Dark Love (The Two Sides of Me Book 3)

by Garcia, Amy

  “You don’t have to play I know you know I’m pregnant.”

  “Oh, that's not what I mean; you have double trouble brewing in there.” I lean my head back onto Evan’s shoulder.

  “You told her.”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “I have just enough time to finish my treatment and help you with the babies.” She clasps her hands together, and my heart swells with love for this woman who is ready to dedicate possibly the last years of her life to helping me raise my children.

  “I can’t wait for that.” I move out of Evans's arms and sit on the edge of her bed.

  “When do you get released?”

  “Two more days of the terrible food in this place and I’m coming home, unless I can escape sooner, do you think you could bring a car tomorrow?” She's teasing, but I would do it, no questions asked.

  “Hey I worked in this hospital for ten years and the food is pretty good, nothing like your home cooking of course.”

  “Oh, I bet you can’t wait for me to come home and make you a hardboiled egg and some ginger tea.” She says full of sarcasm.

  “You make the best ginger tea, but no one is going to let you cook; I’m going to take care of you for a change.” Her face dims, and I realize my mistake she lives to take care of others it makes her happy; she’s been doing it her entire life.

  “Well for a little while I mean, when you’re up to it I’d love to have you cook for us again.” Evan pats me on the back.

  “Now you have the right idea.”

  “We should go and let her rest so she can come home soon.”

  “Aw, do we have to go?”

  “It’s ok, you go, take care of those babies; get some rest.” She slips her soft hand over mine and squeezes it reassuringly, and I have to admit I could use a good long nap.

  “Come, let her rest,” Evan says tugging on my hand, I kiss her on the cheek before standing, he slides in front of me to kiss her on the forehead lovingly and for the second time today my heart expands. The way her eyes brighten under the light of his love is amazing; his addictive magnetism doesn’t end with me.

  “I’ll bring a car for you tomorrow,” I say teasing and winking at her

  “I’ll be ready to go.” Evan looks back and forth between us suspiciously.

  “We’re kidding hijo go. I promise to stay until the doctor says it’s ok to go home.” He scowls and I cover my mouth to stifle a giggle while Cecelia shoos us away. On our walk back to the parking lot, I wrap both of my arms around his waist when we reach the Escalade.

  “I adore you, Mr. Lawson.”

  “I’m quite smitten with you as well, Mrs. Lawson let’s go home.” Just as Evan places his hand on the handle of the SUV an explosion rocks the hospital behind us, moving the ground under our feet the blast pushes us toward the vehicle in front of us, I squat down and Evan covers my body with his own. My ears ring and I feel Evan’s chest vibrating as he speaks inaudible words while he guides me around to the driver’s side away from the blast, he works fervently to get the door open and when he does, he shoves me inside. I go willingly until it hits me that Cecelia is inside that hospital; I can’t leave until I know she’s safe.

  When I begin to fight he grabs my arms to shake me hard twice. He speaks directly into my face so I can read his lips.

  “We have to go!” I try to turn away from him and escape through the passenger door but the locks silently slide down and the ringing in my head intensifies, I struggle with the door but he’s already pulling away jerking the SUV from its parking spot and taking the curves of the parking garage at a frightening speed until we are free and speeding in the opposite direction from where I want to be.

  I turn and kneel, holding onto the back of the seat to look out the window behind us at the burning hospital getting smaller and smaller as we flee, black smoke is billowing from a floor half way up the main tower, right where Cecelia’s room is. The tears begin to flow and I sink down back against the dash and cover my face.

  Evan is swatting at me and I know he wants me to put on my seatbelt and turn around but I can’t hear a word he says, I don’t want to hear him, I want to go back.

  “Where are we going?” After finally turning around I realize we aren’t headed toward the house but when I ask I can’t even hear myself speak. I don’t think Evan hears me either, when I turn to him, he’s focused on the road ahead of us. I reach out and tap him on the arm he startles and instinctually grabs ahold of my wrist.

  After a lifetime of abuse and being in the mob he’s been left a little touchy especially when it’s his sense of hearing that’s missing. Immediately I’m released and we pull over onto the side of the road. I watch as he grips the steering wheel, his chest heaving up and down gasping for breath. I think he’s hyperventilating but I can’t help him, I can’t say anything that he will hear.

  Texting, we’ve done this before, I need my phone, my purse where the hell is my purse? I feel around until I find it on the floor and dig out my phone to text my husband who is sitting right next to me, ridiculous. I want to go back! Where are we going? What the hell is going on? Can you hear anything? I pass him the phone and he reads before quickly texting a response. Under NO circumstances am I taking you back there, we are going somewhere safe, someone just tried to kill us and I only hear ringing, are you ok? He jerks the phone when handing it back and looks sternly at me. Evan we have to make sure she’s ok, no place is safe. Shaking his head back and forth he replies and hands it back again. We can’t go back, I’ll have Saint check on her but we have to leave town, now. I have a friend who we can stay with until I figure out what is going on.

  I feel the vibration of the engine starting and before I can protest or ask another question we have pulled back onto the road. Thirty minutes later we are traveling through a beautiful residential area. I’ve never been here before but Evan maneuvers every corner as if it were his own neighborhood. Three turns later we pull into a cul de sac and straight down the driveway to a house set far back from the street surrounded by mammoth evergreen trees that are so thick it feels as if the sun has gone under the clouds. The ringing in my ears continues but softer, less bothersome. Evan side glances at me and I look at him with question, I wish we could hear each other, damn it. I’d like to know whose house this is. When we stop in front of a professional NBA basketball hoop near the house I give verbal communication another try. “Whose house?”

  “Her name is Serena; she worked for me at Dominus for 11 years.” So he can hear me, good because I’m not liking the idea of showing up at an ex-girlfriend's house when our lives are at risk. “She was a performer, Mia, not my girlfriend, and when she got too old for performing she worked in administration. We can trust her; she is as loyal as they come. How is your hearing?” Nice change of subject there.

  “I can hear you, how do you know she’s loyal?”

  “Mia, just trust me” I turn to look at the quaint A-frame house that is bathed in the unusual sunlight of this cold Seattle winter day. Thick green moss blankets every surface of the woods and a small bridge arches over a tiny frozen stream. When I turn my attention back to him, the look on his face is similar but not equal to begging and as always, I cave.

  “Oh all right, whatever.” I say under my breath, I can’t hear my own words being spoken but Evan knows I’ve surrendered and he’s already out of the vehicle and opening my door. I roll my eyes as he takes my hand to help me from the front seat.

  “What if she’s not home? Does she live alone?” He leads me along the stone path in front of the house while he gives me a very abridged version of Serena’s life.

  “She will be home and no she isn’t married, she has a son but he’s in college on a basketball scholarship. She is wheelchair bound and does not care to leave the house.” I suddenly feel bad for her and wonder what lead a performer to being in a wheelchair. He reaches for the bell but before he can press it the door is opened by a gorgeous exotic African A
merican women.

  “Evan?”

  “Serena.” He leans down for a hug, her arms circle his neck and her hands clutch the back of his coat frantically. The embrace lasts long enough that I begin to feel like an intruder but when Evan pulls away I notice her eyes are brimming with tears leading me to think these two must share some sort of emotional past.

  Holding her delicate hand he turns to introduce me.

  “Serena, I’d like you to meet my wife, Mia.” Her face lights up and she’s reaching out to pull me into an equally fierce hug.

  “Your wife? Evan Nathaniel Lawson, you did not tell me you were getting married? And I wasn’t invited to the wedding?!” She speaks so softly I can barely hear her and I wonder if she has some hearing deficit or maybe my own is so messed up I’m misinterpreting the volume.

  “It was…unexpected and we haven’t had a wedding yet, you are, of course, on the guest list.”

  “Oh well in that case, get inside it’s cold out there.” She maneuvers the wheelchair away from the door allowing us to pass. Evan guides me down a short hall that opens into a breathtaking room. The back of the house is all glass that overlooks the forest and beyond it to dock and a lake, it’s like sitting in the woods minus the cold. A fire burns in a wood burning stove to my left making the room seem cozy and a floor to ceiling book shelf covers the entire wall on my right.

  “Wow, this is gorgeous.”

  “Thank you, I designed it myself, well with a little help from Evan, that is.”

  “You?” He nods sliding his hands into his jean pockets and leaning on the door frame casually looking around taking it all in.

  “So what brings you to my neck of the woods, pun intended?” She giggles but Evan’s face darkens remembering the seriousness of our visit.

  “Oh no, what’s wrong?” she asks all humor gone from her beautiful face.

  “We are in a bit of trouble.” He straightens and motions me to join him on a big overstuffed white couch in the center of the room.

  “Well of course you are, God forbid you visit an old friend out of the blue just because.”

  “I’m sorry, Serena; life has been very complicated lately.”

  “Your life has been complicated since the day your mama pushed you from the womb, what in particular has you gracing my doorstep today?”

  “I think someone is…” When he hesitates I butt in,

  “Trying to kill us!” I finish for him sensing that he’s going to minimize the situation but she should know what he’s involving her in.

  “What’s new?” She flips her wrist in mock surprise.

  “What she means is, we suspect someone might be watching us.”

  “And sending death threats, and blowing up hospitals.” I add as her gaze bounces from his face to mine.

  “I just thought we could stay with you until I can figure out what exactly is going on.”

  “Blowing up hospitals?” she repeats.

  “Well we were visiting Cecelia and when we left there was an explosion. I don't know if it had anything to do with us or not.” He’s really irritating me now with his insouciance.

  “Ok, wait a minute here, you have had death threats and a close call with a bomb, have you called the police?” No sooner are her words spoken than she seems to realize how stupid they are.

  “Never mind, I’ve been away from that life so long I’ve forgotten you don’t involve the police, silly me. You’re welcome here for as long as you need, make yourself at home.” She spreads both arms wide and I’m momentarily relieved to have a safe place to hide.

  “I would like to know a little more about the death threats and bombs, though.”

  “Thank you, Serena, I need to make a few phone calls. Mia can fill you in.”

  “Of course, you can use my office if you like.”

  “I will, thank you.” Evan squeezes my knee and pecks me on the mouth before leaving me alone with his friend; I watch his backside disappear into a room opposite the couch. When I look back to Serena she is considering me thoughtfully.

  “I have to say before he returns that I don’t know that man, the Evan I knew was never affectionate or…happy. What have you done to him?”

  “Oh, I can’t take credit for that, he was my patient after a car accident. He was in a coma for a while and when he woke up he was like this, well not exactly like this, he had brain surgery recently and thankfully it was successful.”

  “I did hear about the accident and Cameron, so sad.” She shakes her head and wrings her hands in her lap. I’m not sure what to say at this point, Cameron isn’t my favorite topic.

  “You knew her?” I ask, figuring it’s rude to ignore her comment.

  “Yes, she was a sweet person, troubled and rebellious but she would have worked past that, she was just a teenager.” Serena notices my discomfort with the subject and graciously changes the subject.

  “So tell me what’s going on, what kind of death threats and an explosion, how big?” I hate this subject almost as much as Cameron.

  “I’m not sure exactly. Evan received an iPad as a gift via messenger, it had a playlist on it with one song that has lyrics that are very threatening. And then Gabriella got a text this morning referencing a song with similar lyrics. Oh and of course the explosion at the hospital today.” Serena slaps her hands on her thighs as if a thought has just entered her mind.

  “We should turn on the news and see if they’re covering it.” Why didn’t I think of that? She reaches into a pouch hanging from the side of her wheelchair retrieving a remote. She punches the power button and the screen comes to life. It’s already set to the local news; a woman in a lovely pink suit speaks to us about the explosion and it’s so much worse than I thought. The side of the hospital has a colossal hole in it that looks like someone has taken a bite out of the building fire trucks and police cars are everywhere, concrete with jagged edges continues to crumble and mangled metal beams are protruding from the floor Cecelia was on and the one above it. The camera focuses on the area where the blast originated and I’m overwhelmed with nausea and lightheadedness.

  “Evan! Evan!” I yell his name first and as hysteria builds, the second time I call out it’s a scream, he bolts into the room in just seconds still holding his phone mid-call. He looks from the television to me and back. I watch his mouth drop open before he starts repeating

  “Oh God no, no, no.” I’m going to be sick and even in his shock, he realizes it and grabs a trash can from under a desk next to him shoving it under my face for me to retch into.

  “Oh God, please tell me that’s not where Cecelia was!” I hear Serena say as Evan gathers my hair pulling it back to the base of my neck and I know we won’t be able to tell her what she wants to hear, it was exactly where her room was and extremely close to the ICU where I used to work.

  When my belly takes a break from protesting, Evan quietly leaves the room. I assume to clean up the trash can, when he stands I grab at his hand but he continues to walk away in a daze. I don’t want to be without him right now, not even for a minute. I glance at Serena who has tears streaming down her cheeks as she watches the news report. I can’t make out what they are saying I’ve still got a ringing going on and the volume isn’t turned up very far. When Evan returns he’s gone into full protection mode, he sits down and pulls me into an embrace and I bury my face into his chest to cry while he makes a million phone calls arranging for an enormous amount of security at the house as well as Serena’s and Gabriella’s homes.

  He speaks briefly to Gabby filling her in on what’s happened and that she is not to leave home until he’s given the ok. When he’s done I feel him raise his arm and see him motion to Serena to shut off the T.V. When she does, the atmosphere is eerie and unsettling. Evan strokes my hair while I ruin his shirt with tears, mascara and snot.

  “Is Gabby ok?” I murmur against his chest.

  “Yes, she hasn’t received any more text and I’ve sent a se
curity team to guard her house. Mia…I have to tell you…” My body stiffens at the tone in his voice and I pull away to arm’s length and see his tear filled eyes before he shifts his focus to the floor.

  “NO!” I hit his chest with pathetic force, I’m drained and now this news, it just can’t be.

  “I’m so sorry, I spoke to someone who has privileged information and no one on Cecelia’s floor survived, she’s gone.” His voice cracks with those last two words and I’m dumbfounded. This isn’t real I just saw her an hour ago; she can’t be gone. She was going to help me raise the babies. She was going to make me ginger tea. She was coming home.

  “Are you sure? Maybe your source was wrong, maybe she wasn't in her room. She could have left her room or…or…” I’m grasping at straws here, the pain in my chest is so heavy I can’t let anymore in. I don’t want to know this or feel this. I look to Serena and she’s devastated too, she must have known Cecelia if she worked for Evan for 11 years so this is difficult for her as well. I look into Evan’s eyes searching for a different answer, praying for him to take it all back, show some sign of uncertainty but there is none. He slowly shakes his head back and forth and I lay my head in his lap and let him shush and comfort me when it’s him who needs comforting. Cecelia practically raised him. She was the mother who loved him when his own didn’t. My hand unconsciously rubs up and down his shin as I lay in his lap quietly sniffling. The tears have dried up or maybe I’m in shock I don’t know, I just want this to all be a very bad dream that I wake up from in my warm bed with my husband next to me and Cecelia in the kitchen making breakfast.

  I hate waking up in unfamiliar surroundings but it only takes me a second or two to put the pieces of the past twenty four hours together. Evan is tangled in my arms, fingers so tightly wound in my hair. I imagine he didn’t do much sleeping last night. His breathing is soft and regular now though so I stay still and let him sleep. As I look around the small bedroom light filters through the sheer curtains and I try to recall what has led us to be here. The bottom of my stomach drops when a flood of memories rush back…