Chapter Thirty-nine Daniel
Chapter Thirty-nine
Daniel
I know our world is cruel. It has been all my life. But today? Today it taught me that even when you think you can protect your loved ones by keeping them out of business, keeping them close to you will never let them have peace.
I don’t even listen to Hayden’s words anymore. My mind is completely shut off.
"Lilia, she… Just come here quickly, okay?"
I have no idea what exactly happened.
All I know is that whoever this bastard is who did something to her, I’m gonna fucking kill him. I’m going to end this bastard’s life and existence.
When I’m done with this guy, no one will ever remember him. No one will ever know who he is or was. Not even his fucking family. I might end them, too.
How long it takes me to snap back to reality, to Jennifer, I don’t know. All I know is that it’s her gentle touch that brings me back.
Her hand gently touches my cheek, rubbing it.
I lean into her touch, closing my eyes. I take a deep breath. Fuck.
Okay. I have to be strong. I need to act like everything is fine. I don’t want her to panic like me.
“Let’s go,” I say, for the second time tonight. But this time, it’s for a completely different reason. It’s not to escape reality.
It’s to face my harsh reality.
Jennifer doesn’t respond. She gets up, both of us getting dressed quickly before we hurry back to the parking lot. Well, it’s me who hurries.
She can barely keep up. But I don’t even notice. I don’t notice anything.
To be honest, even taking her home on my Harley seems risky. God, I’m really fucked up right now.
Fuck. I have to get my shit together before I even put a foot on that gas pedal again.
The night air is sharp against my skin, but I barely feel it. My grip on the handlebars tightens, knuckles turning white as I force my mind into some kind of order. But it’s impossible.
The words keep echoing in my head.
"Lilia, she… Just come here quickly, okay?"
It’s vague. Too vague. And that’s what makes me feel even worse about it.
Jennifer climbs onto the Harley behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist like she always does. But it feels different. She feels different. Or maybe I do.
Maybe it’s because I don’t know what I’m walking into. Maybe it’s because I already know—deep down—that whatever is waiting for me is going to change everything.
I inhale sharply. The cold air burns my lungs, grounding me for just a second. Long enough for me to make a decision.
I start the bike.
Jennifer doesn’t say a word, but I feel the way she holds me tighter, like she knows I’m not in the right headspace for this. Like she’s afraid I’m going to do something reckless.
She’s right to be afraid. But whatever happens, I’ll always protect her. Even if the price is my own life.
I don’t even know how I make it back without crashing. But thankfully, I do.
My mind is spiraling, my thoughts are moving too fast for me to keep up with them.
Every turn, every red light, every car that dares to slow me down—it’s all a fucking blur.
Jennifer is clinging to me, but I can’t focus on her. The only thing that matters is getting there. Now.
When I finally screech to a stop outside, my heart is hammering so hard it makes me feel sick.
Jennifer barely has time to get off the bike before I’m already moving, storming past Hayden like I don’t even see him.
But his hand shoots out, grabbing my arm.
“Daniel—”
“Where is she?” My voice is raw.
Hayden doesn’t answer right away. That hesitation is enough to make my stomach drop. He’s never hesitant. Never.
And then he says it.
“She’s in there, but before you see her like this...”
No.
No, no, no.
I shove him off, ignoring his words when I push through the door, my breath ragged, my vision tunnelling. My legs feel like they’re gonna give up, but I make it to the medical room.
And then I see her.
Lying still. Too still.
My mother.
I don’t even hear Jennifer’s sharp intake of breath behind me. I don’t hear anything at all. Just the deafening silence of a world that’s just been fucking destroyed.
And just like that, my world—already cruel, already broken—shatters into something I might never be able to put back together.
The blood all over her body is obvious. My heart shatters into a million pieces, not wanting to believe what I’m seeing.
I want this to be a fucking nightmare. Not my reality.
My mind is filled with rage. It fills more every single second.
Two. Two people who died because of this bastard.
My father is right next to her, his head buried in his hands. He doesn’t even look up at me.
There aren’t many people in the medical room. It’s only my dead mother, my father, Vicky, Jennifer, and my best friend.
And me?
I feel like I’m barely there. Physically, yes. But not mentally. My body stands still. Like I can’t fucking move. Why is there blood all over her body? Which sick fuck did this?
I turn around, closing my eyes to stop myself from crying. Fuck. I shouldn’t cry. Not now.
I’m the boss. I can’t—
A shocked gasp leaves my body when I feel a warm body hugging mine. When I open my eyes, I look down at her. Jennifer.
My eyes don’t move. My body doesn’t either.
While faint sobs linger behind me, my mind just gets rid of them. Like they don’t exist. Like all of this isn’t happening.
She doesn’t let go of me. I don’t know how long she’s just there, holding me, making sure I’m not feeling alone.
I’m so glad she’s here. I need her here.
When she finally lets go, she looks right into my eyes, and I notice her tear-stained face. However, mine is dry. Emotionless. Fuck.
She gives me a teary smile before she rubs my cheek. I just stare at her. I have no fucking idea what to do. I want to turn back around.
I want to look at her. I want to show her that I love her. But… I feel like I can’t. I’ve always been strong. Why can’t I fucking look at my own mother?
Soft lips find their way onto mine, her gentle touch making me feel somewhat comforted. It’s not enough. Nothing she could give me is enough. But we both know. And it’s okay. I can tell by the way she presses her body onto mine.
“It’s okay,” she whispers against me. “I’m here. You’re not alone. I promise I got you, my love.”
I nod before I finally turn around, knowing I need to face reality. As much as I fucking despise it.
My eyes wander over her body. Blood stains cover her entire body, making me wonder what the fuck happened to her. Who did this? Why would they?
“When did you find her?” I ask Hayden. I barely recognize my own voice. It’s much deeper than usual. Completely without emotions.
He looks back at me, pain visible in his eyes. “Right before I called you, Dan.”
Suddenly, my body relaxes. I don’t know why. I don’t know how to explain it. But hearing him call me Dan instead of boss?
It makes me realize that nobody expects me to act like the boss. I’m just… her son. That’s all right now.
I nod. “Thank you for calling me right away,” I whisper. A few seconds later, I finally manage to take a few steps toward her, sitting down on the other side of the hospital bed. My father still sits in front of me, not looking up.
Not speaking up. Not doing anything except crying. Mourning. But me? I feel like a fucking asshole.
Because I don’t cry.
Because I don’t know how to cry. She’s dead, but my body refuses to react. And I refuse to believe it. I refuse to believe she’s gone. I refuse to believe she had to die.
Why her? She always treated everyone so well, always comforted men and my siblings.
Why did it have to be her? There are so many cruel people out there, why would God decide to take her?
“Where’s her necklace?” I whisper.
My father doesn’t answer. Nobody does.
It’s always been a part of her. She’s been wearing it every day since I was born. Where the fuck is it?
I start to panic, until finally, my father looks up at me. His eyes are completely swollen.
“You’ll see when the time is right.”
We both stare into each other’s eyes. What does that mean…?
I flinch slightly when Jennifer sits down next to me, her eyes looking at me, giving me a silent apology. While I hold one of my mother’s hands, Jennifer takes my other hand in hers. As a sign of support.
For the first time since I’ve gotten the call, a small smile is on my lips. I hate facing reality.
I hate not being able to process my mom’s death. Not realizing she’s really gone. That her soul left Earth.
But having her here?
It’s not much. It can’t save me from the pain.
And yet, it means everything to me.
Jennifer shifts next to me, and I can tell she wants to say something. But the silence is too deafening. I know she’s worried. But she doesn’t have to be.
I look at her. “You don’t have to hold back. It’s okay, pretty.”
She sighs before she looks at my best friend, Hayden. “When you found her… Was she already…?” Jennifer doesn’t have to finish her sentence. We all know.
He looks at her. “She was dead already.”
When his eyes focus on her face, Hayden smiles gently. “Jennifer. You couldn’t have done anything. Trust me.”
She simply nods. I watch them. But I don’t say anything. I don’t do anything.
I just hold my mother’s cold hand, staring at her face.
A few minutes later, my mind is filled with too many thoughts. Too much self-doubt, too much hatred against myself.
If we wouldn’t have left… If Jennifer and I would’ve stayed. Nobody could’ve entered. Why the fuck wasn’t the mansion filled with security today?
If we stayed here, Jennifer could have saved here. We got so many medical tools here for a reason.
My head starts to hurt. I sigh, getting up and leaving. When Jennifer gets up next to me, looking at me with a worried expression, I shake my head.
“I… I have to be alone right now. Okay, pretty?”
She nods. “Okay. But… If you need me, I’ll be there. Always. Please don’t forget that”
I smile at her words, nodding softly before I give her a soft kiss. Then, I leave.
The last thing I see is Jennifer resting her hand on her chest and my father looking at her with an emotion I couldn’t place.
But I didn’t have enough time to think about it.
I just had to get out.
I walk to my office, desperate to get fresh air. The second I open the huge window, I sigh deeply.
Fuck.
I don’t care who it was. I need this man fucking dead.
My mind fills with the most disgusting, hateful thoughts. Blood and rage fill me. But I don’t care.
They were stab wounds. Someone fucking stabbed her. They stabbed my mother.
Which cruel fuck would murder her?
I light up a cigarette. I barely smoke anymore. But today?
Fuck, I need it.
My mother wouldn’t like it. She’d hate it. She’d snatch it right out of my hand and throw it onto the floor.
A smile lights up my face as I think of all the times my mom scolded my father because he’d been smoking.
They’ve always been in love. They never changed.
I grab my phone and dial my little brother’s number.
My heart breaks when Andrew answers the phone with his usual happy behavior. It hurts, knowing that no one told him yet.
Not even Vicky.
“You finally calling me, hm? Did your date go well?” He asks.
I close my eyes, breathing in deeply before I continue.
“Mom is dead.”