Chapter Twenty-Two
My father had died in a hospital bed in a tremendous amount of pain. I almost wished for his death to come sooner, just so he no longer suffered.
For the most part, I had held myself together, comforting him and talking to him, bringing up delightful stories from the past. In between bouts of pain, his eyes seemed to sparkle when I reminded him of pleasant memories from my childhood; like when he took me on a pony ride and I screamed throughout the entire thing or when he made me my Halloween costume—a princess—which made me look like a walking toilet roll.
I had stayed strong for him during his last moments on earth, never once shedding a tear. I needed him to know that as much as I loved him, I would be okay when he left me. It was only after he died that I lost my shit, screaming like a banshee until my throat was raw.
Death was never an easy thing to accept, but in the case of my father, at least he was at peace when he died.
The bullet that killed Abraham on the other hand was cruel and blindsided us completely. My stomach rushed to my throat and I stood there with my mouth open, stunned by the brutal slaying.
“Is my brother dead?” asked the man who had murdered Abraham. I looked up with red eyes and stared at the killer, who was dressed in the same outfit as the Crow, but all in white.
I tried to speak but my voice had left me. I dropped to my knees and cradled Abraham’s dead body in my hands.
“Answer me you dumb bitch, is my brother dead?” the White Crow asked as he pointed a gun straight at my head. I ignored him as I held Abraham’s lifeless body. He deserved better than a bullet through his heart. Abraham had saved my life.
“Last time I ask, before I put one in your head. Is my brother dead?”
“Eat shit,” I cursed, in between sobs. “Your brother deserves the death we gave him.”
“Bullshit. How can an old man and a dumb bitch survive a fight with the Black Crow?”
“Because he was a cocksucker, that’s why,” I spat.
The look in the murderer’s eyes was full of malice. There was no doubt that he was going to pull the trigger.
For the second time tonight, I was on my knees at the mercy of another man. I closed my eyes and waited once more for death, but it never came.
“Drop your weapon and put your hands in the air!”
I turned to see several police officers standing at the entrance of the condo, guns locked onto the killer.
“Another time bitch,” he spat before dashing for the emergency exit. A volley of bullets flew at him, but he managed to dodge them as if they were snowballs thrown by children. He was faster than his brother.
A few cops pursued him while a couple stayed behind, examining the scene.
“We have at least four dead at the Metropolitan Condo,” one of them radioed in. My gaze followed one of the officers, who examined the body of the hotel’s concierge, still sitting in his swivel chair behind the desk, a single bullet hole through his head.
At the entrance two security guards were lying in a pool of their own blood, eyes wide and mouth agape.
“Miss, are you alright?” one of the cops asked me. I looked up at him, shook my head and unleashed a howl as I clung onto Abraham’s body.
I closed my eyes and couldn’t help but remember all the warm moments we shared together, the pleasant exchanges and conversations that touched my heart and made me happy to have a friend like him.
“You have a knife in your back. Let’s get you to the hospital,” the officer continued to drone in the background.
“I don’t need anything from you!” I screamed. “Just find the asshole and kill him. Just kill him.”
Everything that happened after was a blur—the trip to the hospital, the examination by the paramedics and doctors, and the statements the detectives took from me.
The one thing I did remember clearly was Shadow appearing in my private room at the hospital, several hours later, his fists clenched and a pensive look on his face. There was something about his presence that both comforted and terrified me.
“Shadow,” I said, acknowledging his presence.
“Are you hurt?” he asked me.
“A few bruised ribs and thirty-two stitches in my shoulder to patch up the knife wound in my back,” I said. “Hurts like a bitch but I’m not dead yet.”
He stood up and examined my wounds for a moment and then kissed me on the forehead before sitting back down.
“I’m so sorry. I wish I could take the pain away. When I heard about the attack, I rushed back as fast as I could. I needed to know that you’re okay. I need to know that you were safe.”
“I’m safe with you around,” I replied.
“Abraham…” Shadow began. “Did he suffer?”
I shook my head.
Shadow collapsed in the seat in front of my bed and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he exhaled.
After a moment of silence, he finally said, “That’s good.”
“If it wasn’t for him, I would be dead,” I said. “Abraham fought to protect me. He saved my life.”
“The old man always did have fight in him,” Shadow said with a forced smile. Despite the calmness in his voice, I could see that he was hurting deep inside.
Abraham was a guardian to Shadow. What kind of cruel world was it where a man suffered the loss of not one, but two fathers?
“I’m sorry Shadow,” I began.
“Why are you sorry?” he replied with tenderness in his voice. “You weren’t the one who killed him.”
“I know he was close to you,” I said, suddenly finding myself crying. “He was a good friend to me as well. He meant a lot to me.”
“He did tell me that you had his daughter’s smile,” Shadow said. The sound of his voice cracking was unmistakable. I watched as he rose from his seat and stared out the window, his back turned to me. “The fucker who did this will pay. I’ve already put a hit out on the White Crow. With the vast network that the Midnight Society has, it’s only a matter of time before he’s caught.”
“His brother tried to kill me,” I said. “I shot him in the stomach and Abraham put the final bullet through his head. The Black Crow is dead.”
Shadow turned to me, a look of surprise on his face.
There was a moment of silence as Shadow seemingly thought of something to say. Finally, he spoke. “Good,” he said. “You did good.”
“Why would anyone want to hurt me?” I asked.
“Because I’m the idiot who ended up choosing you,” Shadow replied. “I was reckless and stupid. I should have known that if the Midnight Society was targeted, your life would be in danger without the backing of a recognized family name. I was selfish for selecting you and for that, I can’t apologize enough.”
“I see,” I replied, staring at his silhouette by the window, the bright moonlight illuminating the room in a pale blue glow. “Do you feel anything between us Shadow? Do you have strong feelings for me?”
Shadow nodded. “Of course I do.”
“Will you protect me?” I replied.
“You know I will.”
I rose slowly from the hospital bed, stripping away the covers, and made my way towards him. My hands found his and they intertwined.
“I love you Shadow,” I said. “I need to be with you. It’s what’s keeping me alive right now.”
He nodded.
“I’m just so sorry about Abraham,” I said, tearing up again.
“It’s not your fault,” Shadow said. “I’ll find the White Crow and the person responsible for hiring them, and I will obliterate them.”
“I’m tired,” I said, suddenly feeling sleep overtake me.
“I’ll take you home,” Shadow said.
“They won’t let me leave the hospital.”
“They can and they will,” Shadow said. “I’ll make sure of it.”
I felt Shadow lift me up into his arms, carrying me as if I were as light as a pillow.
“Can you take me back to your place?” I asked. “I don’t feel like sleeping alone tonight.”
He nodded, and like the fictional hero from a movie, he whisked me away for the hospital, stealing me from the clutches of the day’s horrific events.
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