Chapter 61
Daniel
My brothers and I have been in our secret room at the corner our club for hours, discussing business and everything in between. The room is soundproof, and no devices are allowed. We keep all phones in a locked box outside of the room.
The moment we stepped out, we realized it was raining heavily. We each grab our phone. Soon as I unlock mine, I see all the missed calls from Anu and voicemail. I listen to the message.
“Daniel,” my name is uttered in a faint, shaky voice. Fear surges through me. “Help me, please,” she cries. Her cry for help shakes my being.
“I need to go,” I say to my brothers and no one in particular.
“It’s a deluge out there, you have to wait for this to stop,” Luke says.
“I can’t, she needs me.” I press the voicemail. They are all quiet because the fear in her voice is clear. It scares me.
“Can you try calling her?” Bruce asks.
“Why don’t you just check and tell me exactly where she is?” I snap
He nods. I bet his nod is more to appease me than anything else. I pace to control my emotions. Her cries replaying in my mind isn’t helping. A few minutes later, he returns.
“She’s at home.”
“Thank you,” I say turning to leave.
Luke blocks my path.
“The storm is about to end; you won’t be of any use to her if you get injured before getting to her,” his tone is pleading, but I’m beyond listening to reason.
“I don’t care if the wind is howling like thousands of wolves, and the rain sounds like fucking war drums, and lightning strikes are close to shattering glass, and thunder shakes the building.
I drive to her or walk if I must, but I won’t seat here in agony or let her ever feel that I won’t show when she needs me,” I challenge.
Luke steps away. Bruce pats my shoulder.
“I’ll drive you. You’re too emotional to drive rationally in this weather.”
I nod.
We leave through the back door. My heart pounds with each brisk step we take.
We get in his car. The moment we sit, I check the app. She has activated the green. Green is mild, I mentally mantra. The fucking rain and her fear have stressed her and sent her into a crisis mode.
“This isn’t good.” I turned to Bruce. “She’s in crisis!”
“Okay, I’ll drive as fast as I can, remember we need to get you there safe.” I nod, eager to tell him to get moving already, I managed to stay quiet with my raging thoughts and a mantra. I’m coming, princess.
Soon as we pull out of the underground car park, the harsh sound of rain beating on the car greets us, and the gushing wind accompanies it.
Bruce stays focused, and I stay quiet, taming my overdrive emotions and my helplessness.
The drive is ten to fifteen minutes on a regular day, but with the flood, we are moving slowly, and it’s likely to take triple the time.
Some streetlights and traffic lights are down, adding to the madness.
I checked the app again and it’s still green, but I can already sense the agony she’s in.
Heavy rain is never her friend; it stresses her out.
Combined with crisis, it is sending her into a tailspin of pain.
I inhale control and exhale the anguish of helplessness.
It’s taking everything in me to sit still and not yell at Bruce, who’s driving in a safe and steady pace towards our building.
When he pulls up in front of the building after what feels like hours, I jump right out and get hit by the downpour.
Making it to the door, I’m drenched, but I don’t care.
I race up the stairs, two steps at a time.
Bruce is on my tail. Soon as I enter the unit, I toss my drenched jacket and toes to heels, remove my shoes and head to my room.
She’s not there. I check her room. She isn’t there either.
I check the half bath. She’s not there either.
I even open the linen closet that can’t fit anyone.
I turn to Bruce. “You said she’s home,” I yell.
“She is.”
“Anu!” I holler and return to my room to look again, almost expecting her to magically appear on the bed.
I look under the bed and it’s empty. Then I hear it, a soft cry, coming from the drum room; She’s on the floor in there.
Why didn’t I look in there? How could I have forgotten she goes to the darkest corner to hide from the sound of thunder?
I turn on the lamp and find her on the floor, crying with a blanket covering her.
She’s trying to hide. I get on the floor beside her, making sure not to touch her.
“I’m here, princess.” I whisper.
“Daniel?” she asks, her voice low and strangled.
“Yes, princess, it’s me. I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”
“I’m scared. I ran inside to avoid the thunder and forgot my bag; my headphone is in the bag.”
“It’s okay, I’ll get it for you later. Can I touch you? I want to get you to bed,” I reply.
“Yes, I took the pain meds before coming in here.”
“Okay, I’m going to carry you now.”
I get up and she tries to get up. I quickly lift her and turn towards the bed.
That’s when I see Bruce. He helps to pull the sheet cover.
I’d completely forgotten about him. He looks at me, his eyes asking, ‘Is she okay?’ I shake my head and gently place her on the bed, pulling the covers up to wrap her in.
I go to my drawer. I have spare headphones. Taking it out, I go to her.
“What’s the level of pain?” I ask.
“Still green.” Her voice is still low and strangled.
“Good. We can connect this headphone to your phone, and you can rest.” She nods.
I press the green button on the app, then connect the headphones. Handing the phone back to her, she picks a playlist and puts the headphones on. I kiss her forehead and exhale relief for the first time since I saw her missed calls.
“Do you want to change into a shirt?” I ask, knowing she prefers to sleep in my shirt. She shakes her head. “I’m going to speak with Bruce. I’m not leaving, okay?”
She nods.
I step out to find Bruce in his under shirt and boxers, helping himself with one of the beef patties in the fridge. He’s alert when I show up.
“Is she going to be okay?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I answer, with a sigh of relief. “She has the noise cancelling headphone and I’m here, so she’s less scared. Pain wise, she’s green, so that’s good.”
He nods his understanding.
“This is so good,” he says, raising the patty. “Luke said she makes them?”
“Yeah, she loves to bake.”
“She composes music, plays instruments and bakes. Interesting,” he says, almost as if he’s cataloguing.
“I need to get back to her. Help yourself to more. Do you need change of clothes?”
“I’ll just wait for mine to dry, tossed them in the dryer.”
“Okay. Let me know when you are ready to leave, or you can take the spare bed.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m good here.”
“Thanks, brother, for getting me to her.”
He nods, raising the patty, acknowledging.
I return to the bedroom to check on her. She’s asleep. It’s still pouring like crazy outside. I leave the headphones on her. Going back to the closet, I remove my wet clothes and put on dry ones. I sit in bed next to her.
My phone pings with a text in our group chat.
Declan: Are you guys good.
Me: Yes, and she’s fine.
Bruce: We are good, how come you guys didn’t share the beef patties
Luke: I’m guessing you have tasted it, so you know how good they are.
Bruce: I have a whole plate and I’m not sharing
Declan: Come on man, Daniel are you really going to let him have it all
Me: Not getting involved.
Adam: What are you guys talking about?
Bruce responds by sharing a picture of the pastries.
Luke responds with mouthwatering gif
Adam: I’ll be there once the rain stops for a piece
Me: Not tonight. I’ll save you some, if Bruce doesn’t finish it.
Bruce: Can’t promise
Me: Can you please leave some for Anu
Bruce: Fine!!!
Declan: Talk later, heading home. I think I can brave it now
Me: Be safe.
Luke: Heading out too
Bruce: Not heading out yet, I’m busy enjoying sweet pastries
Adam: Fuck you, Bruce!!
Declan: Totally with Adam
Luke: Yeah, fuck you Bruce
Bruce: dancing emoji
We all close the chat. With Anu sleeping, I go back out to join Bruce. He has poured himself a drink as well, totally relaxed. Nothing fazes him. I grab a plate and warm two patties for myself and join him on the chair.
We sit in quiet companionship, feeling the relief of the last hour.