Chapter 35 #2
“Right. I don’t believe a word coming out of your mouth.” I raked my finger under his jaw before taking a step away. “I’ll just be a few minutes. He needs to know he has our full support.”
“Understood.”
But did he? Had Jago ever showed compassion to his men, or had he just tossed them aside, reminding himself and everyone else that injuries and death were merely a part of the job they’d signed up for?
Had my father ever visited anyone in the hospital? I didn’t remember a single time, but he’d taken up a vigil when my mother had been shot.
Shot.
He hadn’t told me for months what had really happened to her, merely telling me she’d been involved in an accident. The hurt would remain for the rest of my life.
I took a deep breath and pressed my hand against the door. The doctors and nurses knew better than to interrupt us. I’d sensed fear when we’d walked by the nurses’ station.
Was it from my father’s reputation or Jago’s?
As soon as I walked inside, I was struck by the number of machines and hoses. An IV, a heart monitor, blood pressure monitors, and something else I wasn’t certain of was monitoring.
Antonio had appeared like every other soldier, big and buff. Now he appeared more fragile. Just like life.
Sighing, I slowly moved toward his bed, studying the private room. From what I knew about blood pressure, the numbers appeared normal and his breathing was only mildly labored. I pulled a chair closer, trying to remain as quiet as possible. Since he was asleep, I had no intention of waking him.
My arms and legs felt heavy as I eased to the vinyl cushion, immediately uncomfortable. It wasn’t only because the chair was ridiculously stiff, but more about the rapid beating of my own heart.
I was a mess. There was no other way around it.
This wasn’t a life I’d ever wanted, yet here I was.
After staring at him for a few seconds, I closed my eyes.
It had been a long time since I’d prayed.
I’d stopped believing when my mother had been killed.
But now, I said a silent one for all of us, not only Antonio.
At this point, it was obvious we all needed a little guidance, and maybe some divine intervention.
Images floated across my mind, including the single time I’d been allowed to enter my mother’s hospital room. I’d only learned later that my father had insisted I have a moment to say goodbye. If only I’d known then maybe I would have told her how I felt.
How much her love and guidance had meant to me.
A single noise drew my attention and when I looked up, Antonio was staring at me. Was he really seeing me? I didn’t know the man, but it struck me that he had no one keeping vigil. From what Jago had told me, no one had tried to visit him.
Why?
Was he so entrenched in his job that he’d followed the unwritten rule to keep weaknesses at bay? Or had he simply lost everyone he’d cared about?
I was determined to make him feel like family. Somehow.
“Antonio. You’re awake.”
He shifted then winced, licking his lips. I noticed they were chapped. “What…”
“Don’t try and talk. You had surgery. A bullet. But you’re going to be fine.” My words were choppy, my tone of voice one I didn’t recognize.
Blinking, he turned his head just a few degrees, staring at the room as if in a daze. I could only imagine. “Are… they… dead?”
“They? If you mean the assailants, then yes. Jago took care of that.”
“Ummm…”
“You helped keep Marco alive.”
“And the kid?” His voice was strained and one of the monitors beeped.
“Adan was killed. By Marco.” I laughed, which was entirely inappropriate, my heavy dose of anxiety getting the better of me.
“Good.”
“Good? Well, sadly, he didn’t provide any information that was worthwhile. Back to square one, but you don’t need to worry about that.”
Antonio turned his head, his pressures returning to stable. There was such a strange look in his eyes, very pointed as if he had something damning on his mind. “You don’t… understand.” He licked his lips and coughed. “Water.”
“Oh, of course.” I noticed a plastic cup next to a pitcher. There was water inside, so I assumed it was okay for him to have a few sips. I found a straw and poured some water into the cup. “What don’t I understand?”
I leaned over, holding the cup and positioning the straw against his lips. He took a few small sips. As I pulled the cup away, his eyes bore into mine.
A strange series of sensations shifted down my spine. His directed gaze held an entirely different emotion than I’d expected.
Anger? Resentment? I wasn’t certain, but the look was icy.
“What don’t I understand?” I repeated.
Surprises were often difficult to handle when they were shoved in your face. His quick movements were in direct contrast to the fact he was lying in bed with a needle in his arm. Suddenly, he jerked up in bed, wrapping his fingers around my throat.
“Did you honestly believe you could become a soldier? Not a chance, you worthless bitch.”
I was shocked, unable to move. There was utter hatred in his eyes.
“The glorious shipment will now belong to true warriors.”
What the fuck did that mean? I struggled in his hold, ripping at the hospital gown as he held me far enough away, I couldn’t reach his face.
“That bastard you married has no idea what Fassi has in store for him. He will learn.”
Without giving me any chance to breathe, he grabbed one of the cords he was attached to and wrapped it around my neck.
There was no chance of screaming or making a single sound. He tightened the hold and stars immediately flashed in front of my eyes as the air was ripped from my lungs. I slapped my hands against him, but the angle he had prevented me from using my fists effectively.
He shifted his lips to my ear, taking several deep breaths. “You were never meant to return home. You shouldn’t be here. Your father was the only one who had to die.”
I coughed and struggled, gasping for air.
“I was a good soldier, but your father didn’t give a shit. He fired me. Did you know that? He took everything from me and planned on tossing me aside. All that money. All the assistance I provided, the money I made for him. He did it.”
“So… you… sold… your… soul.” The lights appeared dim, the words I’d managed to issue taking most of the air in my lungs. “They… wanted you… dead.”
Antonio laughed. “I did what was necessary to survive. That’s what you don’t understand. There is no loyalty. None. But a princess like you wouldn’t have any idea. Would you?” He tightened the cord, determined to kill me.
With the last of my strength, I scratched his face, managing to thrust my thumb into his eye.
He hissed, almost losing his hold. That allowed me a split second to shift and kick. The loud crash as everything was tossed from the small dresser echoed in my ears.
“Bullshit. I will soon be a king. Die, you fucking bitch.” Antonio wrapped the cord again, jerking me off the floor.
At that point, nothing was in focus any longer.
But I heard noise.
Growls and shouts.
Angry words spoken in Spanish.
But nothing made any sense.
Suddenly, air was returned to my lungs and I gasped, clawing at whoever was dragging me away.
Breathe. Breathe.
I clawed at whoever was holding me, trying to focus. The scent. All male. The aftershave. Yes, I recognized it. Jago. Oh, God.
“Fuck, baby. We need to stop meeting like this.”
Jago.
He’d saved me.
Again.
I was half dragged away and all I could do was claw at my throat. “He… wanted…”
“Stop. Just breathe. In and out. Breathe.”
“Fuck the man. Let me put a bullet in his brain,” Navarro growled.
I heard Navarro’s voice, the anger that spilled from every syllable.
“Not yet,” Jago told him.
A loud pounding. Was someone hitting the wall?
Closing my eyes, I tried to focus on his voice as the ringing in my ears lessened, the stars in my eyes subsiding. When I opened them again, my focus was close to returning.
“That’s it. I need to do something. You’re going to be right here with Navarro.”
“What are you… doing?” I looked up into his eyes, still clinging to him, but anger was increasing. “I’m fine.”
“I’m going to do what I should have done before,” Jago snarled.
“Leave him. Let the Turks take care of him.” I surprised myself in making the suggestion.
He cocked his head, taking several deep breaths.
Then he smiled.
“Brilliant. Perhaps I’ll give them a call and let them know it’s time to take out the trash.”
Did I want to kill the bastard myself? Yes. Not because of what had almost happened to me, but because the fuck had placed my family in danger.
No one would be allowed to do that again.
As soon as Jago walked into the room, I heard his deep baritone, the authority and danger ingrained in every word, every single syllable.
“I’m leaving you for the rats, a well-deserved feast. May you rot in hell.”
For the first time in my life, I not only condoned the actions.
I prayed to God Jago’s threat came true.