Chapter 41 #2
At first, it’s difficult to get any words past the lump in my throat. I’m overly conscious that Trixie can’t talk back, and I feel awkward talking about my emotions in front of a third person. But Bronwyn just efficiently keeps doing her own thing, as if I don’t exist in her medical world.
Taking Trixie’s hand, I bend over and kiss it, noting the blood under her fingernails that corresponds with the scratches I’d seen on Alongi’s face.
“You fought back, didn’t you, Trix?” The words start to come at last. “I fuckin’ love you, woman.
I didn’t think you could still surprise me, but you defended yourself.
Made quite a mess of that bastard’s face.
” I even manage a soft chuckle. “I presume you were responsible for breaking the soldato’s nose.
But don’t worry, we finished the job. We put a bullet straight between his eyes.
” I pause, as if waiting for her to respond.
She doesn’t, of course. “We’ve got Alongi.
You’ll never have to worry about him again.
As soon as we’ve questioned him, he’ll have a date with Words’ cremator.
Neither of their bodies will ever be found.
You’re safe. And fuck, Trix, I’ll propose properly later when I’ve got a ring, and you can reply to me, but I want nothing more than to marry you, give you a new fuckin’ name so you never have to think about him again.
I’ll ask you, you can bet on that. And though Ace is coming up sixteen, let’s make it so you can adopt him legally. He’ll like that.”
There’s movement behind her eyelids. “Bron!” I get her attention and point it out, worried when they go still again.
“It’s normal, Freak, like when you’re dreaming. Take it as a sign she’s still in there.”
I resume talking, not knowing where all the words are coming from. I go through the topics that Bronwyn had suggested to me, then I think of a few more. I describe bike rides we’ll take together when she’s properly healed.
“Her blood pressure is coming down,” Bronwyn interrupts me.
“Is that a good or bad thing?”
She smiles as she reassures me. “Good.”
Remembering her missing spleen, I ask, “And how’s her temperature?”
“Normal.”
I continue talking throughout the night, never getting tired, never wanting to sleep.
Bronwyn leaves the room on a couple of occasions – the first time I was terrified she was leaving in case Trix deteriorated while she was gone – but she’d quickly returned bearing coffee, and one time with sandwiches.
I force myself to caffeinate and to eat, but I couldn’t tell you what I was putting into my mouth. My actions were automatic.
And still Trixie just lies there. Except for every now and then, there’s that movement behind her eyelids.
“I’m just popping to the bathroom,” Bronwyn tells me. “Do you want anything?”
Nothing other than for my woman to wake up. I shake my head.
When she returns, she clears her throat to get my attention. “Freak, Ace is outside. He wants to see Trixie.”
“How the fuck does he know?” I hiss. I’d wanted to keep everything from him until Trixie was awake and he could see for himself that she was going to be alright.
“Ace isn’t stupid.” She rolls her eyes.
Damn that kid of mine and his abilities. He might have hacked into our phones for all I know. It wouldn’t surprise me.
“He can’t see her like this.”
“She’s not getting worse, Freak. Her vital signs are improving. He’s getting himself wound up. In my view, he needs to see her. He knows what to expect.”
After thinking about it for a moment, I know that she’s right. Exhaling, I sigh. “Yeah, he can come in.”
She leaves again, and moments later, she returns with my son in tow. I expect Ace to fall to pieces, seeing Trixie looking so bad and so still, but he surprises me.
“She’s going to be fine, Dad.” He pulls up another chair and sits opposite, taking her free hand in his.
He’s more confident than I am. I’d hoped she would have awoken by now.
Dr. Robson had said he suspected a concussion, but what if it was actually a brain bleed?
What if, instead of recovering, she’s slowly dying in front of me?
What if I live to regret my insistence that she be treated here tonight?
I start to hyperventilate.
“Dad,” Ace snaps.
He’s my kid. I’ve got to be strong for him. I make a conscious effort to even out my breaths, breathing deeply in and out.
“She’s going to be fine, I know it. She’s going to wake up soon.”
Should I be doing something to prepare him, in case it all goes to shit? But I just can’t bring myself to voice my deepest fears, and to put them onto him.
“You want to know how I know that she’s going to wake up soon?”
I glance at my son, at Trixie, whose condition hasn’t changed at all, and then at Bronwyn, who’s continuing to monitor her, and giving no hint that she’s improving.
“Dad?” he asks again.
Okay, I’ll bite. “How do you know?” Ace half-stands, leans over, and places a gentle kiss on her cheek. “She’s going to wake up for me, because I’m who she wanted all along. You’re just the necessary collateral that she had to accept to have me as her son.”
My jaw drops. “Cheeky fuckin’ ass.”
“He’s right, you know. It was Ace whom I wanted.” The voice sounds rusty, but to hell with that. I’ll take anything. I dare lower my gaze to the woman lying on the medical bed. Trix’s eyes are half-open, and her lips are curved.
“You’re awake.”
“I wish I wasn’t.” She spies Bronwyn, and rasps, “You got any of the good stuff?”
Bronwyn smiles, takes Trixie’s pulse again, and fixes the blood pressure monitor to her arm. “I can put more in your drip, or I’ve got tablets for you to take.”
“Tablets,” Trixie demands. “Can I get this needle out of my arm?”
“The fluids and the antibiotics have almost run through. Just let them finish, and I’ll get it taken out. Trix, you had a major beating.”
“You’re lucky to be alive,” I rasp, wondering why my sight’s suddenly gone blurry. Trying to pull myself together, I attempt to lighten the mood. “I’ve been here all night worrying about you, and now I find out you only want me to get close to my son.”
Trix chuckles, then breaks off. “Fuck, that hurts.” She concentrates on breathing for a moment. “I heard your voice, Freak. Not everything, but some. Did I really hear you say you’re going to ask me to marry you?”
Ace’s eyes widen as he looks at me. Well, I’m not going to back down on my word. “Sure did, babe. But I’m not proposing while you're half-dead.”
“Mmm.” Her lips curve, then she turns toward Ace. “That means I’ll be able to adopt you. Our plan worked.”
Ace snorts while my jaw drops. Then I see the twinkle that’s just visible in her half-opened blackened eyes, and know that she’s fucking with me.
I play along. “Yeah, if you want him, you’ll have to be stuck with me.”
Her hand grips my fingers, and she meets my eyes. “I think I can live with that.” Then she smiles. “I love you, Freak.”
“Hey, what about me?”
“Love you too, kid,” she replies to my indignant boy.
“Don’t call me kid,” Ace mumbles.
She turns back to me. “Piero? Is he dead?”
“Not yet, but he will be. Isn’t that right, Dad?”
My eyes narrow. “You’ve been eavesdropping again?” Ace’s shrug is my answer.
Trix fixes her gaze on me. “Freak, he told me he had to kill me as he wants to get married again. To another sixteen-year-old innocent.” At her words, at the implication he intended for there to be another Trixie, another punching bag for him to hurt, my whole body stiffens.
I don’t need her permission, but she gives it to me anyway.
“Go do it, Freak. Ace will stay with me. I need to know he’s not breathing. Please. End him for me.”
Despite my urgency to rid the earth of Alongi, I’m reluctant to leave, but Bronwyn gives me an encouraging nod. Without actually saying anything, she lets me know Trix is out of the woods and is going to be alright.
I stand, point my finger at Ace, then move it to her. “No plotting against me while I’m gone.” Then, letting my gaze land on Trixie, I lighten the mood. “And I’m not having Smooth marry us.”
I shouldn’t have said that, as she laughs, then immediately groans.