Chapter 6
Love
Thud.
Thud.
The air I breathe in seems like fire igniting my insides in all the wrong ways. In my mind I scream, in reality I just flinch and open my eyes.
“She’s back,” I hear Damian say, “Give everyone Narcan and keep them overnight for observance,” he whispers and I feel something holding my hand. Not something, someone, I blink my eyes still dizzy.
“Josh?” I question his earth-looking hazel eyes giving out his identity. Even though it's blurry I know it’s him. “What happened?” I ask, and he shushes me to say something to Kai.
“I’m here, everyone’s fine. Dominik took it worst,” Josh whispers and my world sinks.
“Is he going to be ok?” I ask and he nods.
“I surely hope so, the bastard has some explanation to do,” Josh says and I remember there are cameras in the staff room. Did he see it?
“Don’t tell me you saw it?” I say in question form.
“Saw what?” Josh questions and I shake my head several times.
“Nothing. But seriously, how’s he?” I try again, I look at my surroundings and see I’m in the hospital’s critical care. Damian’s hospital. There are no other patients in my room.
“Thank god you’re awake-”
“Can someone answer my question, please?” I ask when Maya enters the room interrupting whatever Josh was about to say.
“I honestly don’t know how he is, I never left your side.-”
“Go find out, shoo,” I request and he seems concerned, I feel the need to talk again, “Might still be kind of high,” I say showing him my shaking hand and arm. Josh is still not convinced to get away from me.
“I’ll stay with her, go,” Maya says, “If anyone tries to get close to her I’ll break their nose and punch it into their skull,” Maya adds with an innocent smile at the end. She looks angelic, holy. Even when her words are decaying and profane.
“Thank you,” I reply to Maya and she waits for Josh to leave the heavy-lit room.
“It was Dominik wasn’t it?” she says pointing at my neck, “Don’t lie, Josh won’t know a thing from me. I promise,” Maya says she’s always been like a sister to me and she's just proving to be an even a more beautiful soul than I can ever imagine. Tragically aggressive, but still beautiful.
“Ok, don’t freak out, but yes,” Maya covers her half-open mouth with her hands. And a small squeal leaves her lips. “Maya, don’t overreact, please”
“It’s not overreacting when you showered with Dominik Ricik! What did you have in mind? Dominik is a ticking bomb waiting for the right moment to step on your heart,” Maya asks and my heart skips a beat.
“Thank you so much for supporting my decisions-”
“So the decision has been made? He’s such a manipulative bastard. You know he has serious problems, right? Clinically diagnosed disorders,” Maya says and I find it weird that she’s insisting on this idea so harshly.
“What do you know that I don’t?” I ask her and before she can reply there’s a knock on the door and Rian enters the room slowly after I say “come in”.
I’m surprised it’s Rian until I remember a detail. Dominik owes an explanation to Josh, whatever it is Josh will get it from him as soon as he’s conscious, no matter the circumstances.
“Dominik seems to be getting better. And your father and mother are on the way,” Rian whispers sitting on the chair across from Maya’s. The nearest to me. “You gave me a real scare today, Vee. I had literal palpitations when I found out what happened,” Rian says and I arch a brow at him.
“What exactly happened?” I question, Maya is about to shut Rian up, but I shake my head. “Let him talk,” Rian’s silver eyes are back on mine.
“Someone poisoned the casino room you were in. We don’t know if you were the target. The room had fentanyl or other opioids inside the bag and entering the air conduct, we’re waiting for the lab's confirmation.-”
“How did I get out?” I ask Rian and he swallows hard. “Rian, what are you hiding from me?” I ask him my heart in my hands.
“Dominik got you out, but he passed out inside of it trying to get the attacker,” so that’s the explanation he owes Josh, who’s the attacker and how he got in.
“He escaped?” I ask Rian, and he nods. “Is Kai’s team?-”
“Already looking for him,” Rian answers immediately, I reach for him and he holds my hand. “I’m taking care of it personally as well,” Rian informs and I squeeze his hand.
“Don’t get yourself in trouble,” I request and Rian’s free hand goes over my hickey.
“Like you got?” he asks he seems mad?
“I’m not in trouble,” I assure Rian but he’s not buying it.
“Who is it?” he asks me cracking his knuckles.
“Rian, we’ve discussed this several times. I’m not yours, I’m not something you can own. I make my own decisions-”
“Poor decisions,” Rian mutters under his breath, I’m not sure I was supposed to hear it.
“That’s up to my judgment, not yours,” I reply and Rian shakes my hand away from his.
“I thought you two would end up together,” Maya says before Rian whispers something and storms out.
“Can you make sure Rian doesn’t have a drug relapse? I’ll be fine,” I request Maya and she nods. She messages someone and when she leaves someone else enters, my mom and dad.
I instantly cover my hickey with my hair, as poorly as my decisions.
“Josh told us what happened,” my dad starts. “So, is this boy serious?” my father asks pushing my hair aside.
“I think so,” I say and my father seems like he’s about to explode.
“You think so? You slept with this man and you only think so.-”
“Vance-,” my mom tries to interject.
“Someone has to put sense in her head,” my father says and suddenly I remember something, he was rooting for me and Rian too.
“Dad, can you get me cleared from here. I need to check on someone,” I say when every piece of the puzzle starts falling into place and leaves me stunned.
“The boy?” my father asks.
“Rian,” I reply, I’m not lying. Maya can’t find him, she texted me.
Rian has been my everything since forever.
I’m not checking on Dominik yet. I’m checking on him after I make sure Rian doesn’t get himself killed.
I’d never forgive myself and it would probably worsen Dad’s situation.
I text Sammy to keep Josh on a leash, which only she can do, and not let him kill Dominik until I’m back.
“Kai is coming along,” my father says, “If you feel in danger at any moment flee the situation.
“Deal,” I tell my dad, and he bribes the doctor to give me clearance. I dress myself and move numbly through the halls with Kai.
“Ok, Kai I need a favour.-”
“I’m not going to like it am I?” he asks, I shake my head. “Go ahead”
“When we arrive at our destination I need you to stay outside,” he’s about to say no, yet I keep talking, “It’s Rian, Kai. It’s Ry and he might get himself killed if I don’t talk to him alone”
“Press this if you need help, and have it with you at every time,” Kai says and gives me my old panic button, which also includes a tracker so he’ll know every step I’m taking.
I put the button in my pocket and we enter his car shielded by my father’s men.
Word spread out there was a “Terrorist attack” on the casino, that’s how we’re handling it with the media, and with the noncooperative police side.
I look outside and it’s pitch black, the street and apartment lights are the only thing you see when you look outside. “Remember Luktas?” I ask Kai and he says “Yes”.
“Take me there,” I say and Kai seems apprehensive. I look at him with my best puppy eyes, he doesn’t budge.
“What’s in your pocket?” he asks and I hide it with my hand. “Did you steal something, Miss?” he asks and starts to slow the car down.
“Keep driving, as fast as you can. It’s Narcan in case he overdoses,” I say and show him the small box.
"Never put me in this position again, Miss Kane,” Kai says and I nod.
“Love, please. Miss Kane is my mother,” we’ve had this discussion several times. But he respects my father too much to go around a rule he dictated even if it’s stupid, ceremonial, and unnecessary.
As we drive across town, I count from one to six hundred before we reach Luktas’ parking lot.
“I’ll be fast. If I don’t come back in one hour, come and get me,” I say knowing this place is terribly dangerous for women and any regular person in general. It’s a fighting club with drug addict spots on the buildings and the alley.
“Take this, Miss,” Kai says handing me his spare gun.
I put it in my coat's interior pocket and walk outside wearing proper clothing, which my mother thankfully brought me. I wouldn’t like to freeze to death but right now that’s not my focus.
It’s ok if I lose a finger or two. What is not ok is losing Rian.
I can’t lose him. Not him, not Dominik, not anyone tonight, I physically and mentally can’t.
“Have you seen this guy?” I keep asking everyone with a photo of Rian on my phone’s screen.
I don’t have to pick a photo he’s my lock and background screen.
I look at the photos for seconds. It’s the two of us, the lock screen is his 18th birthday, the background one is just a silly photo Declan took of the two of us sleeping in the living room’s old chair, Rian hugging me. Was I that blind?
“Rian?” I call when I spot him entering a building with his hands shaking, his eyes seem reddish.
I did this. “Rian?” I scream stepping inside the building, he only stops walking because he falls flat on the ground.
“Ry?” I scream shaking him and trying to get a response from him.
“Rian come on, stay with me,” I request spraying the Narcan down his nose.
“What the hell did you do?” Rian asks, my whole-body trembles when I really understand his words, he wanted to die.
“Rian, please don’t do this-”
“What are you even doing here, Love? Why do you fucking care? Go back to Dominik he’ll give you a fun time,” at this point I’m sobbing and trying not to faint from pain.
“I thought I’d be your choice if Declan were ever gone.
Turns out I was wrong, as usual,” he screams at my face tears in his eyes as well.