“Look, you have a concussion, River. You passed out in the middle of the street and slept for like three hours. Just… wait a minute, okay?” As he bends down to kiss my forehead, I take advantage of his proximity and curl my fingers around his shirt just below the neckline. Pulling him close to my face, I snarl at him like a feral fucking cat.
“Tell me about Mr. Bobby. Now.” It’s the sound of his reluctant sigh that breaks me. The first tears blur my vision and just as they fall down my cheeks, he whispers the words I hoped I’d never have to hear.
“He didn’t make it, Riv. They did everything they could but he was already gone by the time the ambulance arrived.” The hand holding his shirt falls back to the mattress but he picks it up and holds it to his mouth, whispering he’s sorry over and over again. His face disappears behind the veil of my blurred vision as I digest the news.
Turning to my side, I curl into the fetal position and cry.
Mr. Bobby is gone and a piece of my heart has just disintegrated.
* * *
Once I calm down enough to be coherent, I video chat with Petal and Everest—thanks to Kai’s phone—before the police arrive to interview me.
They’re worried, of course. It’s not every day that I’m in the hospital after being involved in a shooting in broad fucking daylight. Jesus fucking Christ. Who would do that? Why? What the fuck did Mr. Bobby ever do to anyone?
By this time, my memory seems to be back to full capacity but unfortunately, I have no new information to give the police. My back was to the shooter, then I hit my head against the cement. Lights out.
They’ve interviewed the neighbors and passers-by to get any eye-witness reports, but I don’t know much about what they’ve found.
With no living relatives, the police don’t necessarily have to keep me up to date, but I’ve begged them to do so for my own sanity.
Just as they’re walking out with a promise to contact me if they have anything new, I call out to them.
“Officers?”
“Yes, ma’am?” The taller of the two, Officer Lanksy, I think, turns around and looks back at me.
“Did anyone see the car rush off? I think I heard tires screeching when I came to. I mean, I guess it could be a million other cars in New York but… I thought I’d tell you, just in case.” There’s no way that information can help anyone but I can’t help feeling like I’m missing something. Something important.
“Yes, someone did. It was a late model…” he reaches down to look at his notes when his partner pipes up.
“Toyota Corolla, dark. Maybe blue or dark gray.” I stare at the younger officer. The two men are opposites in every way. It’s obvious Lansky is well into his career while the other is starting. The gray hairs, the laugh lines, the permanent exhaustion in his eyes all tell the story of a man whose job is wearing him down.
“Okay, thank you.”
Kai sits on the bed, his thumb rubbing slow circles on the back of my hand, but I can barely feel him. I know he’s trying to calm or maybe reassure me, but there’s a niggling feeling in the back of my head about this whole situation. Something I can’t quite place. A memory that’s dancing at the edge of my consciousness that I can’t quite grasp.
“How are you feeling? Do you need anything?” Looking back at Kai, I frown. I don’t know why it’s only just occurred to me, but I can’t help voicing my surprise.
“Better, thank you. How did you get here so fast?” I slide my hand out of his and reach for the water sitting on the table beside me, gulping down a healthy dose. The doctors said they were coming by soon to check on me and if my scans look good, I’ll be free to go in the morning.
“They called Ev, he’s your next of kin. Petal immediately called me and well, I dropped everything to be here as quickly as possible.” He shrugs and looks out the window, a shadow settling in his eyes.
“Are you okay?” He scoffs like my question is completely ridiculous. The thing is, we’re close, he and I. No matter what is happening in our respective lives, Kai will always be my first love. The boy I looked up to practically my entire life. No amount of strange circumstances can take that away from us.
“I’m not the one who… fuck, River. We almost lost you.” I see his jaw tighten, a tick forming as he grinds his molars, no doubt trying to control his emotions.
“Hey, I’m here. I’m okay. Close call, but it’s all good.”
“Stop doing that, River. Don’t make it out to be nothing. You should be home with us. Where you’re safe.” I’m about to answer when the door opens and a tall figure fills the entire entrance.
He’s impossible to miss, with a face made for painters. Hair dark as midnight and shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world. His eyes pierce right through my soul as he makes his way to my bed with control written in every one of his steps.
He’s beautiful, there’s no denying it. His power, a gift from the gods. I wish I could say the same about his attitude.
“She’d be bored out of her mind.” Then he opens his mouth, and there’s the asshole we all know and hate.
“Marco, what the fuck are you doing here?”