, were going with plan B … way less complications,” the woman snaps, “and in the end everybody will suffer anyway … because you CARE … ” I swallow down some spit and stare at her with bulging eyes. The only thought running through my mind is that she’s not a natural blonde … her roots are showing.
“Even though Jackson might care about you because you’re his brother’s girl and all, you’re definitely not his most significant other, now are you?” For a moment I look straight into his dark eyes. This man officially terrifies the shit out of me. He winks at me, but I’m stuck in my wide-eyed gaze; not blinking. It’s as if one of those red Pradas kicked me right between the eyes. Jackson? All this because they want Jackson? I should be more surprised.
But they’re barking up the wrong tree … except for his siblings, I’m sure that man doesn’t care much about anyone, not even himself. And definitely not me. I want to tell him that Jackson for sure has no heart … much like his twin, when T-Bone turns to eye a suddenly pale Lee with a triumphant look.
“But you sweetness, I bet he’ll do anything to get YOU back.”